53. Chase
Chase
Oh, It Is Love by HelloGoodbye
“We’re going to be late,” I mutter against Jeremiah's lips.
“Work can wait,” he grunts, slowly grinding me up and down as I crowd over him.
My lips twitch, smirking at him. “Work can wait? Who are you?“ My grip tightens on the headboard as he rolls his hips, sending a sharp pulse of pleasure up my spine. “Holy shit,” I groan, head falling forward. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“Mmm, I like it when you laugh.” He bites his lip, giving me a low rumble as he rocks himself deeper.
This makes me bite back a chuckle, but as soon as I do, I feel myself clench around him, tightening even more. “Oh, fuck! I like it when I laugh too.“ I groan, burying my face in his neck.
He wraps his arms around my back and continues his steady pace, dragging the most pleasurable moans out of me.
Jeremiah being this insatiable isn’t exactly shocking. Sex in the morning is more or less a daily ritual. But, saying work can wait? Now that makes me pause.
What’s he up to? And does it possibly-maybe, have something to do with what day today is? Hmmm.
He hardly gives me enough time to guess, before his heels dig into the bed, and he’s pounding me so hard my eyes cross.
Welp. Happy birthday to me.
***
“Baby, if you ask me one more question, I’m taping your mouth shut,“ Jeremiah seethes from behind me as he guides me into who knows where.
“I’m just saying, what if I take the wrong step and trip and fall into a man-hole?”
“And why would there be a man-hole where I’m guiding you?”
“I don’t know!” I laugh, shrugging my shoulders. “I’m just being careful.”
I’ve never had a surprise before. And now, my curiosity is at an all time high as there’s a blindfold over my eyes, still full of Korean BBQ which I honestly thought was the surprise, and no idea where I’m being led to.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that. I’ve got you.” His smooth voice calms me.
“I know you do.” I smile, hearing the faint sound of a door opening and shutting.
And then another.
We step into a warm area and right away, I recognize the smell of beer, cedar wood, and… is that Mia’s perfume?
“Jere, what is going on—“
“SURPRISE!”
A huge wave of excitement and cheers fill my ears as my blindfold is stripped off and smiling faces surround me. The bar is decorated with a banner that says “You Old Fart” and blue and white balloons all over the floor.
Every single one of my friends are here, filling my favorite bar, Donnellys, and my heart blooms in my chest.
I turn right away to see the man that undoubtedly threw this together.
“Jere–” I begin, feeling the pressure build behind my eyes.
He stares back at me with such a gleaming look, it knocks the wind right out of me.
“I didn’t do it without help.” He presses his hand on his chest. “A certain someone is very bossy,“ he laughs, pointing to the crowd.
Mia, guiding Rachel along by the hand, beelines toward me.
“Is he calling me bossy again? I know he is.” Mia squints, pointing at him with a smile on her lips.
He throws up his hands in defense. “I’m just saying, I didn’t choose the banner.”
“Nay, ‘twas I who picked the banner.“ Ryan steps forward from god knows where, hands on his hips like some sort of King.
“Why am I not surprised?” I shake my head laughing, giving my friends a hug and a peck on the cheek. I give Ryan an extra loud smooch on the cheek just for being a little shit.
Looking toward the stage, I spot Heather and Emily starting up karaoke. Heather has their baby girl strapped to her chest swaying to the music, and something warm spreads through me.
I cheer as loudly as I can, resulting in them pointing and singing to me across the room.
“I’m going to grab us drinks,” Ryan shouts over the music.
“Want to say hey to everyone?” Jeremiah asks in my ear.
I nod as he kisses me on the cheek before taking my hand. We take a moment circling the room, saying hello to everyone who was able to make it out, which seems to be everyone I know. He really went all out.
“Next up to the stage, Clara and Stephen!” The DJ shouts.
I cough out a laugh as Jeremiah wraps an arm around me, bringing my back against his chest. “My mom?!”
I watch my mom and her husband walk up to the stage, all timid and full of giggles.
“Jere, how did you—“
“I called them a couple months ago. They were more than excited to see you. They’ll be staying in Toronto all weekend.”
Another gasp is dragged out of me. “Seriously? Jere this is so cool. I can’t…”
Clara and Stephen start singing Dreams by Fleetwood Mac. Seeing her now, with her waist length hair swaying back and forth, I can definitely see how Fleetwood Mac was her vibe back in the day.
I look around, speechless. “Any more surprises for me, Mr. Blackwood?” I curl into his arms, tugging him closer.
He leans in, softly kissing me on the shoulder. “I may have one more—“ He stops in his tracks, eyes fixated on the door.
