by Simone Elise
"I was planning on staying out of your way anyway." I wasn't lying. "I didn't want to get in between you and what you have to do. I'm like a freeloader as it is."
"There is also another thing I wanted to suggest to you."
"I'm listening." I watched him walk around the island and then grab my bar stool, spinning it around until I was facing him. Being this close to him made my blood spike. I swallowed hard and kept a steady expression on my face instead of showing I was completely freaking out.
"At the club, there will be a lot of guys."
"I guessed that."
"And I was thinking of a way to protect you from them."
I arched an eyebrow. "I need protecting?"
"Once they see you, you will." He scoffed and his hands moved to my hips. Oh my God, he was touching me. Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Why did his touch send every nerve on fire? More importantly, why did I not want it to end?
“Okay," I stumbled out.
"So, I was thinking of a way to keep the boys off your back and to keep my mind at peace."
"That being?"
"You be my girlfriend."
My eyes slowly widened, my blood ran cold, and I couldn't stop the freak out.
"For real?" I couldn't help but ask.
"At least pretend, but for real would be okay with me too." His words were gentle and sweet as he held me by my hips.
I could say yes. Chase was what every girl wanted. He was what I wanted. Then again, I've never had a boyfriend so this would be new to me.
"I've never had a boyfriend." I blurted out.
"What, never?" His expression turned to one of shock. "I don't believe that."
"Well, I'm not lying." I felt defensive.
“Okay. Well, this will be a first for you. What do you think?"
"I don't want you feeling like you are stuck with me and, being your girlfriend just so I don't get bothered, does sort of feel like you are being stuck with me."
"Chloe, I wouldn't be asking you this if I didn't want it." A determination was in his eyes. "How about you sleep on it?"
Sleep. Yeah, that was totally going to happen now. I knew I'd spend the whole night just thinking `should I, or shouldn't I`, then back to `I couldn't trust him` and being his girlfriend meant I trusted him. Can I trust him?
“Okay," I finally said and slid off the stool. He let go of me.
"Have a good night’s sleep," he said with a half a smile.
I nodded my head and walked away. The debate was already playing in my head. Should I or shouldn't I?
Chapter 15
So, I had thought about it. I had thought about it a lot. I had spent the most of the night thinking about it and now this morning I had made my decision. I walked out of my bedroom and walked to Chase’s, knocking on it lightly. The door swung open and I stepped in.
Chase was putting on a t-shirt.
“Morning.” I smiled at him.
“You’re up early.” He looked at me twice. “And dressed in gym wear?”
“I thought I’d join you on your run.” I crossed my arms. “If that’s okay?”
“Sure.” He gave me a half smile. “Not a problem.”
“And before we do that, I have something I want to tell you.”
“Yep?”
“I don’t want to be your girlfriend. At least not out of obligation. I can handle myself, and don’t take this personally, but I don’t trust men.” I was deadly honest with him. I had to put my feelings aside and tell the truth.
He gave me a stunned expression before nodding his head. “Fair enough.”
A few moments passed. “Good, now that is done with.”
***
Chase’s Point of View
I had lost her trust. She hadn’t said it, but I knew it. I knew it as soon as she wouldn’t agree to be my girlfriend. Half of me was asking her for her safety; the other half just wanted to make sure no other guy put a claim to her.
Because they could promise her the world, and she could believe them; then what if she wanted to stay with them. All of this was running through my mind as we ran. I thought she wouldn’t be able to keep up with me, but I was wrong. She was pushing me.
We finally made it back to the house and she was holding her knees, bent over, puffing.
“Do you normally run like that?” I asked, out of breath myself.
“Only when I’m frustrated.” She panted.
“You’re frustrated?”
She stood up, catching her breath. “Don’t worry about it. I’m going to shower and change and then I’ll be ready to leave.” She walked up the porch steps and into the house.
I had a strong feeling she was keeping something from me.
