Loving Chase: An Enemies-to-Lovers Romance Novel

by Tania De Melo

  “Well, it works. Remind me to thank her on my way out.”

  Chase now realizing what he must look like, tries to hide his face. I walk over, taking hold of his hand. “Hey, it’s okay to let me see you cry. You were upset and there’s nothing wrong with letting it out.”

  “Dylan always makes fun of me when I cry.”

  I let out a sigh. “Yeah, well, Dylan’s an ass. I think it shows great character when a person’s not afraid to show their softer side. Those are the signs of a good and honest person.”

  “Thanks, Velyn.”

  “Anytime. So now that I can spring you from this prison of yours, what would you like to do?” I ask.

  “Well, I wanted to go to the new gallery in town, but we would’ve had to be there like a half-hour ago,” he replies.

  “That’s okay; we can always hit that another time. What else did you have in mind?”

  He looks around but comes up short. “I’ve got nothing. At this time of night, there isn’t much left for the under twenty-ones to participate in.”

  “Oh, yeah, I keep forgetting that. Well, I could use some more lessons in chess. I don’t have a board at home, and the one on the computer isn’t very forgiving,” I suggest.

  “They’re designed to do that,” Chase says with a chuckle then shrugs. “Chess sounds good to me, but Dylan’s having a party here tonight.”

  “Another one?”

  “Yep, sometimes I think he’s about done with the weekly house parties, but then they just keep happening,” Chase replies.

  “And let me guess, you’re to stay in your room and not bother him?” I question.

  He shrugs. “He never used to let me leave my room, but since this past summer, he’s actually let me come to one or two.”

  “Oh, how brotherly of him,” I let out with a slight growl.

  Chase shrugs. “It doesn’t bother me; it’s not my scene anyway.”

  I let out a breath. “I guess. Well, we could always go back to my place. The whole

  thing’s about the size of your bedroom, but it’ll be quiet.”

  Chase’s eyes light up. “An invitation to your place? That’s as coveted as knowing the location of the Batcave.”

  I let out a laugh. “Yeah, okay, it’s not all that coveted, it’s merely a matter of logistics. My place is a good twenty minutes from the school and forty-five from your house, bringing friends back is more of a pain in the ass than anything else.”

  “Well, I still think it’s an honor. You only ask people to come back and hang out if you’re true friends, right?”

  I look into Chase’s eyes full of excitement and let out the words I think he’s been waiting for his whole life. “Only the best of friends.” He leaps from his bed, disappearing through the door to the walk-in closet, then pops back out with a smaller size suitcase in hand. “Um, Chase, we’re just going to hang out. I can’t have you move in; there’s just not enough room.”

  A smile creeps across his face. “It speaks volumes that the reason you wouldn’t want me moving in is only that you don’t have enough room. No worries though, I have no intention of abandoning this ship quite yet. I just needed something bigger to carry my chessboard in because it won’t fit in my backpack.”

  I let out a chuckle. “Phew, I thought I was going to have to convince my dad that he’d have to take up permanent residence on the couch, not that he hasn’t already.”

  “Oh, your dad, will he be okay with me coming over?”

  I nod. “Yeah, it’s no problem. He probably won’t even know you’re there.”

  Chase shoots me a quick smile, then strategically maneuvers around the room to gather the chessboard and a couple of other things that look like action figures and some video games—apparently, it’s going to be a sleepover.

  “Chase, I hate to burst your bubble, but I don’t have a video game player thingy.”

  He stops dead in his tracks, slowly turning toward me. “A video game player thingy? Who are you? It’s called a console, and don’t tell me that you’ve never had one?”

  I shrug. “Well, yeah, when I was younger. I wasn’t really into that stuff; books were more my thing. But I did really like that one game, you know, the one that goes, do-de-do-de-do-do-dododo.” He stands just staring at me with the blankest of looks on his face. “You know the one—there are mushrooms and little coins. Oh, and two little guys, Marco and Louie.”

  He shakes his head. “You mean Mario and Luigi.”