“What is it?” I ask, head swiveling to the door.
Right away, I see Theo walking in, dressed to the nines, as per usual, being followed in by two incredibly good-looking men who look oddly familiar.
“Theo,” I call.
He searches the room for us, and once he spots us, he nods and smiles, making his way over. He guides his friends behind him through the crowd until they get to us.
“Happy birthday, buddy,” Theo smiles, patting me on the back.
“What are you doing all the way here?!” I laugh, going in for the hug.
“When Jeremiah Blackwood decides to throw his first party, I’ve got to be there.“ Theo laughs. “Hey, I brought a couple friends with me, I hope that’s okay.” He twists to introduce to the guys he walked in with.
One is tall with dark black hair over his eyes, adorned with tattoos and a punk-rock look, who gives me a wave, while the other has blonde hair, sporting glasses.
Prim and proper, like he’s an accountant or something, which goes in for the handshake.
Honestly, they couldn’t be more opposite, yet, I don’t miss the way they’re holding hands.
“This is Caleb, Nathan’s slightly cooler better half,“ Theo says, patting Caleb on the chest.
“Hey!” Nathan frowns, but then quickly a grin spreads on his face. “Never mind, you’re right.”
I can’t help but laugh along.
“You’re my best buddy, Nathan. I’m allowed to say that.” Theo squeezes his shoulder, lovingly. It’s weird seeing Theo all touchy with someone who isn’t Jeremiah. Huh.
Theo’s attention focuses back onto me. “We may have a little something special planned—“
I feel Jeremiah stiffen beside me, shaking his head.
Theo promptly shuts his mouth. “Oh, okay. Shutting up.”
“Well, thanks for coming, you guys.” I wave.
“We should be thanking you. We love any excuse to visit Toronto.“ Nathan smiles, pulling at Caleb’s shirt.
Caleb grins, smacking on a piece of gum as he slings his arm over his partner’s shoulder, holding him close.
Theo groans, rolling his eyes. “Love birds, over here. Imagine travelling with these two.“ He quickly grimaces, giving us a look. “Wait, what am I saying? You two aren’t any better.”
This makes us all laugh as Jeremiah holds me close.
“Did Sarah slip in yet?” Nathan asks, looking over Caleb’s shoulder to the door.
“She got to talking with Heather and Emily, at the door.”
Nathan’s jaw drops. “No way.” He turns to us, thankfully to fill us in. “We may have crashed Heather and Emily’s wedding last summer.” He cringes.
A laugh slips out of me. “Seriously?! I was there. What a small world.”
“Yeah, we were there to see Sarah, but um…” Nathan’s thought trails off as he returns his eyes back to his partner. “Things didn’t really pan out the way they were supposed to.”
Caleb’s mouth peaks as he kisses his temple, clearly reliving some sort of memory. “It panned out even better.”
These two are in their own little world, but I gotta say, it’s nice being around another set of people who are so incredibly sucked into each other’s orbit. People who get wrapped up in someone else.
“Wait…” A thought flickers over my mind. “Sarah?”
A knowing smile stretches on Theo’s lips. “It’s a hilarious story, really. You can imagine my surprise when my best buddy Nathan here introduced me to Sarah Lockwood at a party.” His brows raise up and down as all the blood drains from my face.
“Theo,” Jeremiah groans, running his hand down his face. “Don’t tell me you brought—“
“Sarah Lockwood. As in Ryan’s little sister?” My mouth gapes open.
Theo presses his lips together, failing miserably at hiding the excitement in his eyes. “Yeah, did I not mention that?”
“No, you left that part out,” Jeremiah frowns, shaking his head. “Chase, you okay?” He turns to me, squeezing my shoulder.
“Yeah, I just have to find Ryan,” I mutter, searching around the bar with my eyes.
I need to warn him before he finds out his mortal enemy brought his little sister to my birthday party as a plus-three? Four? I don’t know what the hell is happening.
“No...fucking…way...” I hear, beside me. Our heads snap to the shocked, and very angry Ryan, gripping cups in both hands.
“Ry!” Sarah squeals, throwing her hands up in the air. Her blonde hair trails after her as she swings her arms around her brother’s shoulders. “Missed you,” Sarah pouts, still hanging off her brother’s shoulders.
The same brother who hasn’t taken his eyes off Theo. Gritting his teeth, I can see the smoke billowing out of his ears from here.
While Theo, amused, has a mischievous grin plastered on his face.
Todd comes over, carrying a tray full of pink liquid in little cups. “Anyone down for some Tequila?”
