I don’t know whether we’ll be able to stay with her brother or not considering he lives with Alison and she never approved of my friendship with him. It’s why we drifted apart. She’s caused nothing but trouble in his life. I can’t begin to fathom why he proposed to her. It’s another thing I hope to get to the bottom of next weekend.
I have a break this period and I book a hotel for Hailey and me. Well, I book two rooms but I make sure they are adjoining just in case.
I plan to talk to Hunter about my feelings for his little sister while we’re visiting him too. Hopefully Hailey will give us guy time so I can broach the subject with him. I’m sure that’ll be a fun conversation.
The bell rings and students file into my room. I love my job and I like most of my students, but this next week is bound to be torture when the countdown leads me to her.
◊◊◊
“Hey, man.” I give my best friend a call on Sunday to let him know I’m coming up and bringing a surprise for him. I don’t want to tell him about Hailey for a few reasons.
I have no doubt he’ll be confused about why I’ve been in contact with his little sister, and frankly, I’m not ready to explain it to him. Also, I’m afraid he might tell me not to bring her. I’m not willing to cancel on her, which means she’ll stay a surprise for now. It’s not like he’ll send her home once he sees her.
“Yeah, uh, man, about that—”
“Whatever you’re going to say forget it. I’m coming to see you whether I have permission from your ball and chain or not. How long has it been since we’ve hung out? It’s ridiculous, dude. Separate yourself from the pussy for one weekend. I don’t care how good it is.”
“What the hell, dude? It’s not that. I was going to ask if you booked a hotel for the weekend. Ali isn’t cool with guests right now…” His voice is strained and he leaves the sentence hanging mid-air.
“Yup, all set. I plan to get there around dinnertime on Friday if you wanna grab a bite then?” I grin because I’m remembering Hailey’s message and how she thought she could make the arrangements and boss me around.
“About that,” I roll my eyes as he starts, “Ali and I have dinner plans with her parents Friday night, but after that, I’m all yours.”
I could get upset, but this is the perfect opportunity to get extra alone time with his sister and take her out to dinner. This actually works in my favor. “Whatever, man, I’ll see you then.”
I don’t know what that leech Alison has on Hunter, but I plan to find out next weekend.
3
Hailey
I’m running around my room like a crazy person let out of the asylum while attempting to pack by myself. I can’t tell Kenzie why I’m panicking over this trip because I’ve already lied to her once. She has no idea it’s about Chase, and although lying to her turns my stomach, it’s too late to do anything about it now.
I still can’t shake the feeling I’m abandoning her. It’s a long weekend and normally we’d be heading back to my parents’ house for the entirety of it. I’m leaving her my car since Chase is driving me, but I lied to her again, saying I’m taking a train up to Hunter’s place. I don’t even know if a train actually runs up there.
It’s Thursday night and my weekend with my dream man starts tomorrow. I am freaking the hell out. What am I going to wear on the ride up? I want to be cute yet comfy. Do I opt for leggings or a dress? Is a dress trying too hard? It’s not like he’ll notice anyway.
This entire trip still doesn’t exactly make much sense to me. I plan to ask Chase about it if I can build up the nerve. I tend to stick my foot in my mouth and overstep my boundaries, and I don’t want to look like an idiot in front of him, though that’s inevitable.
“Hails!” The apartment door slams and I react by trying to stuff my suitcase under my bed, which doesn’t even make sense since Kenzie knows I’m going away. Instead, I make a huge mess, dumping the contents all over the floor.
And yes, I know I’m only going for a weekend but it’s a long weekend; therefore, I need an entire suitcase. That’s what I plan to tell my hot chauffer tomorrow, anyway.
My bedroom door slams opens and my best friend stumbles in with a bottle of wine. She only drinks in excess when she’s working through something, and I can tell she’s already pretty far gone. I have a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with Hunter, but that could all be in my head.
