Chasing Leah (Journey Series) (22 page)

“Stop,” I hear a muffled voice
say from my pillow. “Stop, what?”

“I know what you’re doing,”
Chase says as he sits up and rubs the back of his neck. I’m sure the position
he was sleeping in wasn’t comfortable at all.

“And what exactly am I doing oh
wise one,” I ask as I rub my hands over my face trying to figure out how I’m
going to get around with a cast.

 I’m sure Mr. James
wouldn’t mind me missing the utility payments for a little while but I hated
shoving responsibility off on to someone else. Plus my tuition for next
semester would only be partially covered by scholarships and I was supposed to
be coming up with the rest. Not to mention books and labs and any other
supplies I needed. Baths for Caleb, fixing food, putting him to bed, chasing
him around the apartment to keep him out of trouble, the responsibilities were
endless.

Chase pulls my hands away from
my face and places small kisses across my tightened jaw. “Your worrying,” he
murmurs in between pecks that he’s now trailing down my neck and I can feel his
warm breath that sends tingles through my body.

“Well I’d say I do have a lot to
worry about Chase, quit trying to distract me.” I playfully push on his head
and he looks up at me through his long dark lashes. “You don’t like my
distraction Leah?” I bite my lip and try to stop my mouth from turning up into
a small smile. “I’ll take care of everything babe, don’t worry.”

“Chase I don’t need you to take
care….”

“Just stop,” he says as he
interrupts me. “You have me and you have some awesome friends who are more than
happy to take care of you.”

I close my eyes and try to argue
with his point even though I know he’s more stubborn than me most of the time.
“But Chase I don’t WANT people to take care of me.
I’ll
figure this out.”

He puts a finger over my lips to
shush me. “Leah no one’s doing this because they feel sorry for you. We’re your
family, it’s what families do.”

I huff out a breath and open my
eyes to look back into his brilliant green jewels. “Fine but don’t think you
can boss me around. My legs broken nothing else, I’m not completely helpless.”

“I know baby, trust me everyone
knows you’re a strong ass woman. You could probably beat my ass even with a
broken leg,” he smoothes the furrow of my brow out before climbing out of the
cramped hospital bed as my tray of food is delivered.

I’m able to force down a little
bit of oatmeal and fruit but my stomach has definitely shrank since I’ve been
here. The nurse and doctor both come back and give me the clear to head home.
Chase steps out of the room while there doing this and comes back in with a
refreshed looking Ally following closely behind him.

“Hi sweetie!
You look so much better today and I’m sure this will help you out a bit too,”
she pats a bag that’s hanging over her shoulder. “Think you can step out for a
minute Chase so I can help her into some stuff?” I roll my eyes at Ally. I’m
pretty sure Chase has seen every part of my body there is to see but he doesn’t
argue with
Allys
bossing, just shrugs his shoulder
and backs out of the room with a smirk.

Ally dumps out the contents of
the oversized bag on the small table next to my bed before walking over to
stand next to me. “How you doing honey,” she asks in a quiet voice. “I’m fine
Al really. A few aches and pains here and there but I can already tell this leg
cast is really
gonna
be a bitch.”

I reach up and wipe off a lone
tear running down her cheek. I can’t remember the last time I’ve ever seen her
cry,
it takes a lot to chip away at her perky outlook on
life. “Al I’m good I promise,” I reassure her again. She takes a deep breath
and sniffles, a big smile lighting up her face. “Okay good. No more tears,
pinky swear
. Now just cause you’re body has been beat to
hell doesn’t mean you can’t still look sexy. The cast is definitely going to be
a problem but I’ve got a few things that will work.”

I twirl a greasy loose curl
around my finger that’s escaped from my messy bun as she brings an outfit over
for me. “Trust
me,
this hair is anything but sexy. I
could really use a shower.”

