Chapter Eleven Evie #2
The fear follows me, so solidly rooted within me that I can’t hear the rational part of me say I’m safe. But somehow I instinctually know it because I’m with him.
So I won’t let go.
Chase is my lifeline.
I grip him tighter and he doesn’t move. He just lets me hold him, returning that fierceness back to me. His hands stay on me through the rough inhales and exhales that turn into cries and through the trembling I can’t get a handle on.
He anchors me, keeping the world at bay as I focus on the steady thrumming of his pulse against my lips. I count to it in my mind, feeling my tears stain my cheeks and melt onto his skin.
I don’t know how long we stand there, or how many people watch, but I just keep counting. Until my eyes flutter open as my heart begins to beat in rhythm with his and I swallow the tightness in my throat.
“Evie, baby. What happened?” he whispers to me so gently that I can feel how fragile I am in his arms.
“He . . . I . . . I was pulled under . . .” I stutter, unable to make out my words, my face still buried into his neck.
So I pull back slowly, our eyes connecting, as I try to tell him someone pulled me into one of the empty graves, but laughter comes from behind me.
Chase immediately looks over my shoulder, his brows pulling into a V. And I’m placed on my feet before I follow his gaze, turning around but keeping my back against him. No part of me can’t touch him right now.
Joe, my colleague, is with a couple of the other guys from my team, and they’re all laughing apologetically.
“Gotcha,” one of them says as the other pretends to get pulled under. But it’s as if they’re trying to lighten the mood.
I shake my head, my dirty palms curling into fists as I try to process what’s happening. And my ragged breath slows as reality takes a firmer grip.
It’s a joke . . . Are they fucking kidding?
I drag my fingertips over the butt of my hands before wiping them on my pants, trying to get rid of the memories still gnawing at me from the back of my mind.
As if Chase senses it, his hand comes to my waist, and I let out a deep exhale.
“We didn’t mean to scare you so bad. It was just a prank,” Joe chuckles. “It’s tradition.”
He shrugs, and I nod, trying to recalibrate.
“A prank?” Chase’s deep voice levels from behind me. “Are you fucking serious?”
I glance over my shoulder to see his jaw tense. He looks fucking murderous.
Joe lifts a burger to his mouth. “Come on, no hard feelings?”
But it hits the floor, smacked right out of his hand.
“What the fuck, man?” Joe rushes out.
“Sorry,” Chase grinds out. “No hard feelings, right?”
Joe gulps, and the other guys shove their hands in their pockets, nodding sheepishly before they whisper more apologies to me.
But I’m turned around and pulled back into the safety of Chase’s arms, and it feels like I can breathe again. So I do, slowly and deeply until all the fear I felt, while still lingering, quickly begins to get replaced by anger.
What a bunch of . . .
My thought is finished by Chase. “Pricks.”
“Agreed.” I say, letting out a whoosh of breath, before he releases me again.
I’m staring up at him, but before I can thank him, Derek and Devin rush over, their hands full with plates as they stare at me wide eyed, talking with their mouths full.
“Eves, you good? We brought you all the cookies you love. Fuck everyone else.” . . . “Yeah, Joe likes them, too, but now he can’t have any . . . What a dick. Want us to piss on his car? We will.”
I can’t help but chuckle, and it feels nice. Apparently, the sentiment is shared, because Chase does the same.
“I’m all good,” I say, still sounding too winded. “I just got scared—a victim of a successful prank.”
Chase scoffs when I say it. He’s still pissed. Good. I’ll get there fully, but I’m still shaken.
I motion to the guys, smiling up at Chase. “These are my assistants, Derek and Devin . . . Guys, this is my . . .” My what? What is he? Because he’s more than a friend. “Chase. This is Chase.”
“Oh shit,” they say at the same time.
That’s when all my thoughts catch up and spill out.
“Wait! What are you . . . How did you . . .” I take a deep breath, letting my mouth make friends with my brain. “Why are you here?”
Devin laughs. “She asked the same question in three ways . . . That’s funny.”
I ignore the Brothers Grimm, still staring at Chase, who finally looks down at me, the tension in his face relaxing as he gives me a grin. “I brought you dinner.”
The boys nod, pointing to the catering on the table as I look over and laugh. For fuck’s sake. Of course he did.
His heavy hand kneads my shoulder as he leans in closer.
“Evil, you always complain about how the food sucks. So, I present a better burger with a spicy aioli sauce, garlic steak fries since you’re on set with vampires, a classic Caesar salad, and the most delicious berry compote tarts, because I know how much of a lady of the night you are for them. ”
Devin takes my hand, tugging me forward as he rambles off about all the goodness waiting to be devoured. But Derek stays back, staring at Chase’s profile. I look back, eavesdropping on the conversation for as long as I can.
Chase slowly turns his face to Derek’s as Derek smiles wide and says, “So you’re the dude.”
It’s as if they speak the same language, because Chase nods. “Yep. I am.”
I don’t know what that means, but I do know the one thing I didn’t want happening is happening again.
Chase is having a moment. And it’s a really big one.