“Wanna get drunk?” I can’t drink tonight. I need to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed tomorrow to try to somehow, maybe, potentially, hopefully attract the attention of my road-trip partner, but for some reason, my best friend is hurting. I don’t intend to let her suffer alone.
“No, but, for you I—”
“Oh, what’s this? Plan to steal Hunter away from that hag? No, wait, that’s your brother, never mind.” Kenzie’s holding up my black satin and lace romper I wear to bed on special occasions.
I shudder as I realize what she said. “Ew, perv. No, it’s just comfy.” Okay, yes, I packed it in case there’s a midnight emergency and I have to wake up Chase to save the day.
I’m grateful my best friend is too far gone and drops the topic as quick as she brought it up. “You clean this mess; I’ll get you a glass.” Kenzie says, so I haphazardly throw my belongings back into my suitcase and join my boozy bestie in our living room.
Curling up on the couch, she brings me a glass while she drinks straight from the bottle. “Spill. What’s going on?
“What? I didn’t spill?” She’s looking around to find a wine stain. She’s in worse shape than I thought.
“No, you didn’t spill; I want you to tell me what’s going on.” I motion up and down to the current state she’s in.
She leans her head back against the couch and the wine bottle tilts to where she almost spills, for real this time. It’s emptier than I realized because nothing leaks out. She hasn’t drunk like this for the hell of it since her parents passed away a couple of years ago.
Her head lolls back and forth. I can’t tell if she’s shaking her head no or if she’s too tipsy to control her own body.
“I don’t want to talk about it right now.” She offers me a small smile, so whatever it is must be really upsetting her. My heart clenches in my chest knowing I can’t help her.
I do what any best friend would do in this situation. I open another bottle of wine and put on The Office pre-Jim-and-Pam days in case Kenzie is upset about a guy, err, my brother.
As the theme song fills our living room at the start of the third episode, I look over and find my best friend passed out, slack-jawed, and cradling the bottle of wine like it’s her baby. I chuckle and throw a blanket over her before making my way to my bedroom.
I’m a little tipsy but nowhere near drunk. I finish packing and collapse on my bed, eager for tomorrow to come and my weekend with Chase to begin. Oh, and I’m excited to visit my brother, but he’s not the one causing butterflies to flutter in my stomach.
◊◊◊
I’m a ball of nervous energy as I roll out of bed just after eleven. The apartment is still and calm meaning Kenzie likely high-tailed it out of here to avoid talking about last night.
The fact I’m alone works in my favor. I wouldn’t be able to mask my nerves any longer and my best friend would definitely be suspicious and question me. I’m surprised she hasn’t already, but I bet she’s avoiding the topic altogether.
I take a long, hot shower, exfoliating my every pore, shaving almost every hair off my body, and making sure I smell like lavender.
I should’ve picked out my outfit ahead of time, but I was too busy packing all of my decent clothes, it seems. I have nothing to wear!
I step into my walk-in closet, spinning a three-sixty to take in my options. Black skirt? Too slutty. White dress? Too conservative. Pink crop top? Too flashy.
I need an outfit that says, Yes, I think you’re incredibly gorgeous and yes I’m trying to impress you, do you like what you see? While simultaneously being like, Oh, t
his old thing? I just threw it on!
It’s now one o’clock and I only have an hour until Chase picks me up. I give up on my clothes for now, though going nude would absolutely make me seem like I’m trying too hard. I take my time styling my hair and once my blonde locks are in perfect, cascading curls my outfit will undeniably come together.
My phone chimes and I open the text from Kenz.
Kenzie: I forgot my key again. Leave the door unlocked when you leave?
I need to buy that girl a necklace with our key on it or something. I hate leaving the apartment unlocked. It’s not that we live in a bad part of Philly, but we’re not all that far from it either.
Knuckles tap on the apartment door in a rhythmic beat and I roll my eyes. Guess she couldn’t wait until after I left. At least now she can help me pick out an outfit for a casual, lonely train ride to visit my brother. That’s believable, right?
