Chase
Casual by Chappell Roan
“Holy shit, holy shit.” I slam my hand on my bedside table, reaching for my phone. But, groan when I quickly realize it’s not in its usual spot.
My hands rustle through the sheets around me, still, coming up empty.
Where the hell is it?
“You and your goddamn alarm–” Ryan bursts into my room, throwing my phone onto my lap. I must’ve left it out in the kitchen last night. “You owe me a dream about Jessica Alba,” he grumbles.
I turn on my phone to see some missed messages from Mia checking to see if I got home okay. My eyes widen when I see what time it is. Fuck! I must’ve missed my first alarm and it snoozed until 6:30. Well, there goes my morning run. Not like it would’ve been a good one anyway with this hangover.
I groan, throwing my head back on my pillow. I have less than ten minutes to get up if I don’t want to be late for work. I still need to go for a shower, and stop to grab breakfast and coffee before my walk.
I go to remove my blanket overtop of me but I stop, realizing I’ve been tucked in. I remember—hazily—everything about last night up until I fell asleep. Warmth spreads low in my stomach, realizing Jeremiah must’ve done this after I passed out.
The stern, bitey, Jeremiah Blackwood, likes to tuck people in at night? How cute.
A smile plays on my lips as I get out of bed and walk to my dresser across the room.
“So, Germ…” Ryan lifts his eyebrows up and down as he leans on my doorframe.
“Jeremiah. His name is Jeremiah.” I snap, unbuckling my pants.
“Tomato. Tomato.” Ryan waves me off. “I didn’t even recognize it was him until he told me his name. Who would’ve thought?” he says, shaking his head in dismay. “Guy really grew into his height.”
“People change. Maybe you should try it sometime.” I shove past him towards the bathroom.
“Uh, whoa? What’s your problem?” Ryan calls out behind me.
I stop in my tracks before I reach the bathroom door. “I…just, his name is Jeremiah, okay?” I affirm, before slamming the door behind me. I take a deep breath in. I don’t usually get so worked up. Like, ever.
But… something’s off with me.
Something… different.
***
Getting myself showered and dressed would’ve been a whole lot easier if I didn’t have such a throbbing headache. Honey did not care at all that I had close to zero sleep. She was up and meowing, following me around the apartment until I fed her and gave all her morning kisses.
I smiled to myself at the memory of Jeremiah and Honey last night. Who would’ve thought he’d be a big softie when it came to her? Correction, who would’ve thought she would’ve been a softie to him? She would’ve clawed at anyone else but…
Shit.
I look down at my watch on my wrist. 8:50am. If I don’t get a move on, I’ll seriously be late and no one wants to be ‘the guy who gets too drunk and is late for work after a work party’.
I’m the marketing manager now, I’ve got to be professional.
Scratch the fact that I was literally the karaoke king last night. Yup, sounds about right.
I snag my black sunglasses from the kitchen counter and head for the door.
A familiar, irritating cough comes from the living room. “Are you forgetting something?”
I stop in my tracks and roll my eyes. “How long have we known each other?” I huff, reaching into my back pocket.
Ryan dusts off his hands on his jeans. I swear, the dude is always eating something.
“I don’t know. Ten…twelve years.” He shrugs, taking the twenty dollar bill I’m holding out in my hand.
“Yeah, and you never thought to, I don’t know, watch Honey because you simply love her?” I squint my eyes.
“Dude, she’s your cat.” Ryan shakes his head, walking back to his awaiting pizza pocket on his plate.
“I’ve got to go. But, we have to have a serious talk at some point about what you’ve become,” I shout, pointing at him on my way out the apartment door.
Seriously, I love the guy a lot but there are some things that gotta give.
I look down at my phone as I make my way down the floors of my building.
Mia: Caramel Macchiato, plzzzz. Thanks, love you xoxox
Me: I’m going to drink it before I get to work
Mia: You wouldn’t DARE
Laughing to myself as I step outside, I almost overlook the black Audi parked along the street. Something about it catches my attention at the last second, pulling my gaze sideways.
My stomach twists and turns, remembering who owns a car just like that.
No. It couldn’t be.
The smell of the leather seats.
The way his hard hands gripped the wheel when I made him frustrated.
Dammit. Now here I am—stopped in the middle of the sidewalk staring at this random person’s car.
I thread my fingers through my hair. Whatever, I guess it doesn’t hurt to double check.
Striding over to the car, I stop by the passenger door. With my knuckle, I give the window a light tap.
Almost immediately, the window slowly slides down.
Leaning my hand on the roof of the car, I bend down to see if my suspicion was right.
As soon as I see his broody eyes and clenched jaw, a big smile creeps on my face. I can’t help it. He’s ridiculous.
The corner of my mouth curls upward as I slide my shades down the bridge of my nose. “Mornin’ Blackwood. Whatcha doing here?”
My eyes can’t stop drinking him in. His tall legs are stretched out in front of him as he leans his one hand on the steering wheel. His black hair is sleeked back perfectly, as always. It’s as though nothing is out of place, ever, with him.
He’s like a pearl.
“I’m driving you to work. Get in,” he orders, starting up the car. He seems so angry at the fact that he’s here. It’s almost amusing.
“What? No. I’ve got to…do stuff,” I shake my head, backing up from the car.
A line forms between his brows. “Stuff? What stuff?”
“Well, for one, I’ve got to pick up our breakfast.”
He flicks his wrist, glancing at the time. “Forget about that. You’ll be late.”
I roll my eyes. “Uh, no can do. Breakfast is a must.” I bite my bottom lip, backing away further. “But, I can’t exactly get in trouble with my boss, if he’s with me.” I dare, tilting my head towards the sidewalk.
I don’t wait for him to answer before turning around. I can’t deny the excitement that’s coursing through my body. Why would he come all this way just to drive me to work? I must be growing on him.
Suddenly, I hear a faint car door shut, prompting another wave of anticipation through me. I glance over my shoulder and see Jeremiah walking over, hands stuffed in his grey pants pockets. He’s wearing a fitted black collared shirt that fits his chest perfectly.
I turn back to focus on walking straight. He saw enough of me tripping last night. I don’t need to embarrass myself any further in front of him.
“What are you doing?” I ask, a smile tugging on my lips. I feel his overwhelming presence creep up before he catches up to me.
“I’ll come with you to make sure you arrive on time. Neither of us will be late,” he says flatly.
I tilt my chin down. “You know this is the kind of stuff friends do for friends, right?”
He narrows his eyes. “Shut up,” he mutters, before returning his gaze back to the foot traffic in front of us.
I smirk. “Yes, boss.”