  “That’s it—Mario and Luigi,” I let out in my best Italian accent.

  “Velyn, please don’t admit that to anyone ever again, it would be social suicide. I mean, have you been living under a rock for twenty years? Even Connie knows the game’s called Super Mario Brothers, and she’s one of those people that thinks moving with the controller left and right makes the characters move too.”

  I give another shrug. “What can I say, my parents’ style of child-rearing was more hands-on, not giving me much time in front of a TV. Heck, just the other day, I discovered that you can binge-watch almost any TV show ever made—I mean, what will they think of next, watches that act as your phone?”

  “Vel, please say you're shitting me?”

  I look to Chase and chuckle. “Yes, I’m just playing with you, but I’m not when I say that I was never really into video games. It just wasn’t my thing.”

  “Well, now I have a new mission. I’m going to turn you into a gamer,” Chase replies.

  “You can try, but I’ll tell you now, my parents tried the whole piano thing with me until even my music teacher told them I was a lost cause. I have absolutely no hand-eye coordination.”

  A smile crosses his mouth. “That’s just because you didn’t have me around to guide you, young grasshopper.”

  “Ha, I know that reference, that’s Mr. Miyagi,” I let out.

  Chase’s smile drops quickly. “Kwai Chang Caine in Kung Fu—I certainly do have my work cut out with you.”

  I pull into my parking spot just outside the apartment complex. The building’s older and in a rundown, less than appealing part of town. Thankfully, my landlord, Mr. Volpe is one of those people that takes pride in that which is his, making our building one of the only in the area that’s actually quite nice to live in.

  “I never realized you lived this far out. Why are you not living on campus, or at least in town? This drive must kill you every day,” Chase observes.

  “I don’t have much choice. It’s just my dad and me, and well, let’s just say our situation doesn’t allow for us to live apart. So, this was the only place closest to the school that was both affordable and liveable.”

  Chase looks around, then turns to me. “I guess that makes sense.” He Shrugs. “Well, let’s get going. It’s not every day that I get an invite to Velyn Adler’s lair. I don’t want to waste a moment.”

  I let out a snicker. “Then grab your suitcase of tricks and follow me.”

  We gather everything up and make our way inside. When I reach the door to my apartment, I turn to an overly excited Chase. “Have you truly never been invited to someone’s house to hang out?”

  “Does Connie’s count?”

  I shake my head. “No.”

  “Then, only once, when I was six. But the kids weren’t the nicest, and my father put a stop to me doing anything like that again.”

  “Because they bullied you?”

  “Not because they did it, but more so because he was embarrassed that I got bullied at all. He expected that because of my family name and that Dylan was my brother that I’d naturally be the leader of the pack, but that wasn’t the case, and anything less than the best is not acceptable to my father, even his own son.”

  My heart drops. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

  Chase lets out a soft chuckle. “You don’t know my father. But it’s okay, I know where I stand with him, and I’ve come to terms with that. Now, I live my life for me. So, you see, the fact that you live in a small apartment is irrele
vant. The only thing that matters is that you’re living your best life.”

  I look to him and smile. “How is it that at seventeen, you’re more together and have more common sense than most people twice your age?”

  “You’ve met my brother, right? Well, one of us had to put on the big boy pants and figure it out.”

  I let out a belly-filled laugh. “You’re the best, you know that?”

  “I try,” he replies with a side smirk.

  I unlock the door to the apartment and lead the way in. It’s quiet when we enter with no sounds from my dad and no faint smell of a meal that he let burn on the stove so that counts as a good day in my books.

  When we enter the living room, Chase takes it all in. “I like it. It’s quaint, and to be honest, it feels more like a home than my place.” He looks around some more. “Is your dad working?”

  “No, he’s probably in his room.”

  “Ah, the night shift?”

  I shake my head. “No, actually, my father doesn’t work…he can’t.”