***
“For he’s a jolly good fellow, that nobody can deny,” everyone sings along.
The bar erupts in cheers and claps as I lean in and blow out the candles of my enormous vanilla cake, that I most definitely am going to eat a lot of.
Mia races over, snapping a few photos with me.
“You deserve all the love,” she whispers, pulling me into a tight hug.
Maybe at one point I would’ve second guessed that, but now looking around the room, being held and kissed by people who love me down to my core, fully and unapologetically, I actually believe it.
And I can thank one man in particular for showing me just how worth it I am.
Just as I look around to find him, I’m stunned to see the man of my dreams up on the stage, tapping the mic, nervously.
“Uh, is this thing on? Testing, testing—“ the microphone, screeches, making us all wince.
I can’t help but laugh. What is he doing up there? And why is Caleb, Nathan’s partner, beside him with a guitar?
“Um, Chase,” he coughs, clearing his throat. “Where are you—ah, there you are.” He points, nervously giving me a wave.
“You’re doing great, babe!” I yell out, even with the blush keeping up my neck. The bar chuckles along in quiet encouragement.
“Thank you, baby,” he smiles graciously.
“About a year ago, you asked me if there’s anything I couldn’t do.
” He looks at the crowd. “Chase has this weird thought that there’s nothing I’m bad at.
And, I would just like to state for the record, that there’s two things I am extremely terrible at—“ He bites his lower lip, taking another look at Caleb who gives him a head nod before he continues.
“I’m horrible at singing…“ the crowd laughs along.
“And…and…“ his smile fades, and what takes over is the most longing look I’ve ever seen on him.
“I’m really, really bad at not being utterly…
incredibly, deeply in love with you,“ he says in one breath.
My heart stops. Jeremiah, not one for words, just confessed his love to a room full of people.
“I am so horrible at it, that I’m going to do the only other thing I’m horrible at,“ he winks. “Just because you’ve asked and I’d do just about anything to see you smile.”
The crowd swoons, patting me on the shoulder as I try and fail to hide my bashful smile.
Caleb starts the guitar as soon as the background music begins. His strumming is insanely good.
And then, Jeremiah starts singing. I’ve never heard this song before… yet, it turns into my favorite song instantly.
Mia leans into me, “He’s really good…“ she whispers.
I shake my head, a smirk pulling at my lips. “Of course he is.”
Jeremiah starts warming up to the crowd as everyone starts making their way closer to the stage.
My feet feel like cement as I stand at the bar, watching my dreamy man, serenading me across the room.
Eyes fixed on me, he curls the microphone wire around his arm, and starts slowly making his way off the stage.
“Jere,” I mutter under my breath.
I see a small smile creep on his face as he slowly makes his way closer.
People around me start to fade away, stepping to the side as he gets closer, and closer and—
Drops to his knee.
My jaw drops as I stare at him finishing the last few words, with glistening eyes.
It is love from the first time I pressed my lips against yours.
Thinking, oh? Is it love?
Suddenly, the whole bar falls silent, every eye turning toward us. My heart pounds in my ears as I stare down at him—and the little black box he’d just slipped from his pocket.
He opens it and the reveal knocks me back.
Confusion flickers through me when I find a familiar golden, crinkled chocolate wrapper nestled inside.
“A Ferrero Rocher?” I let out a nervous chuckle. “Jere, you tricked me—“
As I lift the chocolate from the box, something catches the light beneath it.
There it is.
A silver ring with a black ribbon inlaid through the center.
And for one suspended heartbeat, I forget how to breathe.
“What do you say, Rutherford? Will you take one last risk with me?” Jeremiah’s voice cuts through the thunder of my heartbeat.
Jeremiah and I started our love like a secret.
Stolen moments behind closed doors, elevators and staircases, holding each other’s hands under desks, sneaking glances in the boardrooms. As much as I loved how quiet, intimate and hidden we were…
this, right now, feels more real than anything ever has.
All I’ve ever wanted was for him to love me back.
And now he’s down on one knee, choosing to love me, forever.
I take another look around the room, seeing all the loving, supportive faces looking back at me.
And I realize something simple.
No more hiding. He’s right here, loving me, unapologetically out loud.
“That’s a yes from me, boss.“ I wink.
The bar cheers as a wide grin spreads on Jeremiah’s face. Getting up to his feet, with slightly shaking hands, he slips the ring on my finger.
“Come here.” He smiles into a kiss, pulling me in by my shirt.
Cupping his face, I get lost in his gravity pull. Just like I always do.
Just like I always have.
The End