“Let’s worry about that after we
get out of this place, ‘
kay
sweetie? Now I hope you
don’t mind but I really didn’t want to bring some frumpy pajama pants for you.
I knew none of your yoga pants would fit over the cast so I cut one of the legs
off at the knee.” She helps me sit up a bit and undoes my hospital gown. I
would be good if I never saw one of those hideous things again. Well I guess
wear one again. Being in the nursing field I’m sure I’ll see many of them.

After Ally helps me get dressed
I’m all set to go and am impatiently waiting for a wheel chair to be brought
up. I pepper her with questions about Caleb, how he’s doing, if he knows what
happened. Ally explained to him that I got a few boo boos but was fine and he
had been having fun with Chases little sisters. Ally was convinced that
him
and Belle were now soul mates at the ripe old age of
three. Chase comes around the corner talking to the nurse who’s finally pushing
a wheelchair in for me. “All set to go now dear?”

“Yes definitely,” I say as she
and Chase help to assist me into the wheelchair. “Well you look beautiful. If
it wasn’t for this cast here no one would have any clue you were just in an
accident.”

“Thanks,” I say as they push me
through the wide halls, the sterile hospital scent drifting through the air.
Ally insisted on doing my makeup after helping me into my yoga pants and a
tight fitted pink hooded zip up. She brushed out my curls and managed to make
them a little less greasy looking after throwing it up into a ponytail. I was
thankful she did it
though,
it brought a little sense
of normalcy back into my life after being cooped up in the hospital.

The nurse pushes me through the
wide sliding glass doors and stops at
Allys
car that
Skylar
had just pulled up to the curb.

“
Ohmigawd
Chase. I never even asked you about the jeep, is it ok?” The question pops out
of my mouth after I realize its
Allys
car taking me
home and not Chases.

Chase bit down on his lip with
his hands resting on his hips, shaking his head. “That’s the last thing you
need to worry about baby, let’s get you situated back here.”

After some maneuvering,
Skylar
pulls out of the hospital driveway and makes his way
back to the apartment complex. Chase is snuggled up next to me with my damaged
leg draped across his lap. I look out the window and notice all that’s left of
the snow from the night of the accident has now turned to a slushy gray mess.

I force
Chases
attention back to me who looks like he’s lost in thought. “Really Chase. Tell
me, how’s the jeep?”
“Leah…” He trails off as I pierce him with a fierce look that I know usually
gets me my way. “Uh fine,” he says as he slumps down in the seat rubbing the
back of his head.
“The jeeps gone Leah.
There really
was just too much damage after that asshole smashed into you.”

“I’m sorry,” I say as I reach
over and pat his hand. “Leah you don’t have anything to be sorry about, wasn’t
your fault. The insurance assessed the damage and totaled it out. I need to
look for something new after they cut me a check.”

Skylar
eases the car up to the curb at our complex and everyone jumps out to help me
out. Chase scoops me up in his arms and carries me up the steps. “
Ya
know they have these things called crutches, right?” I
teasingly ask him. “You’re not going to be able to carry me everywhere Chase.”

“Zip it missy. I can try. Will
you reach into my pocket and grab my keys out,” he asks as we all walk up into
the hallway. Ally and
Skylar
are following behind
with the crutches that I really need to be practicing with and a few bags. I
slide my hand down into Chases pocket and root around for a few seconds longer
than necessary before looping my fingers through the key ring.

I drop them into Chases waiting
hand
who
looks back at me with a grin, knowing exactly
what I was doing.  He slides his key in and pushes the door open, walking
me over the threshold.
“Whoa, whoa mister.
Are you
sure you’re not the one who got a concussion,” I say as I jab his chest with my
finger. “My apartment is that a way.”

Ally comes up behind us and
rolls her eyes at me. “Of course he didn’t tell you.” She elbows Chase in the
side as she pushes past us dropping the bags into the living room. “We figured
it would be better for you to stay here. Chase will be around more and it’s
almost winter break. Then you guys are heading to his moms place for Christmas,
right? Unless you’ve changed your mind and want to come back with me,” she
clasps her hands together waiting for my response.

