Chase (19 page)

“Just talking, cuz, relax,” Ryder says, kissing my temple.

I sigh, no one tells me anything. An hour or two later and I’m more than ready to leave. My mother is chatting and laughing with Chase. While she is doing this, I pack a shit load of food for James.

My mother comes over and gives me a hug. “I love him, Layla! He is perfect for you, you should have a summer wedding!” my mother beams.

Okay, time to go.

We say bye to everyone, my mother trying to get us to stay the night.

I respectfully decline.

We finally get into the car and drive off.

Chapter Twenty Eight

I walk out to the deck, when I hear voices, and am surprised to see Ryder sitting there having a beer with Chase and Kade. James must have gone somewhere.

“Hey baby girl,” Ryder says when he sees me.

“Ry, what are you doing here?” I walk over and give him a huge hug. I love my cousin.

“I came to see how these assholes were treating you,” is his reply. I glance over at Chase just in time to see his eyes flash.

“I’m fine, Ryder. I’m the princess of the house,” I give him a wink.

“She most definitely is,” Kade mumbles, giving me a crooked grin.

“You think I don’t know how to treat a woman?” Chase hisses with clenched teeth.

“I didn’t think that you did,” Ryder starts, “But I will admit that you are good to Layla, so that’s all that matters to me.”

Chase relaxes, and the tense atmosphere disintegrates. Ryder’s stormy gray eyes turn my way, and he gives me a small wink. Have I said that I love my cousin? He is wearing ripped jeans and a black button down shirt rolled up his elbows, showcasing his impressive tattoos. I know for a fact he designed all of them, Ryder is extremely talented. He is also in a band that plays local gigs. He and I hit karaoke bars together sometimes and have a good old time.

“Layla, have you baked anything? I’ve been craving your chocolate fudge brownies,” Ryder asks as he grabs himself another beer.

“No brownies, but I have some vanilla cupcakes. I’ll make you some brownies and drop them off at yours if you like though.” I get up and head into the kitchen. Sitting on the oven there is a try of cupcakes I had baked that morning. I bring the tray out and sit it in front of Ryder.

“Thanks, cuz,” he mumbles almost eating the cupcake whole.

Kade grabs one too. “Mmmm, Layla is the best person to live with, I swear,” Kade comments, taking another huge bite of cupcake.

Chase grabs my hips and pulls me onto his lap. We shoot the shit for a few hours before Ryder goes home. I love that him and Chase has sorted their shit out. Chase stands with me still in his lap, carries me to my room, and proceeds to show me just how well he knows how to treat a woman. Twice.

******

Chase’s mum is back in town for a little a while, and we are all going to visit her. Kade invited Nikki, which I was thankful for. She tried to get out of it at first, but finally relented. His mum, whose name is Lucy, has a beautiful house near the beach. It’s a huge white house, with pillars and it looks very posh. Getting a little nervous, I flatten my dress for the third time.

Chase chuckles softly. “She is going to love you, relax.”

Easy for him to say. As we all hop out of the car, a woman comes running out to greet us. She has blonde hair, cut into a short sleek bob, longer in the front and shorter in the back. She has the same pale blue eyes that James and Kade have, and a slight, slender figure. She is one of those women who will always be beautiful, no matter her age. She is wearing a long flowing dress in a pale peach color, and bronze sandals.

“My boys! How I have missed you!” She says, pulling them all in for a hug. Chase steps back and grabs me by my hips.

“Mum this is Layla,” he says proudly.

“Layla!” She beams, “I’ve been dying to meet you. You are just as stunning as I’ve been told.” She wraps her arms around me in a welcoming hug. I freeze for a few seconds before I return it. “I’ve heard so much about you.” She whispers to me, and I can’t help but feel surprised at that. “And who is this lovely lady?” She asks, gesturing at Nikki, moving in to give her a hug too.

“This is Nikki,” Kade says, giving Nikki a possessive look. Well, hell.

Lucy glances from Nikki to Kade, and back again. She grins slyly. “Nice to meet you Nikki. I’m Lucy, but you can call me Mum if you like. Come on inside everyone.”

We walk inside and sit down in the spacious living area. Chase lifts me onto his lap and I try to wriggle away, but he pins me there. I scowl at him, but he just gives me an easy smile in return.

