33. Chase
Chase
Real by Olly Alexander (Years and Years)
Mia makes a loud beeping sound, forcing all of us to cower and cover our ears, laughing.
“Wrong. The answer was Megan Fox,” she announces, crumpling the paper and throwing it at my face.
“Your bi-awakening celebrity? Come on.” I huff. “How was I supposed to know that?”
“Yeah, that was a terrible clue,” Rachel says as Mia flops dramatically into her lap. “Can’t believe I was wrong at guessing She-go from Kim Possible.”
“You guys suck at this game,” Mia giggles.
Of course, this whole night was her idea. She and Rachel showed up to “keep me company” after she got a weird vibe from me earlier in the park. Said I felt off.
Like always, she isn’t wrong. I’ve been spiraling since I got home. I hate being alone.
“If you gave better clues, we’d have better answers,” Ryan shrugs, mouth full of popcorn. “Your turn, big boy. Get up there.”
He starts kicking my ass—literally—until I groan and stand up. We all laugh as I reach into the hat, unrolling a piece of paper. But before I can read it, my phone buzzes on the couch.
Mia picks it up, eyes widening.
“Boss Man?” she says, shaking the screen. “You want me to pick it up?”
I swallow hard, grabbing the phone from her and swiping to ignore. “I’m off the clock,” I mutter, throwing the phone back on the couch. I wave the paper in my hand. “Come on, the game's still going.”
I’ve been picturing it since the minute I got home—imagining the two of them together, doing God knows what, God knows where. It makes me feel sick.
What I hate the most is that he has any affect on me at all. I’m not this guy. I’m the dumper not the dumpee. He’s completely thrown me off my game and I can’t seem to shake it.
No, this is getting too intense. Maybe it’s for the best that he went tonight. Gives me no choice but to forget about this little exploration and move on…
If I can…
I glance at the word in my hand: Peeta Mellark. Ha. Fitting. How do you even act out unrequited love when it feels like real life?
Before I can figure it out, there’s a knock at the door.
“What the hell?” Ryan frowns, checking his phone. “Who would be knocking on the door at eleven p.m. on a Tuesday?”
I shoot everyone a look and head to the door. “Maybe it’s the neighbor complaining about the noise?”
“Susan totally would,” Ryan shivers, slinking deeper into the couch. “She has it out for me.”
I chuckle, walking over. “I’ll tell her it’s all your fault.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Ryan whisper-shouts.
I swing open the door and immediately feel a whoosh of air exit from my lungs.
The sight is lethal.
Jeremiah Blackwood leans against the doorframe, eyes framed by a masquerade mask and body dressed head-to-toe in black.
He looks defeated…and sexy as hell.
“You didn’t answer my call,” he says, voice low and raw.
I swallow. “Didn’t want to interrupt your date—”
Before I can finish, his hands are on my face, and his lips collide with mine.
“Shut the fuck up, Chase,” he growls against my mouth, backing me into the apartment. He moans low into my mouth, like he’s been dying for it. The door slams shut behind him with a kick of his leg.
I can barely breathe. His scent, his lips, the heat of his body—it all hits at once. My hands roam his broad back, pulling him closer. I need more.
But we freeze when a cough echoes from the living room.
We break apart to see three stunned faces staring back at us.
Mia is the first to recover. “Well. It’s late. Early start tomorrow.” She grabs Rachel’s hand, already getting up from the couch.
“Yes, definitely!” Rachel squeaks, scurrying after her.
“I saw nothing,” Mia whispers. They squeeze past us and wave over their shoulder as the front door slams behind them.
That leaves Ryan. Still on the couch, still munching popcorn.
He raises his brows and grins. “Carry on,” he says, winking.
I groan, rolling my eyes before grabbing Jeremiah’s hand and pulling him toward my bedroom.
The door slams shut, and suddenly, it’s just me and him. Alone.
I lean against it, breath catching in my throat as Jeremiah paces the room. Eventually, he sits down on the edge of my bed.
Being alone with him like this? It’s dangerous.
