17. Chase
Chase
We make a beeline for the bonfire. I split off when I feel the heat radiating against my skin.
Steele tips his chin at me before veering left toward Addie. I go right.
The random guy has erased the space Summer deliberately put between them, and it annoys me.
It’s a basic rule—if you’re going to flirt with someone, at least try to pay attention to their body language.
Like always, it’s as if she senses me coming. She turns her head and our eyes meet, sending liquid warmth skittering through me.
Her pupils swallow her irises, fighting against the dark, and she dips her head, staring into her cup.
The guy’s mouth moves, but she doesn’t respond to whatever he’s saying.
She lifts her head just as I reach her. I tuck my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels.
“Hey, you,” I say, not breaking eye contact.
“Hey,” she replies.
Silence.
The guy clears his throat and I blink twice, biting back my smile. Summer catches her bottom lip, suppressing her own.
I finally look at him. Up close, he sort of looks familiar, but I can’t quite place him.
I wait a beat, hoping it clicks. It doesn’t.
Before it gets awkward, I hold out my hand and we shake. “Chase.”
He nods. “Brandon. I remember you. Linebacker, right? You’re good, man.”
My brows shoot up. “Thanks. Defensive end, if I remember correctly?”
“Was defensive end. Good memory,” he replies, impressed.
“You live in Ocean Grove?”
“Pacific Ridge,” he supplies. “My friend Pat heard there was a bonfire. A couple of us tagged along.”
“Nice.”
Brandon’s gaze shifts between me and Summer. He releases a long exhale, pushing to his feet.
“Well, I’ll, uh—I should get going.” He throws a thumb over his shoulder. “Find my friends.”
Summer nods. “It was nice to meet you.”
I try not to gape as he bends down, taking Summer’s hand in his own. She wiggles in her seat, looking anywhere but at him as he presses a kiss to her knuckles.
“It was really nice to meet you, Summer.” The fucker winks before turning to me with a nod. “See you, man.” Then he walks away.
I’m relieved to find Summer wearing the same What the hell expression as I am when I turn back to her. A beat passes before our composure cracks. She claps a hand over her mouth as we burst with laughter.
I fall into the seat beside her, leaning in close. “It was really nice to meet you, Summer.”
She slaps my chest. “Shut up!”
“What?” I say, holding up my hands.
She shakes her head. “You’re a turd.”
“A turd?” I lurch back. “I don’t think anyone’s called me that before.”
She bumps her knee with mine. “First time for everything.”
Of course, the words first time hit differently when Summer’s sitting next to me. My laughter dies as an image flashes through my mind—Summer beneath me, writhing and—nope. I quickly smother that thought, stashing it away like a box in an attic.
Her own smile drops and her cheekbones flush a cute pink. I’m not sure if her imagination conjured the same picture, but I don’t want her to feel embarrassed.
I clear my throat. “Can I get you another drink?”
She peers into her cup. “I’m good with this one. Thanks, though.”
“All good,” I say. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“It’s more relaxed than Xavier’s party.”
“Much more.” I chuckle. “Still not too late for that keg stand.”
“Hmm.” She taps a finger against her lips. “Tempting.”
“Yeah, gotta be honest. I don’t think it’s your style.”
“My style?” She cocks a brow. “And what exactly is my style, Whitmore?”
“What do you mean?”
“You want the real answer?” I ask.
“No. Lie to me,” she deadpans.
I suck in a breath. “You’d rather watch the party than be the center of it.
You prefer oversized hoodies to tight dresses.
You nurse one drink all night because you can’t stand drunk people.
And my guess? While everyone’s getting shitfaced, you’re probably counting down the minutes until you can go home and play music. ”
She rubs a palm over her leg. “That makes me sound so boring.”
“You’re not boring at all.” I meet her eyes. “You don’t need to be loud to be noticed, Hayes.”
She’s quiet, skimming her finger around the rim of her cup. When she speaks, her voice is softer. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“What’s your style?”
I scrunch my brows as I consider. “I don’t know. I never really thought about it.”
“You’re different from what people think,” she says.
“So are you.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I mean, you’re not what people expect.”
“And what’s that?”
“You want the real answer?” she asks.
