Jeremiah #2
Thankfully, before I am, his voice breaks through.
“Let him in.”
I finally feel like I can breathe again. Mia gives me a stern look before stepping aside, walking out of the room and into the hallway.
From behind, I hear her berating Charlie about betrayal and burritos and “never trusting him again,” but I can’t focus on that.
Because my eyes are locked on the guy I so desperately need to see.
I move around the bed slowly, crouching to his eye level. His gaze shifts to mine, and the sight of him nearly wrecks me.
Red-rimmed eyes. No sparkle. No light.
I did this.
“Baby,” I whisper, reaching to brush the hair off his forehead.
He pulls away and drops his head so his hair hides his face. My stomach sinks at the rejection. But, I guess I earned that.
“Why’d you come here?” he mutters.
I stay where I am—kneeling between his legs, hands knotted in my lap. I want to touch him so badly. But I don’t.
“Why do you think?” I ask quietly. “Chase, there’s nothing romantic going on between Theo and me.”
“But there’s something,” he cuts in. “Something you’re not telling me.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “There is. And it’s important that I don’t say anything right now. You have to trust me. What Theo and I are working on…it’s for WingMate. For the future. It’s bigger than the both of us.”
Chase lifts his head, eyes burning into mine. “What could be bigger than us?”
God. That question hits like a bullet.
“There’s nothing more important than you,” I say. “I swear. But this? If this leaks before the Gala, the deal could crash. And it’s not just my job on the line—it’s yours, Mia’s, Theo’s, everyone’s. This isn’t about hiding you, it’s about protecting all of us until the timing is right.”
He doesn’t look convinced.
“I feel like I’m always on the losing end with you,” he says. “With Theo. With WingMate. Like I’m the only one who never gets you fully.”
I shake my head. “No. No, that’s not true. I’m not going anywhere. I want us.”
“Oh, really?” he asks. “Then why were you late to karaoke tonight?”
I open my mouth, but no words come.
He studies me for a long beat. I can't tell what he's thinking. And I hate that because Chase always tells me what he's thinking.
Swallowing hard, I decide to tell him the truth.
“I was having dinner with my dad.”
His brows knit together. “Your dad? I thought you were with Theo.”
“I was, but... I had to talk to my dad about something... important.”
“What was it?”
His eyes search mine, looking for the truth I'm desperate to tell him. But then I think of Mia and Heather—and how close he is to them. The moment I tell him... the truth won't stay between us.
“Let me guess...” Chase says, a frown tugging at his lips. “You can't tell me.”
My shoulders slump as I lower my head. “Chase... please. I don't want to do anything that could hurt WingMate—”
“No,” he cuts in. “Just me.”
The words hit me like a punch to the chest.
“Tell me I haven't lost you,” I whisper.
A crooked half smile tugs at his mouth. “You couldn’t lose me if you tried,” he says softly.
My chest swells with cautious hope.
“But…” He sighs. “I don’t like being left in the dark. I hate this feeling, Jere.”
“And I get that,” I whisper. “After the Gala, I promise—no more secrets. Nothing hidden. Ever again.”
He drops his gaze, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out something unexpected.
A bracelet. Dark blue and white. Woven with little cube beads.
He hands it to me. “I got you this. I had to put the beads on myself. I know it’s kind of stupid.”
I turn it over in my hand. I choke down a breath, my throat suddenly tight.
The beads spell: Mine.
It’s not stupid. It’s everything.
I’ve never been anyone’s “mine” before.
And now that I am… it hurts even more feeling like I’m failing him.
“I bought this because after last night...I thought we were there. That what we have is… solid. But… you still don’t trust me.”
“No, Chase—”
“While I’ve done nothing but trust you. This whole time. And you’re still keeping parts of yourself locked away…” He closes my fingers around the bracelet. “I need to know this means as much to you as it does to me. Until then—don’t wear it.”
I meet his eyes. He’s not asking for a promise. He’s asking for certainty.
“Okay,” I whisper. I tuck the bracelet into my pocket. “Thank you.”
He nods, but his face is still shadowed.
“Come home with me,” I breathe.
He hesitates, then shakes his head. “I’m going to stay here tonight. I need space…to not be so wrapped up in you.”
That stings more than I want to admit. But I nod.
“Okay,” I say, standing slowly. I run a hand through my hair, trying to breathe past the lump in my throat. “I guess I’ll see you at the Gala.”
“Yeah,” he says. “I’ll see you then.”
Even though we’re not ending in anger, the heaviness sits in my chest like lead.
I need him to know.
I step in close and lean forward, stopping just shy of his lips…
He licks his lips, eyes flickering to mine. Meeting me halfway, his lips brush mine. The second his mouth opens, I deepen the kiss, pulling him close, tasting the sweetness I’ve missed so badly.
God, I’ll take him right here if I could—
“Ahem.”
Mia’s exaggerated cough breaks us apart. Chase quickly turns away.
I lick my bottom lip, the ghost of him still lingering.
Mia crosses her arms. “Three burritos. Your card. You’ve been warned.”
I glance back at Chase one last time, then take my card and leave.