Chapter 16
Chase's Point of View
Chloe was waiting in the foyer with her bags. The front door was open and Oliver just got out of the van.
"Morning guys." Oliver was upbeat like usual.
"Morning." I handed him my bags. "Chloe, you remember Oliver, right?" I asked over my shoulder.
"Of course she remembers me. I'm the good-looking brother." Oliver threw my bags in the back of the van.
I didn't respond. Oliver looked between Chloe and I, and then gave me a raised eyebrow. Oliver walked into the foyer.
"Don't worry, Chloe. Chase has a grumpy side to him." Oliver picked up Chloe's bags.
"So I'm learning." Chloe's voice was low.
I couldn't turn around and tell her I wasn't mad with her. I couldn't just be honest with her. I had a rep to protect and, for her safety, she was better off away from me. Sure, I would keep an eye out for her and make sure other members didn't get too close, but that was it.
What else could I say?
"So you are with me, Chloe. Let's go." Oliver held the door open for her.
She walked past me. I should say something, shouldn't I? I wasn't going to be talking to her for hours and then when we got to Melbourne, I was going to be busy. I watched her walk down the porch steps.
She stopped at the van door, then turned and looked back at me. This was my moment to say something.
"Bye, Chase." She gave me a half wave and climbed in the van. The look on her face was as if she didn't know me at all.
They were pulling away and I was still standing on the porch as I watched them turn around the bend. I guess my moment was gone.
Chloe's Point of View
I was holding my stomach laughing. "Oh, please stop."
Oliver just grinned at me; this completely free and wild grin. It would knock women to their knees and I had to admit, it did have an effect on me as well.
The other thing about Oliver was that he was funny – dead set and seriously funny. I couldn't remember the last time I had laughed so much. My eyes were drawn back to the front, and I had the same view as I had had for hours.
Motorbikes in lines of two and, if I looked really carefully, Chase was at the front, leading. Naturally, Oliver and I were at the back in the van which was stuffed with bags like you couldn't even see out the back window.
My mind drifted back to how Chase had treated me this morning. How he wanted nothing to do with me. It was like he changed his mind overnight. One day tracking me down to rescue me, the next wanting nothing to do with me.
"So does Chase, you know, have a girl on the side?" I brought up casually.
Oliver looked at me with a smirk on his face. "What, apart from you?"
"I'm nowhere near his girl on the side." I fiddled with my fingers. "I mean he just happened to save me, and that's it."
"Let me tell you something about my brother. He doesn't do anything for anyone unless they’re blood or a member. You are neither. He chased you down yesterday because he likes you."
"Right and that would explain why he is treating me like an unwanted thing." I scoffed. "You saw him this morning."
"Yeah, I did." Oliver took his eyes off the road to glance at me
. "And I stand by my comment."
"Well, you're wrong. I might have thought so at the start, but now he has made it clear that all he is doing is helping me out by giving me a ride."
"So if that's all he is doing, why is he sticking to the speed limit? My brother never sticks to the speed limit. In fact, I think the only reason he is doing it because you are in the van and he knows I can't speed if he doesn't speed."
I gave Oliver a dry expression. "Or maybe he just doesn't want to be pulled over by the cops."
Oliver laughed. "My brother lives to annoy police. They pull him over and he tells them to fuck off and so forth. They can't do anything because of all his contacts. Nope. He is doing this because of you."
"Well, I think you are dreaming, McKenzie, or highly medicated."
"Whatever you say, Ace." He winked at me.
I rolled my eyes and looked out of the window. If Chase really liked me, I'd know - wouldn't I?
Chase's Point of View
"And I'm telling you, Chase, if it wasn't for you. I'd never have known." Bones was drunk and was talking shit on my shoulder. I was tolerating it. I'd been looking for Chloe all night, thinking I'd have to rescue her at least once from one of the blokes.
When we got here, they threw us a welcome party. The club was in full swing, and this was exactly what I had been afraid of that would scare Chloe off.
