Jeremiah
“Mia wouldn’t walk ten steps ahead of me,” Chase grumbles behind me.
I roll my eyes. It took him fifteen minutes to say goodbye—not counting the ten minutes he spent making the rounds with Donnelly’s entire staff.
If I’d known he was going to do a full farewell tour, I would’ve… well, I’d still have offered to drive him home, but I’d at least have been mentally prepared for it. Doesn’t mean I can’t be grumpy about it.
“Well, Mia isn’t here. You’re stuck with me,” I say, stopping abruptly. I misjudge just how close he’s following, and he crashes straight into me.
“Whoa, there.” He sways, struggling to find his balance. I instinctively loop an arm around his waist, steadying him as he teeters. “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” He laughs, slinging an arm over my shoulders. “Is the world spinning, or is it just you?”
My lips press into a thin line. “How much did you drink tonight?” I huff, guiding him toward the parking lot. A three-minute walk is quickly turning into ten.
“Should I start counting my drinks before or after you got to the bar?” He chuckles, resting his head on my shoulder.
I keep an arm around his waist, trying to ignore how good his hair smells—a mix of summer nights and strawberries.
Car. Just get to the car.
“You really shouldn’t drink this much, Chase. It’s not good for you.”
“Like you care what’s good for me,” he mutters under his breath. Then, quieter, “Wait. Do you care?”
I glance at him as we round the gate to the parking lot, my gaze lingering. The streetlights cast a golden glow on his face, so stunning it makes my chest ache.
“Which car is yours?” He swallows thickly, breaking the silence.
I blink, refocusing. “Right. Uh—” I dig my keys out of my pocket and press the fob. My Audi beeps from a few rows away—the exact location I forgot the second Chase landed in my arms.
Chase gasps. “Shut up.”
I let him go, walking over to my car. “What?” I ask, opening up his door.
“I knew it. You’re such an Audi guy.” Chase laughs, sliding into the passenger seat. “Can’t wait to tell Todd,” he snickers.
My brow arches before closing the door after him.
I round the car and slide into the driver's seat.
“What were you listening to?” Chase smiles, reaching for my touch screen on the dash.
I lightly smack his hand to ward him off. “Drunkies aren’t allowed near the tech.”
Chase softly laughs, as I start up the car. He leans back to get comfortable and buckles up his seat. It’s nice seeing him do what I say.
“Good,” I say under my breath.
He hears me though because I can see him nervously run his hands up and down his thighs.
“Where should I head?” I ask, turning out of the lot and onto the road.
Donnellys isn’t far away from WingMate. Our office is inside the Financial District which means we’re in the heart of Toronto’s corporate world.
Here, gleaming glass skyscrapers and sidewalks filled with professionals in tailored suits are the norm.
I wonder where Chase lives. It’ll be interesting to find out.
“Uh, I’ll just direct you. It’s not too far from here. Thank you, sir.” Chase nods, matter-of-factly.
A laugh escapes me as I turn onto the road.
But after he directs me through a few turns, I realize we’re driving away from the heart of the city.
“You drive to work everyday?” I ask.
Chase shakes his head. “Nah, I either walk or take the streetcar if the weather is bad.”
I coax my brow and glance at him. “You mean to tell me you walk to work this far with our breakfast every single day?”
“Mhmm, yeah. Best part of my day,” he says quietly. I glance at him and see he’s looking out the window.
Interesting.
“So, are you going to tell me yet?” I ask, deciding to change the subject.
“Tell you what?” Chase leans on the passenger side, clearly getting tired.
“What did you mean when you called me an ‘Audi guy’?” I smirk.
Chase sits up, clearly interested in exploring this topic.
“Tell me if I’m wrong–” he excitedly begins. “You like luxury but you’re not about the flashy life.”
I think it over for a second. “Yeah, I guess that’s correct.”
I like to spend my money where I see fit but I don’t necessarily need anyone else to know that. I’m not about being the center of attention.
“You’re ambitious…and you command respect.” Chase says simply, running his hand back and forth on the inside exterior.
I lick my lips, suddenly feeling warm. “Are you asking or telling me?”
Chase turns to flash a slow, crooked smile at me. “Telling, definitely telling.”
I try not to stare for too long as I refocus back on the road, making the necessary turns.
“Audi drivers struggle with what they should do versus what they want…” His voice fades out.
I grip the steering wheel tightly in my left hand.
“You really know your cars,” I murmur softly.
Chase doesn’t break his eye contact with the side of my face. “Yeah, apparently.”
I glance at him and he immediately looks away, shyly looking back to the road.
