Chapter Fifteen Evie #2
“It’ll take about fifteen,” Coral offers. “How about a beer while you wait? I’ve got your favorite in the back.”
How do you know his favorite? I’ll never let him drink it again.
His eyes tick to her for only a second as he says, “Sounds good.”
She winks at him and turns around to get it, so I raise my hands as I give him a dirty look.
“It’s okay, I’m not thirsty.”
Chase chuckles, not saying a thing as she comes back with the bottled swill and hands it to him. He put some money on the counter, but she balks and pushes it back to him.
He doesn’t take it, though, and that makes me smile.
I’m about to turn around and head to a section of tables by the beach, but he says “Hey,” catching my attention. I watch him open the bottle on the metal counter, then use the bottom of his shirt to wipe the rim before he hands it to me.
“Ladies first.”
My lips part, mostly because his charm is beginning to win him points.
“I thought we’d share it since I have to drive,” he offers coolly.
Oh. I pinch the cool neck between my fingers before bringing it to my lips and taking a drink. Okay, he can keep drinking it. It’s delicious.
I hold the glass to my pout for a moment before lowering it, licking what’s left behind as he takes the bottle from me.
Holy hell. Coral could be watching . . . She could be crying for all I know, because I can’t take my eyes off his Adam’s apple and the way it bobs as he takes a swig.
I’m going to lick that later.
“Come on,” he says to me, motioning to the benches before looking over his shoulder to Coral. “Tell your mom I said hi.”
She doesn’t get a chance to answer because he starts walking, fast enough to make me spin around and immediately keep up.
Jesus. If I’m not careful, our “how I met your mother” story will include how I fell for his BDE so hard that I almost tripped over it chasing behind him at the beach.
Neither of us says anything as we sit down, only glancing at each other but not lingering. We just sit in silence as he hands over the beer and waits patiently for me to pass it back.
But the pause in conversation feels too pregnant, probably because I think watching him just be is knocking me up. That’s the thing about finally admitting the truth to yourself. It’s like taking a screw out of a dam.
I’m flooded . . . mainly with thoughts and prayers for my future because I can’t stop staring at his goddamn beautiful face, thinking about how truly attracted I am to him in spite of what’s on the inside . . . actually more because of it.
The sound of waves crashes onto the shore next to us, and the occasional seagull calls, but we stay silent.
Chase puts his hands behind his head, leaning back against the seat on his side as his eyes finally connect with mine, and he lets out a deep exhale.
His stubble shines, and it’s hot. How did I ever think that was unattractive?
I didn’t. I just lied to myself.
His eyes lock on me, a smirk on his face. But I can’t tell what he’s thinking.
I hate it. I want to know.
“Do you like the beer?” His voice is too deep, but I nod, trying not to smile because I feel my ears getting hot. “Good . . .”
I hand him the beer before resting my forearms on the table. I don’t know why I’m suddenly so honest. But somehow, it feels like the perfect time and place.
“You know, I’ve never really said thank you. I don’t like to think about any of it—that night . . . Halloween. And I don’t really like to talk about it, either, but what you said to me, Chase, that meant everything to me.”
He frowns, probably remembering the memory. How could he not? It’s burned into all our brains.
“You didn’t have to do that for me, especially since I’d been so mean to you leading up to that point. But . . .”
He chuckles, but his smile doesn’t meet his eyes. It hurts him too.
I can feel my hands starting to shake, so I blow out a shaky breath. “You made me feel safe and brave. I wouldn’t have survived without you. Thank you for saving me and then bringing me back to life.”
I know my eyes are shining, but I won’t cry.
“I’m sorry it took me this long to say it, but I’ve liked you since that day in Goldie’s kitchen when you started talking about Lisa Bonet.
I was jealous you weren’t talking about me.
So I decided to hate you. And when you got me the fish .
. . I treasured her. You were all I could think about at the wedding. ”
The hint of a grin on his face stays in place as he searches my eyes, probably wondering where this is all going.
“You said I was embarrassed of you. That’s not true. I’ve always been embarrassed about how much I like you and scared to death that you’d never like me back as much.”
It feels like there’s a weight in the center of my chest that is lifted.
He puts the bottle down and reaches across the table, scooping up my hands and bringing my palms to his lips, kissing them.
“I’m gonna love you. That’s how fucking all in I am. Just don’t tell my girlfriend . . . it may scare her away.”
