I risk a glance at Hunter and his jaw tightens, but he doesn’t say anything. “I’ll, uh, see you tomorrow, man.” I nod as I walk out his front door.
“Take good care of her.” I catch the double meaning.
8
Hailey
Splintering pain jars me awake when knives stab repeatedly into my skull. Wait. No. Not knives. Just the obnoxious alarm music I have programmed into my phone. Satisfied by Galantis blares out of my phone at a high decibel capable of making my ears bleed.
I reach my hand out from under the covers, smacking it along the nightstand in a loud and violent manner hoping to quiet the offending device. I don’t care if I break it at this point. I just need it to shut the hell up.
By some bliss from above, my phone stops singing and the room is quiet again. I shove my head under my covers and fall back to sleep.
Ow. What the fuck. Ten minutes later, the loud, unbearable pain is back. I must’ve hit the fucking snooze button. I should’ve turned the damn phone off.
I sit up too fast, causing dizziness and nausea to overwhelm me. I lean back against the headboard, taking a deep breath through my nostrils. When my stomach settles and the world around me is no longer spinning, I reach over and turn off my alarm for good.
Why oh why do I think it’s a good idea to start every morning with a dance party?
I find my purse on the edge of the bed where I must’ve discarded it before crawling under the covers last night. Speaking of last night, what the hell happened? I don’t even remember getting back to the hotel. I didn’t think I drank that much.
I glance down and oh, shit, I’m in my underwear. I don’t even have my bra on anymore, just my barely there white lace panties. Shit, shit, shit.
I vaguely remember Chase carrying me to his car last night. We didn’t… we couldn’t have. He’s not here. Or did we, and he left after? Dammit, Hailey, way to be a screw-up.
A loud knock reverberates from the other side of the door. “Hails, you almost ready to go? We’re supposed to meet Hunter for breakfast in thirty minutes.” I run to the bathroom and push aside the nausea. I don’t have time for stomachaches.
My hair is a rat’s nest, my makeup is smudged down my face, and I have a large bruise on my thigh I don’t remember getting.
I yell to Chase from the bathroom. “Call Hunter and tell him we’ll be there in an hour.”
“But—” I start the shower, cutting off any words my hotel neighbor wants to say. He will have to wait.
An hour later—because everyone knows when a girl only has thirty minutes to get ready, you have to at least double that time—I’m fresh-faced with straight hair and large aviators perched on my nose.
I threw on a sundress because I couldn’t put any effort into matching two articles of clothing together. I slide on my gladiator sandals and call today a win.
I go out into the hallway, banging on Chase’s hotel room door from the outside. “Let’s go.” As if he was the reason we’re running late.
We meet my brother at this cute little diner in town, though it’s more brunch than breakfast at this point. Handwritten memos on chalkboards spread across the back wall. The other three walls are made of a worn red brick to give the place a homey feel.
The floors are light wood, neutral to offset the bright red booths and chairs. Recessed lighting illuminates the place without dominating it.
Hunter, who is already seated at a booth, stands when he sees us. “This place is adorable.” I hug him in greeting, squeezing him extra tight. It’s nice to feel like I have my brother back, even if it’s only temporary.
“I love this place and their food is phenomenal. Ali hates coming here, though, so…” He doesn’t need to finish the sentence for me to know he means he doesn’t get to come here if the wench doesn’t like it. She’s such a bitch.
“What the hell is wrong with her?” I wanted to broach this subject with a little more tact, but my patience is nil.
My brother snaps his head to look at me. Concern furrows his brows and his mouth opens but no words come out. Meanwhile, Chase coughs to cover his smirk. I know he has issues with the fiancée as well, and if he wasn’t going to ask about her, I sure as shit will.
“Hi, I’m Mary. I’ll be taking care of you today. Can I start you off with something to drink?”
My idiot brother clears his throat and turns back to face away from me toward the waitress.
