28. Chad
CHAPTER 28
Chad
The words seem to hang between us. As her lips wobble between a small smile and one that’s attempting to take over her whole face. And I know that I can never take them back. If Dean rejects me this time, he’ll be rejecting both of us.
He wants me. He wants Lakelyn. This should be simple. But the way my heart pounds inside my chest at the thought of making this real—taking that next step—it tells me it’s anything but simple. What if he only needed to fuck me to get me out of his system? What if my refusal to talk about it made him hate me? There are way too many what if’s.
Lakelyn’s voice cuts through the tension slowly coiling in my stomach. “Well, I guess we should eat quickly,” she says, dropping her pancake onto her plate and flipping off the burner. “Because we’ve got a tennis lesson to get to.”
I blink, still processing everything we’ve just said, everything we’re about to do. “Tennis lesson?” I repeat, sliding off the stool and moving around the kitchen island to stand beside her. “I thought you were done with your lessons.”
She shrugs, flashing me a quick smile as she butters her pancake. “I guess one more might be needed.”
I watch her for a second, trying to gauge if she’s feeling the same whirlwind of nerves that’s racing through me. But she’s calm, focused. She nods toward the hallway. “Lan has some clothes here. They might be a little big, but I know he’s got some basketball shorts with that adjustable tie. You could change if you want.”
I glance down at the clothes I’m wearing—the same ones I’ve been living in since yesterday. Showing up to the country club like this would definitely set my mother off, if she happens to be there. Not that I care what she thinks… except I kind of do, more than I want to admit.
“Might be a good idea,” I say, reluctantly. “But you should eat first.”
Lakelyn grins, nudging me with her shoulder. “Yeah, no sense going to Dean on an empty stomach.”
The way she says it has butterflies battering against my chest. Like we’ll need our energy for more than just the tennis lesson.
By the time we pull into the parking lot of the Blue Ridge Country Club, my nerves are firing again. The pristine building looms ahead, its white columns and manicured lawn almost too perfect, too sterile. It’s the kind of place where people like my mother thrive—where appearances matter more than anything. The thought makes my stomach twist.
Lakelyn cuts the engine and turns to me, her eyes soft but steady. “You ready?”
“Not really,” I admit, but I still force a smile. “Let’s do this anyway.”
We step out of the car and make our way toward the entrance, the crisp fall air cool against my skin, easing some of the tension. I’m about to suggest we take a moment to breathe when I spot her—Jenny, my mother’s friend, lingering by the entrance. She’s standing with a few other club members, laughing at something one of them said, but the moment her eyes catch mine, her attention zeroes in on me. Her smile widens instantly.
There’s a flicker of something in her gaze when she notices Lakelyn walking beside me. It’s so quick, so subtle, that most people would miss it. But I don’t. It’s like a flash of irritation, or maybe something closer to annoyance, before her expression shifts into something more pleasant, more practiced. I regret ever fake-flirting with her now—what I thought was harmless banter has clearly gone too far.
“Well, if it isn’t Chad!” Jenny’s voice rings out, sugary sweet as she breaks away from her group and makes a beeline for us. Her eyes don’t leave me, and I feel Lakelyn stiffen just a little beside me. “Did you make it to where you were heading yesterday?” She’s all smiles, but her eyes flick to Lakelyn, just for a second, before settling back on me. The warmth in her voice doesn’t extend to Lakelyn.
“Yeah,” I say, trying to sound casual, but my voice feels tight. “Dean gave me a ride.”
Jenny’s smile falters for just a beat, but she recovers quickly, brushing her hand against my arm. “Oh, Dean. He’s always so helpful, isn’t he?” Her tone is light, but the way her fingers linger a little too long on my arm makes me shift uncomfortably. “I could’ve driven you myself, you know. When I stopped to help.” She tilts her head, her eyes never leaving mine. “You wouldn’t have had to wait.”
Lakelyn’s silence is palpable, but I feel the subtle shift in her stance beside me, like she’s claiming her ground. She doesn’t need to say anything, but there’s a quiet confidence in the way she stands a little closer to me, her presence unmistakable.
Jenny, of course, notices. Her gaze flicks to Lakelyn again, this time more deliberate. It’s quick, but the dismissiveness in her glance is clear. She doesn’t see Lakelyn as competition—at least not openly. After all, Lakelyn’s a beta, and Jenny is clearly an alpha. She’s probably seen her around, but I doubt she ever paid much attention. Until now.
