Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
The hair on the base of Chase's neck stood at attention as they walked through the school. Students flowed through the hall, and Tasha, the school counselor, led them through the main areas. As she talked with Destini, Jewel bumped him with her shoulder.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head, his eyes crossing the crowd of students and teachers standing by their doors. Two teachers stood together, whispering and giving him side-eyes while a few of the students pointed.
Chase's jaw tightened. He knew exactly what was happening, but he wasn't about to let Jewel see his discomfort. The whispers, the pointed fingers—they were all about the incident last week. One moment of lost control, and now the entire school was watching him like he was some kind of ticking time bomb.
Tasha continued walking, her voice a steady stream of professional cheerfulness. "And here's where the science labs are located," she said to Destini, who bounced on her feet excitedly.
"Nothing," Chase muttered to Jewel, but his clenched fist betrayed his words. A student near the water fountain quickly looked away when Chase's gaze met his. The kid had probably heard the rumors, seen the social media posts. One punch. One moment. That's all it had taken to turn Chase from a convict in the background to front and center of Crimson Creek gossip.
He'd weathered all these same stares last fall when he'd first come home. Things had died down for the most part at church, the grocery store, the feed store, and other places around town. Now it was back, and he was worried this would affect Destini's ability to fit in. He didn't want his past to haunt her too.
The hallway suddenly felt too narrow, too crowded. Sweat formed at his hairline, people still watching.
"I'm going to the football field. Maybe Parker will be out there or something. I'll wait for y'all there," he murmured.
Jewel opened her mouth to say something, but he didn't hear as he stepped away, the crowd too loud with teenage voices as he walked through the hall and to the door at the end.
When he stepped outside, he drew a big breath of fresh air, his shoulders relaxing slightly. The sidewalk to the football field was lined with names of previous graduates carved into the concrete, reminding him of all who'd walked this same path. He wasn't certain anyone had ever been in his shoes before though, and he was worried that he'd screw it all up again.
He'd had his whole life before him, planned out and working toward a bright future. Things had been going well… until they took a downward turn, a sharp nosedive that lasted a few months before his future shattered in an explosion that had rocked him to his core.
A whistle drew him out of his melancholy, and he glanced up, going to the edge of the fence where it separated the field from the parking lot. Hands in pockets, he stood there and watched his little brother in his element. He'd missed so much, including his brother's entire career as a professional soccer player.
Parker lifted a hand to wave, and Chase nodded. After a few minutes directing the girls and boys in a warm-up, he jogged over.
"Hey, what's up? Is everyone okay?" Parker said, slightly out of breath, his hair flying in the wind and falling over his forehead.
"Everyone's fine. Just touring the school with Destini and the stares got to me," Chase said, surprising himself with how freely he shared. This was his brother, sure, but if he'd learned anything in the past few years, it was how to share his feelings.
Except fear still held him back from telling Jewel he loved her.
Parker made a joke that had Chase rolling his eyes, then he asked about the drive from Houston with Destini. He wanted to know everything they'd talked about. Maybe it'd help him be a better father and get to know her better.
As he chatted with Parker across the fence at the soccer field, his brother blew his whistle and yelled out drills periodically.
Birds chirped as Chase watched Jewel walk with Destini from the main building toward them. He hadn't wanted to go inside with all his bruises, but Jewel had told him not to hide who and what he was. The stares had proven him right, though. Lord only knew what the consequences of his fight would be on Destini.
Parker snorted, making Chase's gaze turn from his girls to his brother.
"Man, you've got it bad, don't you? And another bites the dust," Parker tsked and shook his head. "And so close on the heels of losing Hunter too."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Chase asked.
Parker grinned wider. "You're in love with Jewel, aren't you?"
"So what if I am?" Chase threw back at him as if tossing down a gauntlet.
Parker just laughed and shook his head. "Have you told her yet? I'm going to guess no."
Chase crossed his arms, careful of his ribs. "And there's only one Williams brother left to fall. Hm, I wonder how well you'll handle it, little bro."
Parker smirked, grabbing his whistle as Jewel and Destini neared. "Damn straight, I'm going to do better than all you fools who went before."
Chase barked a laugh as Parker blew the whistle and called for a drill change.
Jewel tilted her head, but he couldn't see past the sunglasses. "What's going on?"
He shook his head as she stopped near him, Destini watching the practice at the edge of the open fence. The look on her face said she wanted to run onto the field and play, but she hung back.
"Nothing unusual. Just brothers being dumb."
"Must be nice," Destini said absently.
"What?" Jewel asked, turning to her.