“Coffee for me and a water, please.” Chase orders the same, but I’m going to need something a little different to get through this conversation.
“Can I get a coffee and a mimosa, please? You can hold the water.” Like I said, it’s more brunch now, anyway.
She scurries away and I cross my arms and face my big brother. “Seriously. Why are you with her? She’s a nightmare, and she took you from me. How could you choose her over your family? Over me? I thought we were closer than that.”
Hunter and I never had any major sibling rivalries as kids. Maybe it was the five-year age gap preventing any jealousy or maybe he felt he had more of a paternal role in addition to his protectiveness as my big brother. Whatever it was, we were always best friends. I don’t understand how he’s let this soul-sucking bimbo get in between us.
“Neither of you understand what we’ve been through.” He’s thoughtful, as if he wants to explain but doesn’t have the words to do so.
“Then explain it to us. What would make you stay with her—” My eyes snap up to his. I hold his stare, looking into the blue irises and praying what I’m about to say isn’t true. “She’s pregnant, isn’t she?”
A flash of pain crosses my brother’s face, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared. “No, she’s not pregnant.” He looks back and forth between me and his best friend. “I’ll tell you guys everything. I promise. But right now I want to spend time with both of you and stop focusing on her. Okay?”
I’m not happy with the way this conversation has gone but there’s nothing I can do about it.
“Okay, three coffees, two waters, and a mimosa. Now, whatcha having to eat?”
◊◊◊
“We’re still going to dinner tonight for your birthday, right? The big two-eight. I was going to get you a cane but they’re just so hard to wrap.” My brother rolls his eyes at me and Chase lets out an unexpected cackle.
“It wasn’t that funny.” Hunter raises an eyebrow at his best friend. They share a look but I don’t know what it means.
Running a hand through his hair, my road trip buddy clears his throat. We’re back in my brother’s house lounging in his living room as a marathon of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia plays in the background. I’m drinking every time one of the gang drinks on the show. I’m well on my way to wasted again at this rate.
“Anyway, yeah we’ll go in a couple of hours.”
I sit upright and deposit my nearly empty glass on the nearby coffee table. “Well, I need to change into something more appropriate.”
“You look fine, Hails.” Men. They don’t understand how to go from day to night.
“This is a fun daytime outfit I chose when I was hungover. I need something more dinner-appropriate.” My statement gets an eye-roll from both men. “Just give me your keys and I’ll drive myself.” I stick my hand out to Chase. I would take Hunter’s car but he’s never let me drive his cars ever, so I don’t even bother asking.
“You think I’m going to let you take my car? That’s my baby out there. You’re so tiny—you couldn’t handle her.”
I have a retort on my tongue, but it’s a sexual innuendo and I’m not comfortable saying it in front of my big brother.
“Then I guess I’ll call a freaking Uber.” I’m getting frustrated, likely because I’m tipsy and blowing this out of proportion.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll drive you.” Piercing blue eyes meet mine and I’m trapped in this vortex of appreciation and desire. Again, I’m sure it’s the alcohol causing these intense emotions, but I can’t
help what I’m feeling. I don’t think I can keep my feelings to myself much longer.
The boys fist bump as I make my way to the SUV. “We’ll meet you at the restaurant at seven.” I don’t hear anything else they say to one another as I settle into the large leather seat.
Hunter has a hand clasped on Chase’s shoulder and his other hand is pointing at his chest. The hand then points to me and back to Chase and color me massively confused. Why is he pointing at me? What are they talking about?
With his hands in his pocket, my chauffer bounces down the steps and makes his way to the car.
“What was that about?”
He pauses for a brief moment after grabbing his seatbelt, like he was unprepared for my inquisition. “Nothing,” he answers too quickly, a nervous rasp to his voice. He backs out of the driveway and heads back to our hotel.
He rubs the back of his neck and I watch the muscles in his arm flex with the practiced motion. A low groan rumbles from the bottom of my throat. His head swivels in my direction so fast I fear he’ll snap his own neck.
