Jeremiah
Nobody Gets Me by SZA
No. This is wrong. I can’t just watch him walk out those doors.
I move to step around Theo, but his palm hits my chest again, firm and unrelenting, knocking me back a few inches.
I seethe. If he does that one more time, I might actually lose it.
“Theo,” I growl, voice low, teeth clenched. “If I were you, I’d get out of my fucking way. I really don’t want to have to hurt you."
His eyes widen, reading the fury in my face.
“Holy shit, dude,” he says, stunned. “I’m doing you a favor. I thought I was saving you.”
That only ignites me further.
“Why the fuck do you think I need saving? I grew up. I’m not that scared kid anymore.” I try to push past him again, but he plants himself like a goddamn wall.
“What about him, huh?” he fires back. “Chase was awful to you. And you expect me to just forget that? Who gave you their jersey, after they soaked you in God knows what? Me. Who punched Ryan Lockwood in the face after they did it? Me. I’m your friend, Jay.
I always have been.” He takes a breath, eyes blazing. “And Chase is—”
“—who I’ve fallen for.” I cut him off. He may be right about being my friend, but he’s wrong about Chase.
Theo stiffens. His jaw tightens as his eyes dart across my face, scanning me like he’s seeing me for the first time.
“Jeremiah… what in the actual fuck is going on?”
I suck in a breath. Maybe there was a time when I didn’t want to accept how I was feeling about him. A time when I didn’t want to tell Theo, in case what was happening with Chase was just a fluke or temporary.
But.. that time is gone.
“He’s not just a coworker,” I say firmly. “He’s mine. I’ve fallen for him. And if you can’t accept that he’s changed… that we’ve changed… then maybe you’re not really my friend. A real friend would trust that I’m making the right choice for myself.”
His brows pull together, conflicted.
“I… fuck, I don’t know what to say.
“Tell me I can talk to Chase about the investment deal.”
He stares at me like I just asked him to hand me a loaded gun.
“Come on, man. You can’t ask that. You’d be putting everything in jeopardy. Me. Yourself. Chase. And don’t forget everyone at WingMate. If this gets out—”
“It won’t.” I shake my head, confident in this, maybe more than anything. “I trust him.”
“Well, I don’t,” Theo snaps. He throws up his hands. “So…”
The pressure behind my eyes builds, threatening to spill over. I can’t remember the last time I felt this emotional. I clench my jaw tightly and breathe as deeply as I can.
“I can’t just let him walk out thinking I didn’t even try. He needs to know that… that I’d do anything for him.” I hate how unsteady I sound.
Theo sighs hard, rubbing a hand over his face, dragging it down to his mouth. “Fuck. Fuck, fine.” He stares at me. “You’re that serious about him?”
I nod once.
Theo’s jaw clenches, as he looks away.
“Tell him what he needs to know. But nothing more. And I swear to God, Jeremiah, if he goes running to Mia or Heather and this all blows up and all of this goes to shit—”
“I know,” I say quickly. “I know.
His eyes soften just slightly. “I’m not trusting him, Jay… I’m trusting you.”
I nod slowly, feeling the weight of his words.
But deep down, I know that if Chase doesn’t forgive me, I won’t just lose a job.
I’ll lose the one person I want nothing more than to hold onto.
And that’s something I’ll never forgive myself for.
I don’t wait. I leave Theo behind and head straight to Chase’s place, hoping I’m not already too late.
***
Of course his apartment was a dead end. And of course, I got ambushed by his guilt-ridden roommate.
“Come inside,” Ryan urges.
“If Chase isn’t here, I seriously need to keep looking—”
“Come inside, and I’ll tell you where he is,” Ryan says, wiggling his eyebrows.
“He’s probably at Mia’s place—”
“He’s not at Mia’s.” Ryan shakes his head.
I huff, internally knowing he must be, but I suppose getting a definite answer would help me shave off time in the case that I’m wrong.
I storm into Chase’s apartment, and make my way onto their couch.
“Want some water? Tea—?” Ryan trails off the moment he sees my face. “Ooookay. I’ll make this quick.”
“I’d appreciate it.” I nod curtly, rubbing my hands on my thighs. I just need to get to Chase. I can only imagine what he’s thinking right now.
“Jeremiah. I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a few weeks.” Ryan clears his throat, getting comfortable across from me. “Now that you and uh, Chase are…together,”
My stomach twists. I really hope that’s still true.
“I hope we can be friends,” he continues. “Chase is a brother to me, so… us being on the right foot, means a lot to me. Does that make sense?” He scratches the back of his neck. “I’m messing this up.”
I blow out a big breath of air. “Listen. This is a great sentiment, it really is. But I gotta—” I stand to leave.
“I’m sorry!” Ryan rushes out, standing up too.