I’m in my bra and panties, but it’s just Kenz, so it doesn’t matter. We share clothes; we change in front of each other. We’re practically sisters and that’s what sisters do.
I hide behind the door as I open it to prevent anyone else from potentially seeing me in this state. “Girl, for someone so smart you have the memory of a fish. How do you keep managing—OHMYGOD!” As I register the person standing before me, it clicks that it’s not my best friend at all.
I dart down the hallway and into my bedroom, hiding as mortification spreads through me. “Sorry, I’m early,” the deep voice calls from down the hall alight with humor.
Chase just saw me in my skivvies. He’s the only man in the history of the world who shows up somewhere early and I decide to open the door in my underwear. Why, why, why me?
“What are you doing here?” I call from behind the door which I locked for effect. Not that he’s going to beat the door down to come in—not that I would mind if he did—but I’m practically naked and a lock seems necessary.
“I thought we could get an earlier start.” His voice comes right outside my door, meaning he followed me down the hallway. Should I be this excited at the fact he saw me in my underwear and continued into my apartment and is now lingering right outside my door?
I saw his eyes travel down my body. His mouth pulled up into a sinfully sexy smirk full of surprise and promises. I’m sure he watched my ass run down the hall away from him simply because A, he’s a guy, and B, I’m wearing a freaking thong.
It’s a good thing I’m still in my underwear because I think I need a change of panties anyway. I dart into my closet and grab the first items I see. Unfortunately, I’m left with the slutty black skirt and my gray long-sleeve crop top with black ankle boots. It’s comfy and cute though a little too dressy for a road trip, but I don’t have time to change.
I ease open the door, but Chase isn’t right outside my bedroom anymore, thank God. I don’t need him to be this close to my bed. I may pounce him and I don’t need any more embarrassment for today.
I grab my bag and head down the hall. He’s in my kitchen drinking a glass of water. Sure, make yourself at home. “I preferred the last outfit.”
My face heats and I drop my head back. Lord, strike me dead. “Let’s never bring this up again.” He’s a gentleman, taking my bag from me and leading me out the door with his other hand resting on the small of my back.
“Oh, I’m going to bring it up again. With you, alone…” He whispers the promise in my ear and goosebumps pebble on my skin. This will be one hellish car ride.
4
Chase
I’m hard, painfully so, ever since the tease opened her door in her freaking underwear. That was almost an hour ago and the drive since has been laced with unbearable tension.
The little minx sits beside me, her feet kicked up on the dash and tapping her fingers on her knees to the beat of the song blasting through my car. Every time she nods her head along I get a whiff of her shampoo and I want to tangle my fingers through her golden locks and kiss her.
I glance over at her, her lips moving as she quietly sings along to Thomas Rhett. I shake my head, lowering the volume to, ironically, break the silence between the two of us.
“I didn’t know you liked country music.” I took her for more of a pop girl.
“I like all music.” She doesn’t even look at me as she answers. She reaches her hand to turn the volume back up, but I stop her, grabbing her hand mid-air. You’d think I shocked her with how fast she pulled her hand away. “What the hell?”
“Look, I’m sorry I showed up early and saw you in your underwear.” She gives me a look that screams, seriously? “That’s bullshit. I’m not sorry at all, but I am sorry it made you uncomfortable.”
A blush spreads up her neck, coloring her cheeks in an adorable rosy hue. She looks as if Grandma pinched each side of her face a little too hard.
“Can we seriously not talk about that? I thought you were Kenzie and—”
“Wait, so do the two of you just walk around your apartment naked all the time? Do you have pillow fights too? Oh, please tell me you do. I’m getting the visual now.” A lecherous grin pulls at the corners of my mouth as she reaches across the center console to smack me. I’ll give it to her—that stung.
I rub my arm to take away the slight sting and notice she turned her body to face away from me and out the window. Her feet are no longer on the dash, which means I’ve lost my view of her perfect, toned legs. That sucks.