“Sorry, um, there’s a, uh, frog in my throat.” I tap the base of my throat to make my point. Freaking booze making me loose-lipped.
The ride is almost unbearable with how quiet we both are. I can’t comprehend the tension between us lately. The night of the wedding everything was easy but now there’s inexplicable strain and I can’t put my finger on it.
When we get to our hotel, I lift my head and walk fast and proud to the elevators. I jab the button with enough force to hurt myself and tap my toe while I wait for the car.
Chase doesn’t even talk to me. We get on the elevator with a group of five other people. They might not even realize he and I are together since we’re standing on opposite sides and not speaking. I hate this.
I guess the cues I was reading Friday night were way off. This cold shoulder thing is frustrating as hell.
I shove the people out of the way to make a speedy exit from the elevator. They probably think I’m in a speed walking competition with how I dart down the hallway with brisk determination.
“Hailey, wait up.” I glance over my shoulder to see Mr. Silent Treatment half-jogging to catch up to me. I reach my door and dig furiously in my purse looking for my room key. Don’t even tell me I forgot my key. Dammit.
I walk back past him, heading back to the lobby to ask for another key. “Where are you going?”
“I forgot my freaking key. I need to get another copy.” He grabs my arm as I pass him and the electricity all but burns my skin. I glance at our connection and look back at him from under my lashes.
“Did you lock the connecting door? I can let you in from my room.” I shrug and bite my lip, trying to remember if I locked the internal door or not. I follow him numbly, not allowing myself to feel anything.
The outside door clicks behind us and I have one hand braced on the handle of his adjoining door. Blame it on the alcohol if you will or my simmering emotions I’m failing to push aside, but I can’t just sit back any longer. The tension is suffocating.
“What the hell is going on, Chase? One minute you’re all over me and we’re flirting at the damn wedding. Oh, my God. That’s it, isn’t it? It’s because we were at a wedding and weddings are romantic and you got sucked up in it, didn’t you? I’m an idiot. I thought you were playing all hot and cold, but—”
Chase knows what to do to shut me up. He kisses me. Finally freaking kisses me. I melt into his body and his arms wrap around my waist, simultaneously supporting me and holding me tight against him.
My hands, which were pinned to his chest travel up around his neck and make way into his tousled hair. The moment I’ve imagined for so long, running my fingers through the silky-soft strands, is happening.
I open my mouth to him and he groans. It’s the most erotic sound I’ve heard in my entire life. I want to record it and play it back all day every day for the rest of my life.
He pushes me up against the wall and skims his hands down my sides. His mouth leaves mine, moving down to my neck and leaving a trail of tender kisses in his wake. Goosebumps erupt on my skin and I shiver from the contact. His mouth moves back to mine, and he plants a chaste kiss on my swollen lips. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”
“Oh, I think I have some idea.” I want my reply to come off as cheeky and cute, but my voice is breathy and I fear I only sound desperate.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous, Hails. I can’t control myself around you anymore. Especially not after that kiss.” Our faces are so close our noses are brushing. I look into his eyes and can see straight into his soul.
“I don’t want you to.” With that he kisses me again, leaving me breathless.
◊◊◊
At seven we leave for the restaurant meaning we’ll be late again. Sorry, bro. I want to ask Chase what happens next after our make-out session, but I don’t want to be that girl. At the same time, I need to know how I’m supposed to act in front of my brother.
Chase is sweating, literally and metaphorically. He keeps opening and closing his mouth before spitting out the words. “Let’s keep this to ourselves for a while, okay? It’s not that I’m embarrassed of you or don’t want to be with you, but I don’t want to rush into announcing it to your brother slash my best friend without knowing what this is.”
I can’t deny he’s making complete and utter sense, but the sentiment still leaves me empty. I need a minute to process, a minute to break this down. He says he’s not embarrassed of me. That’s a good sign. He also says he wants to be with me. Is that normal or is it a little fast?