My heart stops beating. Oh my god. Before I can say anything, the moment’s interrupted by Ariel’s cousin, Coral.
“Four lamb tacos, ready to devour.”
I can’t help but laugh, because of course this is what happens. He laughs, too, like he’s thinking the same thing.
We both watch as she places our cardboard plates down before asking, “Anything else?”
“No.” Chase grins. “I think that’ll do it.”
Donkey . . . that’ll do, donkey. Get out of here already.
“Wait . . . you forgot.” She holds out her phone, and I freeze, scowling. You have got to be kidding me.
He chuckles. “Oh, um. Yeah, I don’t think my girlfriend would appreciate that.”
Without hesitation, I say, “I’m the girlfriend,” and point to myself before smiling and repeating it even louder so most of the beach hears.
Chase is grinning ear to ear, staring at me as I mouth, Happy?
“Sorry,” she whispers, probably thinking I’m unhinged. I am, but only over him. “I didn’t realize. My bad.”
My mouth opens, but Chase speaks for me. “No worries. See ya around, Coral.”
He looks across at me, still smiling wide. And I know I’m doing the same because this man just basically told me he almost loves me, and I believe him.
“You’re not going to promise it back, are you?”
“No,” I breathe out, picking up my taco and taking a big bite, before I talk with my mouth full. “But I can definitively say that I love this taco.”
He laughs, deep and full. “Of course you do. I told you it’s the best.”
We eat in comfortable silence, sharing a beer, but what he doesn’t know is that I do think he’s the guy I’ll love, and it’ll last forever. But where’s the fun in letting the cat out of the bag?
If I’ve learned anything from the great romances over time, it’s that timing is everything. So the day I know I love Chase Beckett will be the day someone will have to rip him out of my cold, dead hands.
Chase
We’re walking hand in hand back to the car after a mic drop lunch. And not just because the food was good. I told her I was falling in love with her . . .
It’s too fast, but I didn’t even know it before I said it.
But the minute it tumbled out, I knew I meant it.
I think I’ve genuinely liked her for so long and fallen so hard that all it took was her finally giving me a chance to have all the feelings hit hard.
I smile at my beautiful girl as she points to a building off in the distance, talking about some famous murder that happened there.
I’m nodding, about to ask a question, when my attention’s stolen by the gathering momentum in the distance.
A car alarm.
My brows draw together as she rattles off something wild.
I know it’s wild because she always talks with her hands when she gets excited. But I’m still only half listening because I’m looking over in the direction where I’m parked.
That better not be my car.
“Dang, someone’s car’s going off,” she says casually before going back to her story, and then her eyes get big. “That’s not yours, is it? Because aren’t we parked over there?”
I slow down and lift my keys, having thought the same thing. I click the alarm icon on my car fob. Unfortunately for someone else, the sound continues.
“Not mine,” I say back to her, smiling.
My phone dings in my back pocket, then again and again . . . and again.
“What is happening?” she laughs, lifting her brows at me.
I chuckle, letting go of her hand to pull my phone free. “The girls are doing an F1 driving experience. I have a feeling I’m getting pics.”
She shakes her head. “Break this down for me . . . because I wholeheartedly believe you about them, because strangely it’s on brand for you, but like—”
I throw my arm over her shoulder so that the phone is closer to her face, my messages open, a group photo of them on the screen.
“Right after the Friday the 13th of it all,” I breathe out as she glances up at me, “I went through a dark time. I did a lot of really impulsive shit. I think I was trying to remind myself I was alive and in control. Anyway, one of those things was skydiving.”
Evie’s scrolling through the pictures of us on the plane, smiling.
“That’s where I met my ladies.”
She snuggles in closer to me, clearly loving this, pointing to the first name that’s popped up as we weave between cars.
“Tell me about Birdie.”
“Ohh, well.” I tilt my head with a grin. “Birdie, or Roberta as her driver’s license says, had ten husbands in her lifetime. All of them now deceased, and three of them named Patrick.”
“Birdie has a type,” Evie teases, and I nod.
“And Gail?”
“Gail’s spunky, a little bit of a hippie. She has pink hair and a fourteen-year-old grandson who teaches her all the newest slang. She puts it to good use, too, as if it’s her word of the day.”
Evie giggles.
I stop us, waiting for a car to pass us in the throughway, glancing down to watch her read the messages as her shoulders bounce.
“The way Joyce wrangles everyone is so funny. Do they live together like the Golden Girls?” She lifts her eyes to mine again as she asks.