“What can I get you all to drink?” Lucy asks. Everyone gets a coffee except for me, I get a juice. “So Chase, how did you manage to land this beauty?” she teases, giving me a wink.

Kade chuckles. “We’ve all been wondering the same thing.”

Chase throws a pillow, from the chair, at Kade’s head. No matter what age, it seems whenever anyone goes home to their parents’ house, they end up acting like kids again. I know my sister and I do that all the time. You will hear us dobbing on each other and everything. The thought makes me giggle. “Good looks, charm, wit and a shitload good luck,” Chase answers egotistically.

Lucy scoffs, and glances over at me. “How do you put up with his ego Layla?”

I grin, “The trick is to take it down or notch or two every now and again.”

Lucy laughs. “I like this one, she has fire.” She takes a sip of her coffee and glances at Kade. “What about you Kade. How have you been, son?”

Kade looks at Nikki whilst saying, “I’ve been good, Mum, really good.”

Lucy looks to her youngest. “James?”

I glance over at James who is looking down into his drink. “Mum, did you make my coffee, an Irish coffee?” he asks, shocked.

Lucy just grins. “Why yes I did. YOLO and what not.”

We all burst out laughing.

******

A week later, I wake up to an empty bed, and assume Chase went to work early. The place is pretty spotless; they must have hired someone to clean up early morning. I’m studying for exams when Chase walks in. He’s wearing a black suit, and walks in giving me a weak smile. He looks drained, and his blue eyes lack their usual twinkle.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. He looks miserable.

“Nothing. Just a long day.” He replies quietly.

I glance at the clock, it’s one pm.

“Anything I can do to help?” I offer.

“No, I’m just going to work out for a while.” He kisses my head absentmindedly and heads for his room. He comes out wearing nothing but a pair of navy basketball shorts and heads for their makeshift gym. I can’t help but watch as he prowls around the house, gracefully, muscles rippling with each movement.

Two hours later and he’s still working out. I stick my head inside the door and he’s running on the treadmill, sweat tricking down his body. I’m about to leave when he stops running, and leans on the treadmill bars. He puts his head down, and stays like that for a few moments. I feel like I’m intruding. He looks out of sorts, heartbroken even. I wish he would tell me what it’s about. I go into my room and attempt studying, but I end up just sitting there staring at my laptop.

Chase comes into my room about an hour later, sitting next to me on the bed and pulling me in for a hug. “I’m going into work; I’ll be back late, okay?” Before I can ask a million questions, he kisses me gently on the lips and walks out. I have no idea what is going on right now. Throughout the night I wait for a call, a text, anything. But I get nothing.

In fact, he doesn’t even come home.

Chapter Twenty Nine

I’m at work the next morning and it’s a really slow day. I still haven’t heard anything from Chase. I hate feeling like this; unsure, lost, confused. Vulnerable. I need to go and talk to him, sort this out. Ask him if he’s okay, why he didn’t come home. I leave work early and head for his office. I’ve been in here only once before, when we were out and Chase had to stop by to drop something off. I look in my rear view mirror and add a little lipstick, and make sure I look okay. I walk out to the door of his office, open it and step inside. The cool air conditioning hits me, and an older woman wearing a beige blazer stands behind the reception desk, a different woman from when I was last here.

“Can I see Mr. Jackson, please?” I ask her politely.

She gives me a stern nod, “Third door down the hall.” I nod and thank her. I know where his office is, but I couldn’t just walk down there. His door is half open, and I glance inside. And get the shock of my life. Chase is standing with his back to me, leaning on his office desk. Aubrey is standing up, facing towards me, arms wrapped around Chase. And she is kissing him. She sees me, smirks, and pushes herself closer to Chase.

My heart shatters.

Betrayed.

By the love of my life.

I make a quick exit.

*****

I’m home for about thirty minutes, when there is a knock at the door. I open it and there stands Aubrey.

I’m shocked as hell by her audacity, I try to appear emotionless but fail. I take a step towards her and slap her across the face. Her head snaps back, and I can’t help but feel satisfaction.

“You bitch!” She yells, but doesn’t try to fight me back.

“I guess we are going to add stalking on your list of many faults? What, home wrecking not enough?” I say belligerently.