Ally had begged me to come back
with her to the James house but I would have felt bad leaving Chase. And I
really did want to spend the time with his
family,
they had all welcomed me and Caleb with open arms. “No Al, I’m staying to be
with
Chases
family,” her face breaks into a small
pout. “Besides you’ll have
Skylar
to keep you
company.” She perks up a little at this and wraps an arm around
Skylars
waist. “True, I’ll guess he’ll just have to do over
you but it won’t be the same,” she says teasingly.

“Now about me staying here, I
don’t think it’s such a good idea.” At once it seems like the three people standing
in front of me do a simultaneous eye roll. “Well too bad,” Ally says. “I
already moved like half your closet over here and all of your school stuff.
Calebs
all set up in the extra bedroom and Mary even added
a few little boy touches to it. Chase put all of your bathroom and makeup stuff
away too.”

“Are you sure Chase? I really
don’t want to cramp your bachelor lifestyle, are you going to remember to put
the toilet seat back down?”

“Leah did you forget I grew up
with a house full of girls. I think I can manage.”

“Fine,” I huff out. “But what am
I going to do about classes, I’ve already missed two exams and I haven’t been
able to study for the other two.”

“Nothing to be
worried about L.
Because I’m such an awesome friend I talked to each of
your professors and explained the accident. None of them had a problem with
letting you make up the exams but you do need to start cramming. The latest
they would let you take them is on Friday.”

Today being Tuesday at least I
have a few days to recuperate and study. Luckily I’ve kept my grades up above
average and even if I slack a little bit on the exams I’ll still end the
semester with a high GPA.

“Well we’re
gonna
get going L. Call if you need anything.
Me
and Sky
need to head over to his place. Mary said she would drop Caleb back off after
you got all situated.” Ally leans down and gives me a quick peck on my cheek.
“Take care of her or you’ll have to deal with me,” she directs at Chase with
narrowed eyes before leaving.

Chase gently sets me down on his
couch resting my outstretched leg on the footstool and lifting it up to place
two pillows to keep it elevated. He sticks the crutches in the corner, clearly
out of my reach and then begins to unload the bags while moving into the
kitchen.

I lean my head against the back
of the couch and watch the fluid movements of his lean body. I could watch this
view all day long and be perfectly content. I lean my head sideways as he opens
the fridge and grabs a few things out. “Enjoying the view,” he asks without
even turning around. He knows me too well. “I guess I could get used to this
whole living arrangement thing.” He snorts out a laugh. “Oh I see you only want
me for my body? Now I know how women feel when guys are constantly eye
fuckin
’ ‘
em
.”  I roll my
eyes at his back even though that’s exactly the kind of thoughts currently
going through my brain. It’s been way too long.

 He pauses as he grabs a
few more things out of the fridge.
“You hungry babe?
My mom came over and loaded the fridge and cabinets down when she knew you were
coming back. Her, Amy, and Katie came to the hospital and saw you when you were
out. She’s been cooking ever since. It’s like her thing she does to cope
whenever she’s stressed or worried.”

“Yea whatever you come up with
would be good.” I scrunch up my nose trying to remember hearing
Marys
voice when I had been drifting in and out but I can’t
bring the memory up. I hate to think I would be causing her any
stress,
at least it stocked us up with food.

Chase definitely doesn’t know
his way around the kitchen, he could barely boil a pot of water without some
kind of catastrophe happening. I usually ended up cooking for us when we stayed
in but I didn’t mind it was something I had always enjoyed. Chase kept it
entertaining too by coming up with new places to try out in the kitchen. Of
course that tended to happen only late at night when Caleb was safely tucked
away. We had a few burnt meals after those instances but neither one of us
seemed to mind.

“Here
ya
go
ma’m
,” he says as he
slides a tray across my lap that has a steaming bowl set atop it with a few
saltine crackers and a diet soda that Chase keeps stocked up in his fridge for
me. “Moms chicken noodle soup makes anyone feel
better,
I swear she puts some kind of mom magic in there or something. I can’t even
remember how many times I had a bowl of that when I was younger.”