Chase
I Believe In A Thing Called Love by The Darkness
“M’lady. Your Mojito.” I slide Mia her drink on the bar and she happily catches it in her hand.
I tap my card on the machine to pay Calvin before taking my own Mojito. When I turn back to Mia, my eyes widen when I realize she’s already more than halfway done.
“Woah, there. We have all night.” I laugh nervously, taking a sip of my own.
Mia pants, grinning at me. “I’m just…Rachel is coming tonight and I…I’m nervous,” she says, eyes darting around as everyone from our work slowly files in.
I take a step back, giving her a full scan.
“What are you so nervous about? You look fucking hot.” She’s wearing sheer tights, black mini-skirt with a brown oversized leather jacket.
Not to mention, her knee-high boots would put anyone on their knees.
I’ve caught many people around us staring.
Mia isn’t only one of the coolest girls I’ve ever met, she’s a sight to behold.
Mia gives me a nervous half-smile before slipping her sleek braids over her shoulders. “You say that to everyone.”
I scoff out a laugh. “Only the hot ones.”
Giving me a playful nudge on my shoulder, the corners of her eyes crinkle as she giggles into her drink.
I’m glad my jokes are calming her down a little bit. I take this opportunity to scan the room myself. I don’t want to do it but I can’t help but search. Jeremiah isn’t here yet and it’s almost 7:15 pm.
“You looking for someone too?” Mia asks suspiciously, sticking her ruby painted nail in my side.
“Hey, ouch.” I pretend to wince, rubbing where she poked me. “No? Why would I be?” I thread my fingers through the hair at my temple. It’s a warmer spring night so I opted to wear a black linen button-up. Now I’m rethinking the whole thing.
Mia looks me up and down. “You know, you can say it.”
I chew my bottom lip, suddenly feeling way hotter than I was moments ago. “Say what?”
“Someone's got the hots for their boss.” She smirks, teeth biting the black straw.
“Okay, you’re cut off.” I take her now empty glass from her and signal for water to the bartender. “I’m not gay.”
She huffs, rolling her eyes. “You say that as if there are only two options. I mean, look at me. What am I?”
“You’re bisexual,” I say quietly. My eyes dart around. I can’t believe we’re talking about this here in a full bar.
“Exactly, I’m bisexual.” Mia repeats at a much louder volume than I just did. “But there’s also pansexual, asexual, demisexual… the list truly goes on. They call it a spectrum for a reason, babe.” Mia shrugs, grabbing her water from Calvin.
“Well, great. Thanks for that. If I wasn’t confused before…” I mutter, pulling my shirt away from my body. My body temperature feels like a million degrees all of a sudden.
“You know it’s okay, right?” Mia asks. I focus my attention back on her.
My pulse quickens. “What’s okay?”
“Feeling attracted to both.” She shrugs. “It’s okay.” She smiles softly. Her calmness immediately puts me at ease or else I’d be freaking out right about now. But, seeing her eyes so full of love for me even if that were to be true…it feels less scary to maybe consider.
“I’ve only ever been attracted to women…” I mutter.
“Until someone different comes along and…” She wiggles her brows, taking another sip of her drink.
Me? Bisexual? I can’t say I’ve ever thought of dating a man, nonetheless anyone, before.
Hookups with women always worked for me because I wasn't necessarily capable of giving them more than what I was able to provide. Sex? Sex, I can do. Relationships? Exclusivity? Frankly, it freaks me out.
Am I attracted to Jeremiah? That seems intense…
I know I like it better when he’s…nearby. I want to know what he’s doing and who he’s talking to. And it'd be really cool if he wanted that too.
OhmyGod. Is that…a crush? I’ve never really felt this way about anyone…
Anyone other than him, that is.
He was always just so… out of reach. At times, overwhelmingly so. I couldn’t shake the feelings then. I don’t know why I ever thought I’d be able to now. My chest tightens at the thought of how I treated him back then.
I want to do better this time. I want him to stay. Not just because I was an ass then but, also because…there’s a part of me that wants to see what it’d be like to just… start over?
She brushes some of my hair back off my forehead, immediately bringing me back to the present. “You’re thinking a lot of thoughts right now, I can tell.”
I shake my head, at a loss for words. “I—I don’t know what’s going on.” I admit, leaning on the bar to balance myself. I feel the anxious feelings start to climb up again.
Mia pats me softly on the shoulder. “Take your time. It’s really no one's business except for yours and there’s certainly no rush.
Enjoy the journey, my friend.” She leans in slightly, to whisper something only I can hear.
“For the record though, I don’t think you’re the only one confused about what they’re feeling. ”
My eyes widen. “What—”
“Hey!” A cheery voice behind Mia surprises us both.
Mia whips around and smiles brightly. “Rachel! You made it.” She swoons, wrapping her arms around the young woman’s shoulders.
Damn, I’ve never seen her like this. It’s cute. Since knowing Mia, she’s only ever been with men. But, seeing her so happy being authentically herself and allowing herself to like whoever…it’s inspiring.