I huff a laugh. “No. Lie to me.”
“Well.” She twists her hair over one shoulder.
“Sometimes I think people only see the jersey. The star on the football team.” Something tightens in my chest. “You are that … but you’re so much more.
You’d rather make everyone else comfortable than admit when you’re not.
I’ve seen you give up things you wanted so other people could have what they need.
You check on everyone else before you ever check on yourself. ”
“Summer—”
“You carry so much, Chase. And you never ask anyone to help you hold it.”
Cold trickles down my spine.
“Am I wrong?” she whispers.
I watch the firelight dance across her face. “No one’s ever said that out loud before.”
“Well.” She takes a sip. “Maybe you’re not the only one paying attention.”
I almost speak but catch myself, unsure of what to say next. I push up the sleeves of my hoodie instead.
“Even though tonight’s more relaxed, I didn’t get hit with a football at Xavier’s party,” she says.
“I’m sorry about that. You took quite the hit,” I say, my hand automatically settling over the spot. “How’s the shoulder holding up?”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m tougher than I look.”
“I know you are.” That’s what worries me.
Her smile falters before she smooths her features. “Looks like Addie’s having fun,” she says, gesturing across the fire.
Steele’s leaning in, talking to Addie while she remains fixed on the flames, jaw set, arms folded tight across her chest. She isn’t yelling or leaving, so that’s an improvement.
A soft gasp tears from Summer’s lips, and the sound is like a shot of adrenaline to my veins. “Look,” she whispers close.
Steele says something and Addie’s lips press together.
She’s fighting it, but I catch the ghost of a grin before she masks it with indifference.
Addie shivers and rubs her arms. Without a word, Steele yanks off his sweatshirt and offers it to her.
She lasts about ten seconds before she snatches it and tugs it on without looking at him.
She isn’t saying a word to him, but I catch him smothering a smile of his own.
“Wait,” Summer says, spine snapping straight. “Where’d Cody go?”
I flick my attention back to the guys and notice Jasper’s also missing. “Not sure. Maybe he needed to find a restroom or get another drink.”
She shrugs. “Yeah, maybe.”
The fire crackles and pops as a gust of wind barrels through us and a tremor runs through Summer’s body. “You must be freezing,” I say, edging closer.
Her eyes drop to my bare legs. “I’m no colder than you.”
“Yeah, but you haven’t been chasing a football for the last hour.”
Her brows jump. “True. You couldn’t pay me to chase a football.”
“You’re right. You make a much better target.”
Her mouth drops open. “Excuse me?”
“For practice. You know, catching drills?” I smirk. “Except you’d catch them with your face.”
She elbows me in the ribs. “Hey! I took one hit!”
I hold up my hands. “All right, all right.”
“I’ll stick with music.”
“Probably safer for everyone,” I reply, ducking when she playfully smacks my arm. “I’m kidding! You’d be great at anything.”
She flips her hair. “Nice save, Whitmore.”
“I have my moments.”
Movement catches my eye. Addie is heading straight for us; phone clutched in her hand. Summer notices and jumps to her feet.
“Adds, you okay?”
Addie flicks a glance at me, then back to Summer. “My stomach doesn’t feel great. I think it’s the beer. My mom’s on her way.”
Over Addie’s shoulder, I see Steele. He’s standing with his hands linked behind his head, staring at the ground.
Whatever’s happened between them, it didn’t go well.
Summer’s brows pinch together. “Let me come with you.”
“No,” Addie says, catching her wrist. “Stay. Don’t leave on my account. I’ll just be getting into bed, anyway.”
“What about Cody?”
“He’s heading back to his place tonight. I’m not sure where he disappeared to, but he texted to say he’s fine.”
Summer hesitates, clearly torn.
Addie hauls her into a hug. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you.”
“Love you,” Summer murmurs, flopping back down beside me as Addie heads for the parking lot.
When I look across the fire again, Steele’s gone.
“Do you want to go home?” I ask.
“Uhh …” She peers over her shoulder, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I don’t have a ride.”
“I’ve had two drinks, so I’m not driving,” I explain. “Walk you home?” I catch the hint of a smile before she bites her lip.
“Sure.”