  “Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t be asking so many questions,” Chase apologizes with a half-smile then heads over to the couch, but before he takes a seat, he catches a glimpse of the empty vodka bottle on the floor by the recliner. He tries to make like he doesn’t notice, but I know he does.

  “That’s why,” I start to explain. “My father has some struggles; he’s an alcoholic.”

  Chase turns to me with his eyes holding the sincerest of sympathy. “I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks, but he wasn’t always like this. He used to be great. The best. But then my mother passed away and he never came back from it.”

  “Not even for you?”

  I shake my head. “No, not even for me. But I get it; my mother was his world.”

  Chase pinches his brow. “And you’re not?”

  I let out a breath. “I am, but my father is still lost in the grief of losing my mother.” I move to the couch opposite Chase. “He tries, but then something will happen that brings back a memory of her and he falls right back into his depression.” Chase doesn’t say anything. “I know the dad I knew before is still in there, so I have to believe that one day he’ll come back.”

  “You don’t have to defend your choices, Vel. I’ve known you long enough to know that if you believe in him, then there’s some redeemable quality in there.”

  I smile, then stand from the couch and head to the small kitchen just off the living room. “Say, are you thirsty; I have tap water and juice?”

  “Water’s good, thanks.”

  I grab us both a glass of water and head back to the living room. “So, are you ready for the student to out-master the teacher?”

  “Whoa there, Kemosabe. Chess is a game that takes time to truly master,” Chase replies with an animated wise tone.

  “Kemosabe? That’s Mr. Ed, right? I’ve always loved that talking horse.”

  Chase palms his forehead then looks to me; his brow arched high. “Mr. Ed? Really? It was Tonto…you know the Lone Ranger’s trusty sidekick.”

  I look to him unconvinced. “Yeah, no, I think it was Mr. Ed. I can see it as clear as day; his big white teeth with his lips wide and prominent mouthing the word Kem-o-sab-ee.”

  Chase holds my gaze, slowly shaking his head. “There’s absolutely no hope.” He shrugs. “But you can still be my bestie.” Leaning over to his suitcase, he pulls out the chessboard. “Where should we set up?”

  I look around then turn back to Chase. “The kitchen table’s probably the best place.”

  He stands to grab the little men we put on the board and heads over, placing it down.

  “Sit and get ready to learn the skilled art of chess, dear—” He stops mid-sentence and holds his breath. “Yeah, no. I was going to make another pop culture reference but decided I don’t want to get into another twenty-minute debate as to who said it.”

  “Ha-ha, funny,” I reply dryly.

  Chase falls to the kitchen chair in a fit of giggles. “I thought so.”

  I take my seat across from him, ready to absorb all this wiseass kid has to teach me, because one day, I will take him down.

  Chapter 7

  Dylan

  “I thought you told me to ask the redhead here so you could hook up with her, not to ignore her all night while you watch out to see when your brother gets home…no wait, I should say to check out his little girlfriend when she drops him off?”

  I shoot Jordan a glare. “I’m not watching out for anyone.”

  “Sure, and I’m not going to hook up with that little cherry bomb that’s been eyeing me up all night.”

  Turning away from the window, I look behind Jordan to the blonde that’s definitely eyeing something. “Dude, she’s looking at me.”

  Jordan whips around. “Bullshit, she’s been giving me the eyes all night.”

  “The eyes?”

  He turns back to me with a brow wiggle. “Yeah, you know, the eyes.”

  “You’ve been hanging out with your dad and his friends at the club again, haven’t you?”

  Jordan’s shoulders fall. “So, what if I have; at least they appreciate my company. Lately, all you’ve been doing is campus stalking your brother’s girlfriend.”

  I move from the window and head toward the keg on the other side of the room. “First off, I haven’t been ‘campus stalking’ anyone, because what the shit is that anyway? And second—she’s not my brother’s girlfriend.” The last part comes out as more of a growl than the assertiveness I had intended for.

  “Touchy, touchy. Someone’s got his briefs in a knot,” Jordan mocks.