Lakelyn doesn’t say a word, but the shift in her demeanor speaks volumes. She’s standing tall, calm, not overtly staking her claim on me, but it’s there in the subtle brush of her arm against mine, the steady look in her eyes as she watches Jenny.
I can feel the tension rising, and I know I need to cut this conversation short before it spirals into something more uncomfortable. “We’re here for a tennis lesson,” I say, glancing at the building behind her, hoping to steer the conversation in a different direction.
Jenny lets out a light, almost musical laugh. “Tennis, right. Well, if you ever want a little extra practice, you know where to find me.” She leans in slightly, lowering her voice just enough that Lakelyn might not catch all of it. “I’ve got some time this weekend. Just the two of us.”
An unpleasant shiver runs down my spine. What had I been thinking when I put on the charm for her. Oh that’s right, making my mother happy.
Jenny’s eyes flick between the two of us again, and though her smile stays plastered on her face, there’s a crack in it. “Well,” she says, her tone still sweet but with a slight edge, “I suppose I’ll see you around, Chad. Don’t be a stranger.”
She gives a final glance at Lakelyn—still dismissive, still pretending she’s not bothered—before turning and walking back toward her group, her heels clicking against the pavement.
Once she’s out of earshot, Lakelyn lets out a low whistle. “Well, that was… something.”
I rub the back of my neck, feeling a little embarrassed. “She’s my mother’s friend. I met her, like, two weeks ago. She’s… persistent.”
Lakelyn raises an eyebrow. “Persistent? She’s practically drooling over you.”
I force a laugh, though it feels more awkward than anything. “Yeah, I kind of flirted with her the first time we met. Just messing around. Didn’t think she’d take it seriously.”
Lakelyn’s eyes narrow slightly, her attention shifting toward Jenny, who’s pretending to chat with her group but is clearly watching us. There’s something sharp in the way Lakelyn’s lips curl, a quiet confidence that makes me stand a little taller. She steps closer, slipping her hand into mine, her fingers warm and steady against my skin.
Without breaking eye contact with Jenny, Lakelyn leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. It’s not rushed or hurried, just a gentle, sure statement of what we are. I kiss her back without hesitation, the familiarity of it grounding me in the moment. When she pulls away, her eyes flick to Jenny, the message unmistakable:
He’s mine.
I love it. Warmth blooms inside my chest, and I let out a low purr just for her, before I capture her lips in another soft kiss that has nothing to do with our audience.
Jenny’s smile freezes, her eyes narrowing just enough for someone paying attention to notice. There’s a flicker of something in her expression—annoyance, jealousy—but she quickly recovers, masking it with an overly bright smile as she turns back to her group. She’s good at pretending, but Lakelyn’s subtle move has rattled her.
Lakelyn’s fingers remain laced with mine as we head toward the entrance, a soft hum of satisfaction vibrating in the air between us. I glance down at her, my heart swelling with happiness, knowing she wasn’t just trying to stake a claim—she was making sure Jenny knew exactly where things stood.
“Maybe that will get the message across,” she says under her breath, her voice tinged with quiet pride.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“No, but I wanted to. She’s an alpha who underestimated a beta.” Lakelyn’s voice is calm but firm, her eyes flicking toward the country club where Jenny disappeared. “She probably thinks being an alpha means she automatically has the upper hand.”
I smirk, the tension in my chest loosening. “I doubt she’s used to being put in her place.”
Lakelyn shrugs, her lips quirking into a grin. “Well, she just got a little reminder that I’m not so easy to push aside. Betas might not have the same presence as alphas, but we don’t have to.”
I glance at her, my heart swelling with something warm and unshakeable. The way she handled Jenny—calm, sure, and completely in control—reminds me why I’m drawn to her. She doesn’t play games or let anyone make her feel less than she is.
“You’re incredible, you know that?” I murmur, pulling her a little closer as we near the doors.
Lakelyn’s smile softens, her thumb brushing over the back of my hand. “I know what I want. And I don’t let anyone, alpha or not, get in the way of that.”
I nod, the corners of my mouth lifting into a genuine smile. "Good, because I’m all in."
“I’m all in, too,” she whispers, squeezing my hand as we push through the doors and step inside.
I’ll never get sick of the reassurance she gives me. My whole body vibrates with an overwhelming love, and I squeeze her hand back. Whatever happens with Dean or Mason doesn’t really matter if she’s standing next to me.