Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Ashley
"I feel like everyone is watching us," I whispered to Chase.
The Humpbacks beat the Emus by several points. After the game, most of the team, their friends and family gravitated toward Waves for a few celebratory drinks.
Chase and I sat with Hawk and Bec until the pair snuck off together.
Before they left, Bec told me she was a freelance reporter and had a successful blog called Bec Writes. That was where I knew her from. I followed her blog. I've read her posts about her partner and their regular attempts to avoid tabloid journalists, or at least one in particular.
Harvey Danbury was notorious in Lowball Bay. He even attended Lacey's fashion parades, to ogle the models and, presumably, to photograph any wardrobe malfunctions or embarrassing falls.
Chase and I would have to keep an eye out for him. People like that would eat up a story like ours.
"They're just curious," Chase said. "They want to know about you and how we started dating so quickly."
"What did you tell them?" I asked, my gaze intent on him.
He shrugged one shoulder. "Nothing. I said it's none of their business. Let them think whatever they want. We're the only ones who need to know what's really going on."
I sat back, hands in my lap. "Right. Yes. Bec asked a lot of questions."
He grinned. "She always does. Comes from being a journalist I guess. Don't worry, she won't write about us. At least not by name or anything recognisable."
"Oh, good." I was halfway to wondering why she wanted to know so much about me. Mostly she'd asked about work, and said she'd love to attend the spring fashion parade. I'd suggested she model for it, but she'd laughed off the idea. Shame, she was gorgeous and poised.
I chewed my lip. "They aren't going to hate me when this is done, are they?" Honestly, I'd jumped into this with both feet and now I was worried I jumped too far, too fast.
"Do you want to stop?" Chase gave me a worried look from behind his beer.
"No," I said slowly. "I just don't want to be the bitch later, when you get back with Brandi."
He lowered his beer. "You won't be," he promised. "They like you. I like you. After this is over, I'd like to be friends. I mean, if you do." He cocked his head and gave me a warm, boyish smile.
I bet that look dropped a few panties in his time. Was he aware how adorable he was? I mentally shook off the thought. I shouldn't be thinking about him that way. Kris should be uppermost in my mind right now, no one else.
"I'd like that," I said firmly. "You did say you'd take me for a ride on your bike." A thrill of anticipation and fear trickled down my spine.
He grinned. "I did and I will. You'll love it. There's no bigger rush. Except jumping out of a plane."
I wrinkled my nose. "You've done that?" The idea made me shudder.
"Once or twice." He cocked his head. "You've never done that either?"
"Hell no," I said. "Why would I jump out of a perfectly good plane? Unless it was crashing." Even then, I'd have to be shoved out. Nope, I'd keep to my seat, seatbelt fastened nice and tight.
"Because it's fun." Chase rested his elbow on the table. "And perfectly safe. For the most part."
"Yeah. It's the 'for the most part' bit that worries me," I said dryly. "Accidents happen."
"That's for sure." He grimaced.
I regarded him for a moment. "Should I ask?" I was curious now. What happened to him that he'd make a face like that when I mentioned accidents?
He shook his head. "You don't want to know. Let's just say I have some bad luck sometimes." His expression dropped and he sighed.
"You're thinking of Brandi?" I placed a hand lightly over one of his. His skin was warm and firm. His hands were bigger than Kris'. Why was I noticing details like that? I really needed to reign my mind in.
"It's hard not to," Chase admitted. "I'm sure you think of Kris a lot. I know I do." His mouth twisted to the side a little.
"You're still pissed at him," I said. "Have you spoken to him?"
"I texted to invite him here tonight," Chase said. "He replied that he was busy with something."
My heart skipped. Partly at the idea that I could have seen Kris tonight and partly because I wondered what was so important he blew Chase off. Did it have something to do with Brandi?
Or— "He might be too scared to see you in person," I suggested. "You might still punch him in the face." I was only half-joking.
"If I slept with his girlfriend, I'd probably avoid him too," Chase said.
"I don't think you would ever do that," I said. "Sleep with his girlfriend, I mean."
His eyes lingered on mine for a moment. Did I imagine them darkening?
"I guess not," he said after a moment. "I mean, no, I wouldn't cheat, or be the other guy. Life is way too short for that."
"Ain't that the truth," I agreed. Maybe it was too short to fight for someone who did cheat, but my aching heart told me to try. Life was also too short to give up on things you really want.
"You two are way too deep and meaningful over here," Bam declared. He made his way toward us through the tables. "This is a celebration. Lighten up a little." He grinned.
He'd obviously been drinking, but not enough to be sloppy. Well, not too sloppy. Cheerful at least.
"We're light," Chase retorted. "Right, Ash?"
"Right," I agreed. "Light as a… something which is really light."
"Like a light?" Bam pointed up at the ceiling.
"Yeah, that works." I laughed. "We're just here having a good time."
"Great," Bam said. "So, how did you meet?"
I glanced at Chase. "Through a mutual friend.
" That much was true. At least, if Kris and Chase were still friends.
Something like this could really drive a wedge between them.
I wondered if Kris thought about that before he'd fallen into bed with Brandi.
He probably wasn't thinking at all. Besides, if he wasn't thinking about me, then he was certainly not thinking about Chase.