  I stop and turn to him. “What the—? Go home, old man. Briefs in a knot—I’m going to put your balls in a knot if you don’t leave me alone.”

  Jordan throws his hands up in surrender and without another word, turns to walk away. I start back over to the keg but pause when I see the redhead standing there. Spotting me, she gives a little wave of her fingers—great. I continue to make my way over then decide last minute that it’s not happening and veer off toward the back-patio doors.

  It’s dark when I step into the backyard, and the temperature’s dropped to a light chill. “Where the hell did they go?” I haven’t been able to stop thinking about my brother and Miss Adler since they left. I’m positive Chase said they were only going to that new museum, but it’s now after midnight, and they should’ve been back by now.

  I take in a deep breath, trying to relieve the tightness in my chest.

  “What’cha thinkin’ about, handsome?”

  Turning to acknowledge the voice, I spot redhead standing behind me, looking all too deliciously sinful in nothing more than her barely-there and way too tight black dress.

  “Just getting some fresh air, beautiful.”

  She saunters over with her hips moving in a mesmerizing sway. “I know you saw me back in there.”

  “I did.”

  “Why didn’t you come over? I’ve been waiting all night for you to come and say hi.” Redhead’s now standing close enough that I can almost feel the heat off her body.

  “Look, sweetheart, I know I had Jordan ask you here, but it turns out I’m just not feeling it tonight.”

  Her eyes open wide then just as quickly slant in anger. “Excuse me? Do you have any idea how many opportunities I’ve turned down tonight because I was waiting for you?”

  I chuckle. “No worries, I know all those guys here, and pride’s not an issue with any of them. I’m sure they’d jump all over the chance at a roll-around with my seconds.”

  Her face reddens, and her top is just about to blow.

  Shit!

  Before I can smooth over the blast of my words, her fist is making contact with my face. Not a first, but undeniably one of the hardest I’ve felt in a while—redhead has a killer left hook.

  “You’re an ass, and to think I was considering dating you.”

  Rubbing out the last of her punch to my chin, I look down at her with a prominent s
mirk. “Sweetheart, dating never had to be a consideration whether that’s what you wanted or not.”

  Both of her hands fly up, her claws ready to shred. But then just as quickly she’s suspended in the air and thrown ass up over Jordan’s shoulders.

  “Brother, this seems to be turning into a thing with you,” Jordan points out while struggling to keep the little fireball on his shoulders at bay.

  “Let me at him. I want his eyeballs,” she yells.

  Brow perched high in amusement; Jordan looks to me. “This one’s certainly spirited.”

  “Don’t talk about me like I’m some sort of wild mustang, asshole,” redhead shrieks.

  Laughing, he tightens his hold on her. “You really need to learn the art of finesse, Dyl. I won’t always be around to prevent Armageddon.”

  With Redhead still propped on his shoulder, Jordan turns to make his way inside but looks to me before walking through the doors. “Oh, hey, I almost forgot why I came out here. Chase sent me a text. He was trying to get a hold of you but said you weren’t answering; he’s spending the night at his girlfriends.”

  Like hell!

  I was no longer in the mood to be entertaining, so I cleared the house out shortly after one. It’s now two in the morning, and that little shit brother of mine is still not answering my calls.

  I walk from the kitchen to the living room where Jordan’s quite comfortably seated on the couch with some chick, and when I round the corner, I see exactly who.

  “What’s she still doing here?” Jordan looks up to me, his brows pinched in a way that tells me to shut it, but I was never one to listen. “Time to go home, redhead.”

  “My name’s Ava.”

  “Ava, Amber, Ashley...it’s irrelevant. What is relevant is that you’ve overstayed your welcome and need to leave.” I think that got my point across.

  Jordan stands, taking a few short strides closer to me. “What the hell, Dylan. You need to check it, bro.

  “And you need to stay in your lane, bro.”

  Jordan’s a big boy, even larger than me and I’m huge. So, when he straightens his shoulders, pushing out his chest, he looks damn intimidating …at least to the average person, and we all know I’m not average.