In reality, I don’t know him now, not like I knew him back then. I was always around Hunter as a kid and when Chase came into the picture, I hung around my brother more than necessary. I had Kenzie I could hang out with and activities to keep me busy, but when my brother introduced me to his cute friend, of course I had to spend as much time with him as possible.
I knew his favorite movies and music. I learned what sports he played and which classes were his favorite. I knew which teachers he thought were hot and when they went to prom, I tried to jeopardize Chase’s date—lucky for her she wasn’t interested in my laxative cake cause she was on a diet. Blech.
Yet, I never heard any of the more sordid details of Chase’s life because my brother did his best to shield me from that side of him. Still, all those things I learned about him were Chase as a teen, not Chase as a fine-as-heck man.
Now he’s back to being the best friend and I’m just the little sister. We’re already such a cliché.
“Good idea.” I smile at him because, once I push my ego aside, I see I agree with him. We need time to figure this out before we change our relationship status on Facebook.
His hand grazes my thigh, and the touch makes my breathing heavy. “Hands to yourself, bud. If we’re not telling Hunter then I can’t walk in there all hot and bothered by you.”
“I make you hot and bothered?” His boyish grin is a major turn on. He couldn’t have waited until tonight to make a move? Hunter will totally know something is up between us.
“Shut up.” I roll my eyes and push his hand away, moving my legs to place them as far away from him as possible in this car.
My feet kick the box at my feet containing my present for Hunter. I check on the wrapping, fearing my pale pink and rose gold heel punctured the paper. The intricate leaves detailing the spike are delicate and could shred the flimsy wrapping paper with ease.
Paired with my heels I have on a black, three-quarter sleeve dress with a fitted bodice and a full skirt. The scalloped neckline opens in the back, exposing most of my skin but not dipping inappropriately low. I love this dress. I feel confident in it and it’s not overtly sexy for a familial birthday dinner. I’m glad I packed it before I got drunk and only grabbed lingerie.
“I love when you wear your hair like this.” It’s pulled to the side in a loose, messy fishtail braid. My go-to style considering it’s classy
but still quick and easy to achieve.
“Thank you.” While I feel confident, Chase carries himself with an air of self-assurance. And why shouldn’t he? He looks like sex on a stick. My mouth waters just from looking at him, and now that I’ve had a taste, I can’t help but want more.
His navy suit pants form to his body like they were made for him. A crisp white shirt covers his muscular chest, and he left the top button popped open. I’m convinced he did it solely to drive me wild.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” What I’m really thinking is, please kiss me again and I’ll jump your ridiculously sexy bones, but I restrain myself. For now.
We give the car to the valet and walk into the restaurant together, careful to maintain a safe distance from one another. Even in this busy, packed restaurant my skin is alive simply because Chase is near me.
“Happy birthday!” I sing-song the words to my brother, hoping to soften him up since we’re thirty minutes late to his birthday dinner. I sit catty-corner to him at the table and Chase takes the next seat beside me. I’m surrounded by two handsome men. I’m a lucky girl, even if one of them is blood-related to me.
“Thanks, Hails.” I hand him my present and gesture for him to open it. “You know you didn’t have to get me anything.”
I shrug and watch as he unwraps the gift. He pulls out the expensive bottle of cologne I bought him. “Bergamote 22? Hails, you know I can’t wear this. Ali’s allergic to the vetiver ingredient in it.”
“Oops, I must’ve forgot.” I didn’t forget. The faster we can repel that bitch away the better. “There’s something else in there.”
He pulls out the 3D doodle pen. I can’t say for certain whether the thing works and or not and would be useful to him, but it seemed pretty cool to me and Hunter is so hard to shop for. As an engineer, I thought it might be useful.
“Thanks, little sis.” He pulls me into a half-hug, planting a kiss on the side of my head.
Chasing Red Page 6