Oliver was drinking at the bar with Declan. I thought if she would be with anyone, she would be with Oliver, but she wasn't.
Marc had already disappeared with a girl.
Archie was playing pool.
Dan was somehow in the same conversation as me. Like me, he looked to be looking for a way out.
"Look, I've got to go check on my brothers, Bones. I'll be back." I somehow got out of his grip. Bones was a large fellow and had a big belly - so big he struggled to ride his bike but that didn't stop him from being President of the Melbourne Charter. It also didn't stop him from being one of the best Presidents in the country. I was rarely called here to clean up messes but his Vice-President ended up sleeping with Bones’s daughter. Needless to say, bullets were loosened, and the VP is now missing one ball and wanting Bones held accountable for it.
I finally reached Oliver, punching his arm. "Where's Chloe?"
Oliver took his eyes off the man he was in conversation with and looked at me dryly. "And why would you care?"
What was he getting at? "Why wouldn't I care?"
"You didn't seem that keen on her this morning." Oliver arched an eyebrow.
"Just tell me where she is, Oliver. I haven't seen her since we got here." I didn't know what he was getting at and I really didn't care. It was a simple question, so I expected a simple answer.
"I guess she would be asleep by now." Oliver smirked at me. "Want to know where she might be asleep?"
"Yes, dipstick." My frustration was getting the best of me. Where the hell had he put her?
"My room." Oliver grinned. "We hit it off in the van and I thought I might get lucky. She wasn't in the mood for a party so I showed her the room. I’m guessing she would be asleep by now."
There was anger and then there was what I was feeling. I grabbed him by the collar. "What fucking room?"
"Now now, Chase. No need to get jealous. If there is chemistry there, no point fighting it." Oliver was known for being sneaky and playing games. I just couldn't work out if he was serious or not.
"Show me the room." I pushed him forward. He was laughing but started to walk. If he knew what was good for him, he would be walking a hell of a lot faster.
"Stop pushing me," Oliver snapped over his shoulder.
"Well, walk faster."
Oliver came to a stop at a door. We were on the second story now, which was mainly where the bedrooms were. Pulling out a key, he unlocked the door and walked in.
"So, you ready for that drunk sex now?" Chloe said with humor in her voice.
"Not exactly," Oliver said. Then I pushed him forward and walked in.
Chloe was sitting in the middle of the bed, pillows behind her and laptop in front of her. She had her hair up in a bun and was wearing PJs.
Her eyes widened when she saw me. "Chase." She finally said.
"So you do remember me." I scoffed and walked around to her side of the bed. "Up."
"Why?"
"Just get up, Chloe."
She looked at Oliver, who shrugged his shoulders.
“Okay." She closed her laptop and got out of bed. "Now can I ask why?"
"Get your stuff."
"Are we leaving?" She again looked at Oliver for answers.
"You are. Yes. Is this your bag?"
"Um yeah, it is." She frowned at me. "I really don't get what's going on, are you kicking me out or something? Cause if you are, can I at least get changed?"
I scoffed. "You really think I would do that?"
She shrugged her shoulders. Bloody hell, were all women this stupid? Hadn't I made it clear to her I was interested in her. Had I not made sure she was safe?
She would be sleeping with Oliver over my dead body. I picked up her bags.
"Let's go." I walked off and shot Oliver a glare as I walked past him.
"I think you're changing rooms." Oliver said softly to Chloe, who was following me slowly.
I hadn't even been in my room yet. I knew Oliver had put my bags in and handed me a key when we first got here but apart from that, I hadn't been in there so as we walked up the stairs to the third story, I didn't know what I'd be walking into.
"I feel stupid walking around in cat pajamas!" Chloe whispered/yelled up at me.
We rounded the corner. The hallway was empty. It was too early for the drunk couples to be making their way to a bedroom. Unless you were Marc.