“Jeremiah, I was a dick to you and truthfully, I wish I could give you a real good reason as to why I was, but I don’t.
I just…” He shrugs, defeated. “I was a guy playing a part. I thought to be cool, I had to pick on someone, and unfortunately, I chose you. It felt easy because you never fought back and I know that sounds… fucking awful, but it’s the truth. ”
I clench my teeth, thinking about the young version of me that didn’t deserve any of it for a second.
“You sucked.” I bite out.
“I sucked,” he agrees, voice soft.
I wish I could act like this wasn’t necessary. Like, I could just let this go. But this is something a part of me really needed. Because the truth is, I remember the sting. The names. The way I shrank whenever I saw him in the hallway. That version of me didn’t have a voice, and now I do.
“I hated you for a very long time,” I add.
“I’d hate me too.”
“But…” I inhale deeply, remembering how far Chase and I have come since then. If he can change… “I guess people can change. And if you’re really sorry for what you did, and you don’t act like a total dickwad anymore…then, I guess… we’re good.” I sigh.
“No promises on the dickwad thing,” Ryan says, crossing his heart. “But I’m only a dickwad at my own expense these days.”
I let out a short laugh. “Fine. Now where is he?”
Ryan cringes. “Oh, right. Definitely at Mia’s.”
I groan, silently cursing myself for not going there first. I rush for the door.
“Thanks for listening to me! Glad we can be friends!” Ryan calls out after me.
***
My stomach tightens as my millionth call goes straight to voicemail again.
I walk through the halls of Mia’s building. My legs aren’t moving fast enough. The faster I get there, the sooner I can see him. Maybe even hold him. Tell him everything will be okay.
I knock on her door—harder than I mean to. But I’m barely holding it together. The image of Chase’s face, pained and insecure, cuts right through me. The way he looked at me…like I’d broken something.
I never want him to feel that way again. Ever.
Lost in thought, I don’t hear the door open until Mia’s taller, smug twin brother, Charlie, appears in front of me.
“Heyyy, Charlie.” I offer a strained smile.
He gives me a once-over with his usual bored, disinterested stare. His gamer headset still dangles from his ears, and a controller rests in his hand like I just interrupted the final boss fight.
“Sup?” he grunts.
I clear my throat. “Chase wouldn’t be around… would he?”
Charlie narrows his eyes, taking his sweet time before answering. “I’ve been told not to let in any good-looking guys with mysterious eyes.”
Okay. Good-looking. That’s something.
“…Apparently he’s a total asshat.” He smirks.
And there it is.
I exhale. “Yeah, I guess I deserved that. But… did they also mention there’s a supersized burrito downstairs with your name on it?” I stuff my hand in my back pocket, fishing out my phone.
His brow lifts. “What?”
“Fully loaded. All your favorite fixings. Even a drink.” I hold up my phone and flash the delivery app. “On me.”
Charlie eyes the screen, intrigued. A slow smile spreads across his face. “Dude. You’re awesome.”
While he scrolls through the menu, I slip past him and head toward Mia’s room.
I press my ear to the door. Soft music plays from inside—SZA. Of course, her and Chase’s favorite.
I knock gently, heart hammering. This could end with the door slammed in my face.
Light footsteps pad across the floor, and then Mia opens the door, already dressed in cute pink and white floral PJs. Her face drops the second she sees me.
“How’d you—” She looks around the corner toward the living room. “Charlie, I want my twenty dollars back!” she shouts.
“Mia—”
“You might be my boss, but in this house? You’re just my ex-friend. And ex-friends don’t get to barge in.” She narrows her eyes at me.
I suck in a big breath. “Mia, please. I know, I fucked up. But if you let me explain, I can make this all better.”
“Okay,” she crosses her arms over her chest. “Explain,” she says, tapping her foot impatiently.
Fear courses through me as I realize how much I can’t talk to her about this. I’m stuck.
I glance past her—and there he is. Sitting on the edge of her bed, back turned.
“Chase, I need to talk to you—”
“Nuh uh. Whatever you say in front of him, you can say in front of me,” Mia insists.
I clench my jaw. “Mia, you’re such a great friend. So much that I admire you for it. You two have taught me a hell of a lot,” I say, pushing back damp strands of my hair. “But right now, I need to talk to Chase. Alone,” I plead.
Her eyes dart all over my face, and I can tell she’s deeply thinking about how genuine I’m being.
After a moment, clearly seeing something in my face that she needs to, she glances over her shoulder.
“Chay, what do you want me to do? He looks like he’s about to combust.”
Gee, thanks.
“Chase… come on, baby,” I say softly.
He doesn’t turn. Just sits there, silent. Shoulders hunched. Like he’s bracing for something—or nothing at all.
I honestly fear he won’t let me into the room and this is the end of what we have. My heart sinks and my stomach tenses. I actually may be sick.