"To have brothers," Destini said just as a stray ball came sailing toward them. Destini reacted with a hop and a kick that sent it back.
His heart raced at the wistfulness in her voice. What if Jewel met another guy who had kids? That might be better for Destini, to have a step-dad who wasn't a convict. A good family man with a steady paycheck.
Unless he could convince Jewel to love him back, maybe have more kids. He didn't deserve her, but maybe she'd take a chance on him.
He glanced at Jewel, who was staring at him right back, neither of them able to see what the other thought of that comment.
Had she ever wanted more kids? Did she still? He'd pictured them having several years ago before the accident, but now he wasn't so sure. He'd realized that back then, Jewel had never seemed as fully committed to their relationship as he'd been. His intensity had scared her, and if he were honest, she was still scared.
A few soccer girls raced over, introducing themselves and inviting Destini to practice. Destini ran onto the field while Jewel stood with Chase near the end of the fence.
"She's going to do well here," Chase said into the silence, whether to convince her or himself he wasn't sure.
Jewel sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I'm just kicking myself that we didn't get here sooner."
He shrugged. "I would've still been in prison. It sucks that we missed so much time together, but that just means I'm going to do all I can to make every moment perfect for you both."
"For all three of us," Jewel said, her lips tipping into a frown.
He nodded, conceding the point, but his priority would always be his girls. If that meant letting Jewel go marry another man—a better man—then he'd reluctantly do it. She deserved the best, and that certainly wasn't him.
Once Destini finished practice, they drove to his parents' ranch for lunch so Destini could meet her grandparents.
"Do you think they'll like me?" Destini whispered from the back seat as Jewel passed the barn and parked in front of the house.
Chase snorted, reaching for the handle on the truck. "They're going to love you more than they love me, that's for sure."
He got out, shutting the door behind him. Destini scrambled after him, but Jewel dragged her feet up the stairs. Chase opened the front door for them, then followed Jewel inside.
Ava stood in the kitchen, eyes wide as she stared at Destini.
"Oh my God, you're gorgeous. Just look at you," Ava said, awe clear in her tone.
Bill cleared his throat repeatedly but took a staggering step forward. "Are—can I hug you?"
Destini dipped her toe on the floor and nodded as she tucked a hair behind her ear. Bill stepped forward quickly and pulled Destini into a hug.
"Oof," Destini said, a smile playing on her lips. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, wrapping her arms around her grandpa. "Well, hello to you too."
"Sorry, sorry," Bill said gruffly, stepping back and wiping his eyes. "It's just—we've waited so long to meet you."
Destini's shoulders relaxed and her smile widened. "You've waited? I've wondered about you for fifteen years!"
Ava finally broke free of her awe and pulled Destini into a hug too. It was like the dam broke, and all three of them began talking one over the other.
Chase leaned against the door frame, watching the reunion with a mix of relief and something else—something softer. Jewel stepped up beside him, her hand brushing his.
"Looks like they're hitting it off," she murmured.
"I knew they would," Chase replied, his voice rough with emotion.
Bill was already showing Destini around the living room, pulling out photo albums and pointing out family pictures on the wall. Ava kept touching Destini's hair, her cheek, as if confirming she was real.
"Do you want some lunch?" Ava asked, already moving toward the kitchen. "I made your favorite—Jewel told me you love chicken pot pie."
Destini's eyes widened. "You know my favorite?"
"We've got fifteen years of catching up to do," Bill said, pulling out a chair for her. "And we intend to spoil you so much."
Chase watched as Destini wiped at her eyes and followed them into the kitchen, helping his parents gather plates and set the table.
Bill pulled out chairs around the kitchen table, his movements careful and deliberate. "Did you tour the school today? What do you think of it?"
Destini launched into a story about meeting the girls at soccer, her hands moving animatedly. Chase leaned against the table, watching her with a mix of wonder and pride.
Jewel placed her hand on his bouncing knee, and he looked over at her. They shared a moment of silent understanding. This was everything they had hoped for—a family reunion that felt both natural and long overdue.
"Your mom says you're really into science too," Ava said, slicing up a fresh apple pie.
Destini almost bounced in her seat across from them. "I've won five science fairs, gotten second twice, and I've lost count of however many other ribbons. I've got it written in a notebook though so I can put it in my college applications."
Bill chuckled. "Sounds like a chip off the old block. Your father was always keeping track of things like that too and was top of his class for both math and science."
Destini's brows rose, but Chase's chest grew tight. They remembered? He—sounded proud?
The comment hung in the air for a moment. Chase saw Destini's slight hesitation, then her shoulders relaxed as she grinned. "I guess I am. What else was he like as a kid?"