“I’m messing with you. I won’t bring it up again. Scout’s honor.” I lift three fingers in promise. I’m swearing to her I won’t discuss it again, but it’ll take me a while to forget the visual. “Although, you look good, Hails.” Her head whips around again to face me and I flinch away. “Okay! Okay, I’m done.”
“Thank you.” She relaxes and she stretches her legs out, crossing them at the ankle. God, her legs are perfect. Still tanned from the summer but fading back to creamy white. Thank God she’s not one of those girls that fake tans year round.
She looks so small sitting in my Toyota 4Runner, like she could curl up in the seat if she wanted to.
I love my car. My old beater died last year, so I splurged on this brand new SUV. I’ve had sex in my old car, but not this baby. I didn’t want to defile my prized possession. But seeing her in my passenger seat makes me want to christen every inch of this vehicle with her.
I don’t even know if she feels the same, but I’m dying to find out.
“We’re going to show up so early. What’re we supposed to do? Is Hunter even off work? Am I supposed to bond and hang out with her?” I smile at the disdain she’s expressing for Hunter’s fiancée. I understand where she’s coming from, though. She and her brother used to be close until Alison took him away. I don’t know why he goes along with whatever she wants. Her pussy must be fucking spectacular.
“Hunter has to go to dinner with the Evil Queen, so we won’t even be seeing him until tomorrow.” I open my mouth to continue but get cut off.
“Then why the hell are we driving up today? And why did you show up early?” Her face shows her irritation and I must admit, it wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for.
I wanted to take her out to dinner, woo her, maybe go dancing or to a movie. But as I pass a large, rustic, wooden sign on the highway with balloons attached to it, a different idea comes to light.
I take the next exit, following the signs reading Atcher Wedding This Way. Somebody had a lot of time on their hands to create these custom signs and put them out on the street, but I’m grateful.
Although, if your ceremony is so hard to find that you need handmade, street-side posts, maybe you should’ve chosen a different location. But hey, what do I know?
“Where on Earth are we going?” Her irritation only makes me smile.
“You said it yourself—we have all this time on our hands we need to kill. How about going to a wedding?”
“Did you kidnap me to be your wedding date? You couldn’t find one on your own, or I don’t know, ask me instead?”
>
I bark out a laugh. Her face is scrunched up, and she’s shooting daggers at the side of my face.
“No, I thought maybe we’d crash one.”
There’s a pause where she doesn’t say anything. I glance over at her as I sit at a red light. Her mouth is slightly agape and her eyes are wide. “Are you crazy? I can’t crash a wedding in this!” She’s frantic. I notice she didn’t turn down the idea completely, just her choice of outfit. “What if it’s a black-tie wedding? What if—”
She’s still rambling but I’ve tuned her out. I drive ahead until I see a new sign reading Atcher Wedding Here! #HappilyEverAtcher.
The turn in is marked on both sides with white and black balloons and suddenly I think Hailey has a point. There’s a large Mansion-style house next to the driveway with a group of men outside on an upstairs patio drinking malt liquor out of tumblers and an older gentleman lighting a cigar.
They’re each in matching dress pants with white shirts and suspenders. Each has a dark-colored tie on but one of them has a deep red tie. A photographer is with them to capture these small moments. That one guy must be the groom and these are his men.
In the distance, there’s a white barn and a ton of people carrying tables, chairs, and decorations into it. We’re not dressed for a wedding, but I’m not willing to give up on it yet.
I drive past the site and continue farther down the road. The ceremony isn’t happening yet, which gives us time to prepare.
The windy back roads open to a more urban scene. We’re getting closer to University Park. I knew there had to be shops around here somewhere. I turn into the parking lot of an outdoor mall with various stores lining the street. We’ll be able to find appropriate clothes here for sure.
I turn off the car and reach to open my door but stop when I realize my passenger isn’t following my lead. I shift in my seat to face her and I almost want to take a picture of her face in this moment.
Chasing Red Page 2