"Ah, the old mutual friend," Bam said with a nod. "Sure is safer than hookin' up with a chick in a bar. Right, Chase?"
Chase shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Um, yeah. Didn't you meet your last ten or eleven girlfriends in bars?"
"Yep," Bam replied. "And look how they turned out."
"I'm sure it works for plenty of people," I said. Kris and I met through another friend. The guy before him, I met in the gym. Before that, in college. And the two before him. I really wasn't adventurous, was I?
"Yeah, what she said." Bam jerked his head toward me. "That's why I keep lookin'."
"I'm sure you'll find someone," I assured him. I thought about offering to set him up with someone. Maybe Grace from Lacey's PR department? No, they were too alike. Both were outspoken and took no crap from anyone. They'd probably kill each other.
"Eh, that's okay." He waved a hand at me. "I'm happy stayin' single. It's much less of a hassle."
I couldn't argue with that. Sometimes I wondered if life would be simpler without Kris, or anyone else, in it. But still, the heart wants what the heart wants, whether it makes sense or not.
"He says that, but then when he meets a woman he likes, he's all in," Chase said.
"'Til I'm all out," Bam said. "That happens soon after. I get bored too easily."
"You do or they do?" Chase teased.
"Hey," Bam pretended to be stung, but a smile touched the corners of his mouth. "I am never boring, I'll have you know. Abraham, 'Bam" Clinton is the life of the party. All of the parties, all of the time."
"Keep telling yourself that." Chase clapped him on the shoulder.
"I will, 'cause it's true," Bam said.
"What's true?" Ollie Tucker drifted over from the group and propped his arm on Bam's shoulder.
"We were just saying you need to be hit in the face a few times," Bam said without missing a beat. "You're too pretty."
I laughed at the expression on Ollie's face, but Bam wasn't wrong. Ollie was one of the best looking guys I'd ever seen, and he didn't seem to realise it.
"Have you ever modeled?" I asked without thinking.
All eyes swiveled to me.
"You must be talking to me," Bam said. He fluffed the air at the back of his head, which would have been hair if he wore it longer. "I'm pretty hot."
"No," I said. I shook my head. "I mean yes, you are, but I was talking to Ollie."
Chase pointed at Bam and laughed. "You're a funny guy."
Bam sniffed. "I don't see her asking you either."
Chase lowered his hand.
"Actually, if any of you wanted to, we could use some men to model at the spring fashion parade," I said. Getting the Lowball Bay Humpbacks on stage would be quite the coup. I might even score a promotion for it. Not to mention, it would be fun.
"Chase would fall off the catwalk," Bam said. "But it could be good for shits and giggles."
Chase opened and closed his mouth. "I could try," he said. "If Ollie will. No one will notice if I fall, they'll be looking at him."
Ollie blushed. "I…I don't know."
"It's for charity," I said to sweeten the deal.
"Well, I guess so then," Ollie said with a shrug. "If everyone else will do it."
"I'll make Hawk take part too," Bam said. "He loves strutting around and being stared at."
Chase grinned. "He really does. It's like being star quarterback has gone to his head, or something."
I smiled. Hawk seemed to have the usual arrogance of a football god, but he was basically a decent guy.
They were all like that; confident, self assured.
Why wouldn't they be? Their hard work put them right where they wanted to be.
They were the envy of football players everywhere.
And those who aspired to be football players.
"My boss is going to love you all," I said.
Mel was going to freak out. Lowball Bay Lacey's was a big store, but usually Sydney and Melbourne got the big names, not us.
If I could rub my hands in glee, I would have.
I already pictured the outfits they'd wear.
Nothing haute couture, or anything like that.
Although, it might be fun to dress Bam in a tutu, or a bunch of mint green ruffles.
"Of course, what's not to love?" Bam gave me a lopsided smile.
"No idea, I'm sure," I replied. He was funny, good looking and smart. He was a catch. For someone that wasn't me. I could see us being friends. Ollie too.
How ironic. High school me would have turned up her nose at the idea of being friends with jocks. Thank the fashion gods our high school selves get left in the past, where they belong. Although, I'm not sure they belong there either. I was my own worst enemy back then. Most of us were, I supposed.
"Exactly." Bam brought my mind back to the present. "Hey, maybe I'll take up modeling after I give up football." He strutted away a few steps, stopped, turned on his heels and gave us his best duck face, eyelashes fluttering.
We all laughed.
"You're a natural," Chase said. He grinned until Bam socked him on the shoulder.
"Hey, what was that for?" Chase rubbed his hand up and down his arm.
"For being sarcastic," Bam said.
"I was being one hundred percent sincere," Chase insisted.
"Sure you were." Bam gave him a playful pout. "You wouldn't know sincere if it crept up out of the toilet and bit you on the ass."
"I'm pretty sure anyone would notice that," Ollie said.
"Yeah, what Ollie said." Chase lowered his hand and finished his beer. "I'd buy you one," he said to Bam. "But I don't wanna."
"I can buy my own," Bam said. "Come on, Ollie. Let's leave the lovebirds to it."
I looked down at the table at the sudden reminder that we were more or less lying to them.
"Yeah, later," Chase told them. Once they were gone, he asked, "Do you have plans for tomorrow?"