Chapter 24
twenty-four
Chase and Amanda have been talking about this new band, American Thieves, for at least twenty minutes while Elvis peppers me with questions about the new man in his life. Even as I laugh and play along, I’m keenly aware of Amanda and Chase the entire time. They’re animated and laughing with smiles on their faces, and it’s hard not to look over at them every few minutes.
I think I’m succeeding. My eyes stay fixed on Miles and Elvis, giving them at least ninety-five percent of my undivided attention.
“I’m so glad you’re here tonight,” I tell Elvis with a smile. “I’ve been asking Miles if I could meet you since I knew you existed.”
“Nosy,” Miles teases, and I narrow my eyes at him. On a more serious note, he leans toward Elvis. “I told her how this is all a little new.”
Elvis nods. “Yeah.” He looks around before leaning toward me like he’s about to share a secret across the table. “I’m not out with my friends at home yet. ”
I zip my lips shut and flick the key away. “Well, you’re welcome to our side of town anytime.”
He gives me a subtle wink. “Thanks.”
Miles gets to his feet and stretches his arms overhead. “All right. Well, I’m done sitting on this wooden bench. We were going to meet up with a few people at Stem and Leaf. Want to come?” He looks around at the rest of us.
Amanda jumps to her feet. “I’ll join, but only if I’m not crashing.”
Miles waves away her concern. “Absolutely not.”
My eyes jump to Chase, but I’ve already started shaking my head. Looking up at Miles, I say, “I’ll probably turn in. Long day.”
“I’ll walk you,” Chase says, and having his eyes on me sends a jolt down my spine.
“Oh. Um. Okay.” I nod. “Sure.”
We all stand and gather our things, and my heart starts to race at the thought of walking back with Chase alone. Miles snaps me out of it when he says, “Hey, Stink,” and I look up at him. “Did you bring your shears home with you?”
I grimace. “I didn’t. Why? Want a haircut?”
“Yeah. I figured if we’re hanging out all day tomorrow, you could clean up this mess. It’s fine, though.”
“I’ll stop at the salon on the way home and grab them.”
“Wait.” Chase has been watching our exchange open-mouthed. He balks at Miles and me. “She cuts your hair?”
Miles gives me a sideways glance like he’s not sure why this is weird. “Yeah . . .?”
Chase shifts his focus to me. “You cut his hair?”
I let out a sigh, knowing exactly where this is going. “Yes. I cut his hair.”
Looking back at Miles, he runs his hands through his brunette locks and grips them the way I knew he would. “I’ve been asking her to cut my hair since I met her, and she won’t do it.”
Miles glances at me with uncertainty written in his eyes, but I just shake my head. We might be able to communicate a lot of things telepathically, but there’s no way I can describe my reasoning with a single look.
Miles looks back at Chase with faked sympathy. “Well, she loves me more. Sorry.”
Chase cracks a smile and points up at his hair, still sticking up from where he gripped it at the roots. “Well, this is getting out of hand, Candace.”
I roll my eyes and dismiss him by looking at the other three. “Have fun tonight.”
“You too,” Miles says with a laugh, like even he knows Chase won’t let this haircut thing go.
We say our goodbyes and head out in opposite directions.
The night air feels dry and cool against my skin. Year round, the city has string lights over the cobblestone streets, but for the month of December, the trees are wrapped in red and green twinkling lights, too. The whole scene makes our little downtown feel more magical at night.
As Chase and I walk, we’re practically shoulder to shoulder. Our arms brushing now and then, and each time they do, I take in the clean scent of him.
“Didn’t want to keep the party going?” I ask.
He gives me a warm smile. “I am keeping it going.”
I let out a breath of laughter that comes out sounding more like a scoff. “Right.” Before he can say more, I offer, “I know I joked to stay away from Amanda, but you guys seemed to hit it off. If you like her, I’m sure she’d be interested.”
He stops in his tracks, and by the time I turn around, I’m a few paces ahead of him. “You think I like Amanda?”
“I think you two have things in common, and she seems like your type. ”
He shakes his head. “Oh, Candace.” Walking back toward me, he tsks the whole way, “Candace, Candace, Candace.”
“What?” I ask with a laugh. “She’s adorable.”
He nods. “She is.”
“And sweet.”
“Very.”
“And blonde.”
His lips press into a tight-lipped smile as he holds up a finger. “Ah, there it is.”
I let out a laugh. “What? I’m trying to help you.”
He sticks both hands in his pockets. “That’s not how you can help me, and we both know it.”
Now it’s my turn to stop in my tracks. Something about his response hits differently. Something has shifted. I don’t know what, and I’m not sure when, but this is more than fake dates and practice. It has to be.
He doesn’t stop. He doesn’t turn around. He just keeps walking, and says over his shoulder, “Come on. Your salon is up here.”
Is he mad? I’ve never seen Chase upset, but the subtle change is noticeable. I scramble to catch up with him, but he still makes it to the salon door before me. Leaning up against the front of the building, he waits for me to get my key.
“Let me make one thing clear,” Chase says as he watches me fumble with the lock. “I stayed and hung out with Miles tonight for you, and I got to know Amanda tonight for you.”
I give him a sideways glance as I unlock the door. “I never asked you to do either of those things.”
He shakes his head as I pull the door open. Catching the edge with his hand, he holds it open for me, his arm above my head. “That’s not my point,” he says as I walk past him. I go to my station and get the small case with my shears inside the drawer, but I can feel him watching me. “My point is that as great as your friends are, it’s not about them. It’s about you. It’s always about you.”