I stopped at my door. I only knew it was my door by the number on the key and the number on the door. I unlocked it and flicked on the lights.
"Okay Chase, what are we doing?" Chloe followed me in and then immediately hugged herself. "God, it is freezing in here."
I dropped her bags on the side of the bed and walked to the heater and turned it on.
"Hello Chase?"
I sighed and turned to look at her. God, she was stunning, even with no makeup on and in her cat pajamas, but she also really looked her age – fresh, young and nineteen.
"Chase!" She stomped her foot. "Tell me what's going on!"
"Were you going to sleep with Oliver?" I arched an eyebrow at her.
She frowned. "He didn't want me to be alone."
"So that comment about drunk sex?"
"Was a joke." She shook her head, "Seriously, what is going on with you?"
"You were going to sleep with my brother."
"I was going to share a bed with Oliver, yes. Why is that such a big deal?" She looked at me as if I had grown two heads.
"If you are sharing a bed with anyone, it's me." I wanted to drive that fact home to her hard.
She crossed her arms. "Do I get a say in this?"
"No."
"Well, maybe I don't want to share a bed with someone who is freaking bipolar!"
"What are you on about now?" I grunted.
"One minute you are asking me to be your girlfriend and the next you are treating me like I have bloody AIDS or something!"
"Don't dramatize things."
"I'm not. I'm actually putting it nicely, considering how you have been treating me."
"I rescued you off the streets, does that tell you nothing?" Did she really not get it? Sure, I knew her and I were a bad idea, but that didn't mean I didn't want her every second of every day since I meet her.
She gave me a foul look. "You know what, Chase? Why don't you just go back to your party and I'll go back to bed because I don't want to talk to you." She walked around me, went to the side of the bed, and threw the blankets back.
"So cracking the shits is how you deal with something, is it? Showing your age, Ch
loe."
"Right." She rolled her eyes. "Because that is one thing you are obsessed with."
"Well, you're the one acting like a two year old because I didn't show you some attention."
She looked over her shoulder. "Just piss off, Chase. I'm not in the mood." Her words were coated in venom.
"Fine." I grabbed the door handle, twisted it open, and then slammed it. If she wanted to act her age, fine. There was a bar downstairs and I was in the mood to get drunk.
Chapter 17
Chloe's Point of View
Chase was sleeping soundly. I had been standing at the end of the bed for a few minutes just admiring him. I knew it was creepy, but I couldn't take my eyes off him even though I was mad at him. Those muscles; that chest, those tattoos. I crept out the door and once I was clear, I slipped on my shoes.
It was early, I knew that, but I was starving, actually beyond starving. My stomach was eating itself. I went to bed without dinner, and I was beginning to think that this was turning into a habit, fighting with Chase and then not eating.
Although I was already hungry when Oliver and Chase came in.
I knocked on Oliver's door and when he didn't answer, I opened it.
"Oliver?"
There was a groan from the bed.
Good, he was here.
We had bonded during our time in the van. He was funny, smart, and yeah he was good-looking, but his brother was more handsome, at least in my opinion anyway.
I poked the comforter. "Oliver?"
"Go away." He groaned into a pillow.
"Please wake up. I'm starving! Beyond that. Come on, I need food."
"Go to the kitchen," he grumbled.
"I don't know where that is."
"Go annoy Chase." He rolled over to show his bare chest. It shouldn't have surprised me that it was covered in tattoos, but it did. Oliver was the only McKenzie brother who didn't have tattoos on his arms, but clearly, he made up for that on his chest.
"I don't want to annoy Chase. I want to annoy you." I poked him again. "Anyway, Chase stumbled in drunk in the early hours of this morning and won't wake until this afternoon most likely."
"Guess when I went to bed?" Oliver flung the blankets back. He looked wild, his blond hair all over the place and a look in his eye as if he was still drunk. "About the same fucking time. So go annoy someone else about your starving issue."