“You went,” I say—more statement than question.
“I did,” he replies evenly.
A wave of disappointment rises in my chest. I inhale deeply, trying to steady myself. “So…why are you here?”
“Why do you think?”
My brow furrows. “I don’t get you. Do you even want me?”
“Badly.”
I suck in a breath. “But you went out with Theo.”
“To talk business,” he says, casual—like that explains everything.
I cross my arms, eyes narrowing. “Dressed like a fucking…sex pistol?” Okay, probably a bad example, but he gets it.
His gaze flickers down my body, lingering. It sends a shiver down my spine.
“This?” I say, motioning between us. “This is what normal people would call a toxic situationship. I would know. I loved toxic situationships before you.”
He takes a deep breath in. “Lovely. And why do you think we’re that?” He leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees, watching me closely.
“Because you show up when you want to.”
“I don’t see it that way.”
I scoff. “This is literally a booty call.”
He leans back on his elbows. “To be fair, you ignored my calls—and I haven’t seen any booty.”
I glare. “Not funny.”
“I’m not laughing.”
“We’re not getting anywhere,” I sigh, rubbing my forehead.
“Chase…” he begins, then exhales, sitting back up and clasping his hands together. “I went tonight because I needed to see an old friend. Theo was the only person in high school who was ever decent to me. Why would I shut him down when he never did that to me?”
I look away, guilt curling low in my stomach.
“But…I’m beginning to realize, I may not be so good with reading people.” Jeremiah frowns, picking at his fingers.
I arch a brow. I mean, he wouldn’t be wrong.
He exhales. “Theo’s always been a good friend to me. But, if I was missing something… I wanted to make sure I wasn’t hurting him. So, I asked him if he had feelings for me.”
“Seriously? And what’d he say?” My voice is quiet.
“That he’s uninterested. He’s straight, Chase.”
My shoulders slump. I can’t decide if I’m happy or embarrassed.
I hear the bed creak as Jeremiah rises, his footsteps closing the space between us. He gently cups my face, tilting it toward him.
I fight the lump in my throat.
“And I told him I’m already with someone,” he says softly.
That catches me off guard. I blink. “You are?”
“Of course. I wasn’t lying… was I? I am with someone. Right?” He tilts his head, eyes searching mine.
I swallow deeply. “Are you asking if we’re together?”
His eyes soften. “Yeah. I am.”
The words hit me right in the chest. He wants me. Me.
Even if he can’t claim me aloud, it’s a start. Something I can depend on. For once.
“Yeah,” I whisper, gripping the back of his neck. “Yeah, you are. You’re all mine, Blackwood.”
You’re all I’ve ever wanted.
Jeremiah closes his eyes, resting his forehead on mine. “Damn, it feels good hearing you say that.”
I grin. “Wow. You’re like, really into me,” I tease, biting my lip.
“Oh, you have no idea,” he murmurs, against my lips.
God, I really want to believe him.
He turns his head to kiss the inside of my wrist gently. “Tell me what you need from me,” his voice low and steady.
My breath catches.
“I need you…to trust me.” I whisper. “Because I trust you.”
He stills, eyes flicking open.
I wonder if he knows what I mean. Sex is one thing, but what we’re doing together… it feels deeper than that. Whatever is happening between us… It’s uncharted waters for me. But I want to take that risk.
God, I want to take every risk for him.
His eyes lock with mine, making me feel like he does understand. He steps in closer, kissing me again. This time it’s deeper. Slower. It pulls a soft groan out from my chest. By the time he releases my lips, I’m panting.
“I think…” His brows furrow, staring down at my lips. “I think I do,” he says quietly.
“Yeah?” I ask, a breathless laugh coming out. It’s a small push toward something I want so desperately.
And it’s enough for me.
He studies me for a moment like he's holding something fragile in his hands.
“Yeah…I trust you,” he says slowly.
My chest tightens.
Maybe for the first time since all of this started, I actually believe him.
I lick my lips. “Then, show me.”