Chapter 6
CHAPTER
SIX
The next day, Chase borrowed his dad’s truck and drove to Bobby’s house.
He had some bad news to share with him, and he wanted to do it in person instead of over the phone.
It came sooner than he would have liked, but he’d gotten a call that morning that he was needed back on base as soon as possible.
His commander didn’t give him many details, but he had learned never to question orders. When you had to go, you had to go.
He wasn’t in the mind space he’d hoped to be in when he had to go back, but what choice did he have? When the military said jump, he didn’t ask how high, he just started jumping.
He got out of the truck and knocked as he walked in. Bobby was in the living room, sitting on his couch with a cup of coffee in his hands and the news playing on the TV. He was still in his PJs enjoying his day off.
Bobby looked up at him at his entrance. The bad news must have been evident on Chase’s face because Bobby sat up, concern written on his features. “Hey, buddy, what’s up? What’s with that face? Everything okay? Is it your parents?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Everyone is good, sorry to alarm you.”
Bobby relaxed back into his seat, his hand on his chest as if his heart was about to leap out of it. “You scared me there, man.”
“Sorry, um…but I’m leaving.”
Bobby looked at Chase like he’d just told him the world was ending. “Leaving? But you just got here.”
“I know, but I got a call from my commander this morning. I have to report back to base as soon as possible,” he explained sadly.
Chase wasn’t ready to go back yet, but he didn’t have a choice.
He’d made a promise to himself to come back and visit more often though.
He had forgotten how much he’d missed it here with his family and friends.
Bobby stood up and came over to give him a hug. Chase felt emotions clog his throat. He really had missed his friend. “Well, I wish you could have stayed longer.”
“Me too. Next time,” he promised to the both of them.
Bobby stood back and gave him a side glance. “Have you told your folks?”
It had been hard to tell them, and they’d had the same reaction Bobby had.
He hadn’t decided how long his vacation was going to last, but he had thought it would have been longer than a week.
His mom had cried, and his dad looked sad.
Telling them goodbye this time had been harder than when he’d left for basic training.
“Yeah, I just came from them.” He had to return his dad’s truck and get a ride to the airport.
It was a long drive, and his parents were older, and he didn’t want to put anyone out to drive him.
“What about CJ?” Bobby asked.
“What about her?” Chase asked carefully. His mom had made enough hints, but so far Bobby had seemed oblivious to her words. Did he now suspect something?
“You should tell her.” His face was neutral, not giving away any of his emotions.
“I—” Chase didn’t know what to say. He knew he needed to see her to apologize, but he didn’t have the heart to tell her goodbye. To cause her even more hurt as she had to watch him walk away again.
“Are you really leaving because of work?” Bobby asked, his head cocking to the side as if studying him.
“Yes.” Why would Bobby even question him on that? “Why would I lie?”
“Because you don’t want to admit you love my sister.”
“What?” Chase stuttered; it was the only thing he could think of to say to Bobby’s statement. Love his sister? The very idea. He liked her, sure. She made him laugh and knew him better than any woman before, and the sex had been amazing, but love? No way.
“Have a thing, is that better?” Bobby shrugged as if this were a normal everyday conversation. It was awkward as hell for him.
“Geez, Bobby, this is your sister we’re taking about,” he blurted.
“I know who she is.” The way he said it reminded him of CJ when he’d brought up their family connection. It was more for himself than for anyone else, to remind him of who her family was and why she was off limits.
“Shouldn’t you be swaying me from her and not asking about love?”
“True, I don’t like the thought of her with anyone, but if she’s going to be with someone, I’d rather it’d be you.
” If Chase had had a sister, he couldn’t think of anyone better for her to be with than Bobby, but that didn’t make this okay.
Some lines should just never be crossed, and friends’ sisters was one of them.
“I’m touched, but I don’t feel anything other than friendship for her.” What they had shared had been too brief to be anything. It had been a moment. A special, incredible, unforgettable moment. One he sadly couldn’t bring himself to regret.
Bobby didn’t look pleased by that statement, and he widened his stance, looking more like a bouncer than a guy who worked in a feed mill.
“Was sleeping with her just for fun? Play with her emotions? If so, I will kick your ass.” Bobby’s face turned stern.
The first Chase had ever seen it, and it was frightening.
He was always happy and easy going, except when it came to his sister.
And Chase’s biggest fear had come true, Bobby had found out about him and CJ.
Chase didn’t doubt for a second that if Bobby wanted to, he would fight him.
Bobby was not going to take his sister being used like that so easy.
“No,” he assured him. Yeah, at first when he didn’t know it was her, it had just been fun casual flirting, but being with her touched something he hadn’t known he’d been missing in his life.
A connection of more than just bodies but minds and spirits.
He’d always felt a kinship with CJ, even as kids.
She wasn’t the annoying little sister who liked to tag along.
She was fun, bright, and always up for their adventures even when she knew they were dumb and dangerous.
He had always looked forward to seeing her and hanging out with her.
He’d felt a void being back home this week without her there.
Was that love? He didn’t know what it was, but what he did know was that he missed it.
Someone to share his accomplishments with.
He suddenly realized she was that someone he wanted to share them with.
To see her smile and her eyes light up in happiness for him when he won a medal.
To comfort him when his nightmares got too bad.
Everyone had been right; he did love her, and now her brother had just found out about them.
This was either going to end in a handshake or bloody fists.
He was hoping the former. “But how did you know about us?” CJ wasn’t the type to brag about it.
“Small town, remember? Everyone saw you leave together, and I found you at her place, so it wasn’t hard to deduce.
” Chase expected Bobby to attack him now, or at the very least yell, but he was taking all of this in good stride.
Better than he would have if the roles had been reversed.
Another reason he shouldn’t have breached that trust.
“I’m sorry; I should have told you.”
Bobby clapped him on the shoulder, offering him comfort.
It was almost laughable that he would offer him comfort instead of the other way around.
“Dude, you don’t owe me anything. You’re both adults.
But you break her heart, I’ll kick your ass,” he said, looking serious again and wagging a finger in his face.
“Noted.” Bobby could try, but Chase outweighed him and was trained. Bobby didn’t stand a chance, but because he was Chase’s best friend and the brother of the woman he loved, he would have taken a beating. Another sign he loved her. It was getting easier to admit now.
“You should see her before you go. She was really upset the last time you left without saying goodbye.”
“I will.”
“And some groveling and an apology wouldn’t hurt.
” He had a lot of groveling and making up to do.
He was up to the task. There were a lot of issues to work out, but Chase wanted CJ in his life, and he was determined to win her back.
He wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
The battle for her heart was about to begin.