“Turn right here,” he says, pointing past me. I snap out of my head and turn on my blinker. It looks as though we’re in an area with loads of shops and convenience stores. We’re clearly on the other side of the city. Everything looks quiet but there are a few passersby on the street.
“You can just pull over here.” Chase tilts his chin, instructing me down a side street. I put the car in park and turn off the engine.
“Wait, what are you doing?” Chase’s eyes widen, watching me unbuckle my seatbelt.
“Walking you inside.” I shrug. Truthfully, Chase is intoxicated and I’m not willing to have him walking out and about, late at night. I at least want to make sure he gets inside okay.
“No, you’re not.” He chuckles, shaking his head.
I lean over and unbuckle his seat belt for him. “Get moving.”
He runs his hand through his hair and looks at, what I’m assuming is his building, nervously. His leg bounces in his seat. “Fine. But, you can’t judge my place. I wasn’t expecting company.”
“I don’t care. I’m going to drop you off at your door.” I get out of the car and walk around to open up his door.
He steps out and immediately stumbles on the curb.
“Oh jeez. Seriously?” I can’t help but laugh, scooping his waist up, once again.
“I’ve never seen that curb there in my whole life. That’s a new curb,” he mutters, swinging his arm over my shoulder.
I hold him securely around his waist as he guides us to his door. His little narrow door is right beside what looks like a fashion department store, of some sort. I see mannequins wearing pink and floral dresses in the mirror.
“You like? I can get you one. I’m sweet with the owner.” He winks at me.
I tilt my chin towards the keys he’s fumbling with in his hands. “Focus on getting inside and we’ll talk.”
Before long he ends up opening his door to his building. I can hear chatter and music playing behind other doors as we pass other apartments, up the small stairwell. We walk up a couple flights, until we’re on the third floor.
I wait patiently as he fumbles with his keys again, until he unlocks his front door.
Now it’s me fidgeting with my car keys in my hand. Should I still be standing here? Maybe his girlfriend, Honey, will still be awake waiting for him. I told him I’d just walk him to the door anyway and now I’m here and he’s fine and I should leave–
Before I make my final decision, he opens up the door. Immediately, I hear a whining cry.
What is that noise?
“Oh, baby girl,” he coos, crouching to the ground.
He stands back up and turns around. I’m taken back to see him hugging and snuggling a spotted, brown, black, and orange patterned cat. The whining is immediately swapped for soft purrs, the moment the cat sinks into his arms.
“Close the door. I don’t want Honey to get out,” he whispers softly, rubbing its fluffy face against his cheeks.
“Honey,” I repeat, closing the door gently.
Oh, I was so wrong.
“Only the sweetest little one ever.” He swoons, setting her down on the ground. “Don’t get worried if she doesn’t warm up to you. She never likes any—”
We both look down as she passes my feet, rubbing her side against my leg, purring.
Chase stands there, wide eyes as he takes in the sight. “Well that’s…new…”
Truthfully, I’ve always loved cats. I love dogs too but I feel like cats understand me on a different level. I bend down and snatch her up, gently. Honey immediately starts snuggling her face against mine and I can’t help but smile.
“Oh, you are a good girl, aren’t you?” I coo, giving her some soft kisses on the top of her head.
I hear a low curse under Chase’s breath.
Darting my eyes to him, he seems frozen, as though seeing me cuddling with his cat is the craziest thing he’s ever seen any human do.
“You okay? Are you going to be sick?” I wonder, scanning his face for clear signs of illness.
“No, no. It’s not that, I–” His eyes dart around the room. “Actually, yeah. Maybe I should sit down.”
I nod, resting Honey on the floor. “Yeah, that sounds good. And I should probably head–”
When I lift my eyes, I see now that Chase has disappeared. Where has he run off to now?
I know I should leave but…somewhere in me is curious. Who is Chase Rutherford behind the scenes? We had only made it as far as the front door so I haven’t actually seen anything more of his apartment yet.
I step around the corner, hesitantly. His living room immediately comes into view. It’s nothing fancy at all, really. Pretty basic boy living room with hardwood floors, a glass coffee table with a couple dirty dishes and a couple controllers resting on the grey couch across from the mounted TV.
I hear some clattering of dishes so I follow the noise across the space. “Dammit. I told him to do this before I left for work,” Chase mutters to himself as he puts some dishes into the sink.
“You have a roommate?” I ask, following him.
Chase sighs, throwing his head back. “I like to think of him as a stain that won’t come out,” he grumbles. “Forget this, let’s go to my room.” He dusts off his hands, storming off.
To his room?
“Whoa, wait. I was only supposed to walk you to your door. I–”