Her face pinches, even more so, and by the look on her face, I can tell this conversation isn’t going to go well.

“You think your all high and mighty, but you don’t know anything. Chase keeps so much from you.” She hisses vehemently.

“Apparently.” I hiss bitterly. “And I suppose you’re here to tell me?”

She smirks now, evilly.

“Do you even know where he was yesterday? Because he was with me.” I want to slap that smug look off her face.

“If you don’t believe me here, read our texts.” She hands me over her phone, and I can’t help but glance down. And there it is, right there.

Chase: I’ll meet you at the normal spot.

Sent yesterday morning, around nine am. My heart stops. The bitch continues talking.

“Did he tell you that he got me pregnant?” She chuckles at the look that must be on my face.. “Yes it was while we were together. It wasn’t planned, but I knew he was going to be a great father.”

“How did he know it was yours? Didn’t you have an open relationship?” I ask quietly.

She raises her eyebrow at me. “Is that what he told you? Yes, he had an open relationship. I couldn’t make him commit to more than that. But that doesn’t mean I was allowed to be with anyone but him, you know Chase, he can be possessive like that.” I think I was going to be sick. “I lost her. My baby. I had a miscarriage, at five months.” Her voice is soft, and my heart breaks for her, for the loss of Chase’s baby. I wouldn’t wish losing a baby on anyone.

“I’m sorry.” I almost whisper. I think of Ed Sheeran’s song ‘Small Bump.’ Such a hauntingly sad song.

“No, you’re not,” she sneers, “And that’s not why I’m here, for your pity. I’m here to tell you that he will never fully let go of me, because we went through so much together, losing our little girl. We will always have something that you will never be able to erase. When I went to his office today, we were reconciling. As you could see.”

She’s taking in my reaction, feeding her hate on it, enjoying it. Before she leaves, she strikes one last parting blow.

“He told me he doesn’t even want children anymore, since losing our child hurt so much.”

Then she leaves, taking my heart with her. I pick up my phone and call Chase.

“Hey baby, I was just thinking about you.” I can hear the smile in his voice.

“Were you with Aubrey yesterday?” I get straight to the point.

A few moments silence.

“Layla, it’s complicated..”

“Yes or no, Chase.”

“Yes, but...”

I clear my throat. “She was pregnant.” My voice still comes out croaky.

There was a moments silence before he answers.

“Who was pregnant?” He knows exactly who I’m talking about.

“Aubrey.”

He sighs, sadly. “Yes she was. We lost her, we lost.. Lilly.”

Lilly. It was a beautiful name, for what would have been a beautiful girl.

“I’m so sorry for your loss, Chase. I would have loved to hear it from you, not Aubrey. Why didn’t you want to share that part of you with me?”

“Layla, it’s not that, it’s just..”

“You didn’t tell me that your ‘open relationship’ was one sided, that you cared for her that much to be possessive of her. You also never mentioned you didn’t want any children in the future.” A few tears drip down my face.

“Aubrey visited you? Baby, I can explain everything. I’m going to come home now, okay?” he sound slightly panicked.

“No, tell me now.” I demand my voice still shaky.

“Babe, we never spoke about kids. Losing Lilly was really tough on me, and yes I said that I didn’t want to ever go through the possibility of that again. But...”

“Okay.” I sniffle, cutting him off.

“Okay? Fuck it breaks my heart to hear you cry. I’m leaving now. No running baby.” I can hear shuffling noises.

“I saw you today,” I almost whimper. I know he can hear the hurt in my voice, and the accusation.

“What, Layla?” he demands.

“I saw you fucking kissing her, Chase. I came to your office! I can’t believe I trusted you! How stupid am I?” I yell. “If you wanted her, you should have just told me, Chase, not string me a long like this!”

“Listen to me Layla, fucking listen to me a moment!” He says, his voice panicked.

“I guess I wasn’t the only woman you have slept with without a condom after all,” I say flatly. I don’t even know why I think of that.

I hang up.

Then I pack my suitcase. I stare at the huge pile of money in my drawer, the rent and bills money they never let me pay. Chase kept saying he would take it, but he never did. Screw it. I grab the money and shove it in my purse. As I’m loading up the car, Kade pulls into the driveway. He hops out and runs towards me.

“Where the fuck are you going?” He demands, looking full of concern.