Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Chase
I slowly opened my eyes as the sun pierced through the blinds.
“Ugh.” I placed my arm over my eyes as I turned my head.
“Good morning, handsome.” Isabella smiled as she stroked my chest. “You were amazing last night.”
“Why, thank you. You weren’t so bad yourself.” I climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
“You can get dressed now and go,” I shouted. “I’m sure you have plans today.”
“Actually, I don’t,” she spoke.
“Well, I do.” I smiled as I emerged from the bathroom. “I have some waves to catch with a couple of buddies of mine.”
“Super cool. Can I come?” she asked in her way too high-pitched voice.
“Sorry, darling. Men only.” I winked as I picked up her clothes from the floor and tossed them at her.
“When can I see you again, Chase?”
“Well, I’m sure I’ll be seeing you at the office on Monday.”
I walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen for some coffee.
“But we’ll both be working. I meant, when can we go out again?”
“Oh.” I turned and looked at her. “I’m not sure. I have a busy weekend. I’ll be in touch.”
She stood in the middle of my kitchen and began to cry.
For Christ's sake.
“Why are you crying?”
“Because I feel we won’t see each other again, and I really like you.”
Rolling my eyes, I walked over and gripped her shoulders.
“You’ve only known me twenty-four hours. That clearly isn’t enough time to decide if you like someone.”
“So, you’re saying you don’t like me?” The tears streamed down her face.
“No. No. I didn’t say that. It’s just that I’m a very busy man, and I see various women. It seems to me that a girl like you is looking for a relationship.”
“So?”
I sighed. “I’m not a relationship type of person. We had fun and everything, and now it’s time to part ways.”
God, how I hated explaining this to women.
“So, you used me?” Her teary eyes turned to anger.
“Sweetheart, we used each other. It was all in fun.”
“But I thought you really liked me.”
“I do, but not in a relationship type of way. Would you like some coffee before you leave?”
“Ugh. You’re like all the other douchebag men out there in the world!” she shouted as she turned on her heels and headed toward the front door.
“I do believe I’m one of a kind,” I shouted as the front door slammed.
Shaking my head, I picked up my coffee cup and took a sip. After popping two aspirins with a shot of scotch, I showered, grabbed my surfboard, and headed down to the beach.
“What took you so long?” Steven asked.
“Yeah, we were getting worried something happened to you,” Alex spoke.
“I was dealing with a little problem named Isabella.”
“Isn’t that your dad’s temp?” Steven asked.
“Yes.”
The three of us put our boards in the water.
“Dude, she’s one smokin’ hot ass chick. What was the problem?”
“She didn’t want to leave, and she wanted to know when we’re seeing each other again.”
Alex laughed. “Obviously, she doesn’t know a thing about Chase Calloway.”
“She does now, and she left crying. I hate when they do that.”
“Just another broken heart amongst all the others in the sea of Chase Calloway.” Alex smiled.
“She’ll be fine once she gets me out of her system,” A smirk crossed my lips.
Steven and Alex were my best friends. My bros.
My buds. We’d been friends since freshman year in high school.
The three of us grew up wealthy and attended Stanford University.
Steven and I obtained degrees in Computer Science, while Alex pursued a degree in Biochemical Engineering and worked for his father’s pharmaceutical company.
We were roommates in an off-campus luxury three-bedroom apartment during our college years.
In between studies, we partied as if our lives would end tomorrow.
Hell, we still did. Some things never changed except for Alex.
He met Lindsey and fell in love. She changed him, and Steven and I didn’t like it.
We were way out and had just caught the last wave that hit and were chilling with our boards in the water, waiting for the next one, when Alex said he had something to tell us.
“I’m going to ask Lindsey to marry me, and I wanted the two of you to know first,” he spoke.
“Dude, you sure you want that?” Steven asked.
“Of course, I want that. I love her.”
“You two already live together. Why do you need to get married?” I asked.
“Because it’s the next step in our relationship. I love her more than anything in this world, and I want her to be my wife. Why is that so hard for the two of you to understand?”
“Because it’s not natural. Marriages don’t last, dear friend. You know it,” I spoke. “Besides, who wants to be tied down to the same pussy for the rest of their life?”
“I do, and you know why? Because for the hundredth time, I love her, and I can’t imagine my life without her. But the two of you wouldn’t know anything about that because all you care about is getting drunk and fucking a different woman every damn night.”
“And? What’s wrong with that? You were one of us once. Don’t forget that!” I pointed at him.
“Yeah, bro,” Steven spoke. “You were just as bad as we were.”
“Yeah, the key word being ‘was.’ But all that changed when I met Lindsey. Nah, forget it. You two will never understand.” He waved his hand. “I thought you’d be happy for me. You’re my best friends.”
“Look, man, I’m sorry,” I spoke. “We are happy for you. We know you’re happy with Lindsey, and she’s a great girl. We don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I’m not going to get hurt. I love her, and she loves me.”
“Love fades, bro,” Steven said.
“Not ours. I’m asking her to marry me tonight. In fact, I’m going to head back to shore. I want to make sure everything is perfect,” Alex spoke.
“I’m done anyway,” I spoke. “You coming, Steven?”
“I guess.” He sighed.
“He’s making a mistake,” I spoke as I poured two glasses of scotch.
“No shit,” Steven said as he took the glass from my hand.
“Why would anyone want to commit to one person for the rest of their life? Everyone knows it won’t last. It’s nothing but temporary happiness. My father is the perfect example of that.”
“I don’t know, bro.” Steven shook his head. “Obviously, Lindsey put a spell on him.”
“I agree.” I held up my glass. “No woman will ever do that to me. I don’t and will never give anyone that kind of power. Fuck no.”
“Yeah, bro! Fuck no!” He tapped his glass against mine with a smile.
“I need to get laid and drunk,” I spoke as I finished off my scotch.
“Me too, man.”
“Shall we hit the Skybar tonight?” I asked with a grin.
“God, I love the women at the Skybar. I’m going home to take a nap first.”
“Sweet dreams, bro. I’ll pick you up around eight o’clock,” I spoke.