Rachel is slightly taller than the five foot three Mia.
I take in her long red wavy hair that falls all the way down to her back, her hazel eyes and forest green turtle neck.
She looks like a warm cottage day. I smile at her looking at Mia with just as many hearts reflected in her eyes.
“Of course, I did. I’m excited to meet your friends. ”
“Well, you’re starting at the top because this is my best,” Mia says, squeezing Rachel's hand. They both turn to me as I’m caught taking a mouthful of my Mojito. “Rachel, meet Chase.”
I quickly swallow my drink down and wrap my hands around Rachel, bringing her into a hug. “Sorry, I only do hugs.” I chuckle, squeezing her tightly.
She grins at me after we separate. “Well, I’ve heard a lot about you,” she says, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Well, I’d hope so. I’ve been putting in a lot of work trying to make as big of a splash in this one's life as possible. I like to think of it as my legacy.” I grip Mia’s shoulder who just rolls her eyes at me and laughs.
Mia shakes her head. “Oh jeez, you’re making it sound like I’m your child.”
“Well, she didn’t tell me too, too much. All I really know is you have a big Twilight addiction.”
I gasp dramatically. “Mia, that was supposed to be our secret.”
Mia chuckles, rolling her eyes. “When you force me to do a re-watch marathon every November, I think at some point it stops being a secret.”
I shake my head at Mia. “I can’t believe you. Just out here divulging all my secrets. What am I going to do with you?”
“You better hold on tight, Spider Monkey.” Rachel quotes, winking.
My mouth drops open. “Oh my god, forget Mia, I think I’m in love with you.” I wrap my arm around Rachel’s shoulder, squeezing between her and Mia.
“Hey! Back off.” Mia pretends to kick my shin before pulling Rachel in by her waist.
We continue to laugh and chat while we order Rachel a Diet Coke since she’s driving. The bar quickly fills up with all the staff from WingMate. It’s incredible to see how many people love Heather here.
“Hey guys! Over here.” Todd yells out to us from across the bar. He’s sitting at a long table a few spots away from the stage. Bailey and a few others sit with him. As soon as we make it over, they all pause their conversations to greet us.
“Todd, meet Rachel. My new girlfriend,” I joke, tilting my head to motion to my new friend.
Todd’s brows shoot up. “Seriously?”
“Chase, I’m going to seriously murder you,” Mia says through clenched teeth as she pinches my ear.
I wince out in pain. “Ow, ow, ow!” I rub my earlobe. “I was joooking. Jeez.”
Rachel laughs as she sits next to Mia, scooching close to her side.
Todd slumps back in his seat. “Too bad. I was excited there for a minute. Chase Rutherford off the market. Never thought I’d see the day.”
I cock an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Bailey giggles, turning in her seat to include herself in the conversation. “I’ve heard whispers around the floor. Apparently you’re a bit of a ladies man, Chase.”
“Okay, whoa. I wouldn’t say that.” I am? I was? I don’t know. All I know is that I haven’t thought about sleeping with anyone since…
I silently curse at myself. I’ve already had enough realizations for tonight, thank you.
“Uh, up until a couple weeks ago I’m pretty sure I’ve seen your face multiple times on that Facebook page—” Bailey snaps her fingers, trying to search for the right word. I narrow my eyes at her silently begging her to shut up.
“‘Are we dating the same guy’!?” Rachel points and yells as though she just answered first on a game show.
“That’s it!” Bailey exclaims, clapping her hands with glee.
“Good guess, babe.” Mia smiles at Rachel before kissing her on the cheek.
My stomach dips. “Mia, don’t encourage this,” I say, poking her in the side. She curls into herself, laughing as she tries to escape my prodding finger.
My mouth thins. This isn’t what I want to be known for. It’s clearly already spread far enough, and I don’t need it getting worse.
I think I could be a one-person... person. If that person was special enough.
My eyes flick over to the doorway, frowning when I see no one walking in.
"Listen, everyone. I have reformed. Turned a new leaf. Man-whore, no more," I declare, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning back in my seat.
I glance to my left. Mia raises an eyebrow as she takes a slow sip from her refilled Mojito.
The table goes silent for a beat. That is until Todd sarcastically snorts, crossing his arms. “Sure. I’ll see it to believe it.”
“You know what, Todd? How about you stick to accounting, yeah?” I sit up in my chair. “Anyway, I’m not looking for anything serious right now.” I shrug, turning my attention back to the stage where someone has now started singing ‘Aint No Mountain High Enough’ by Diana Ross.
“Oh, here we go,” Todd whines, throwing his head back.
It’s only the start of the night and this is the third time in a row that someone has sung the most overplayed karaoke songs. Someone has to pick up the vibes a bit.
“Sing a song, Chase. Please, please, please,” Mia begs, pressing her hands together, clearly thinking the same thing I was.
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” I wink. I make my way over to Fernando, the Karaoke guy and log in my name and song.
I turn around to head back to my seat when something—or someone—at our table stops me in my tracks.