by Autumn Reed
“I know—the phone calls and texts were nice, but it wasn’t the same around here without you. How was UCLA?”
“It was nice. The campus was beautiful and the students were friendly, but I still love UCSC. And I really missed sleeping in my own bed.”
“So I guess you’re not trading the Banana Slug in to be a Bruin?
“Heck, no. Banana Slugs all the way.”
“And the assignment went well?”
Theo smiled. “Another happy customer. And I have to say, Logan is a fun guy; I was glad to have him there, and I think Chase was too.”
“That’s good. You know . . .” I trailed off, not sure if I should confess my suspicions on Logan and Kara.
“Yeah?” Theo pushed me to continue.
“I’ve been wondering if there’s something between Logan and Kara.”
“Really?” He leaned forward, almost conspiratorially. “He doesn’t have a girlfriend as far as I can tell. Hmmm, Logan and Kara, I could see that.”
“Is that allowed? Dating a fellow teammate?”
Theo pursed his lips. “It’s certainly not encouraged, and while it’s rare, it’s not completely unheard of.”
“Would they get in trouble?”
Theo laughed. “No, but one of them might be more likely to leave Team Falcon if they ever split up.”
“Yikes.”
“Yeah. Having a team member leave is huge and only happens in extreme cases.” I frowned and Theo continued talking. “Don’t worry, Logan and Kara are professionals. If they are dating, they’ll work it out.”
“I hope so.”
He clapped his hands together. “So, Viva Las Vegas! I have to pack, but I’ll be around. I’m sure you’re super excited about seeing Jessica.”
“You know it!”
I spent the rest of the morning working on my checklist for the annual youth outreach event in less than a month. The other regional directors, as well as certain select clients, would be attending, and there was a lot to coordinate. Fortunately, I was so preoccupied that it kept my mind off the situation with Chase, for the most part.
That afternoon, I walked into the coffee shop near campus, trying to stay calm despite the ball of nerves currently inhabiting my stomach. I hadn’t been alone with Chase for months, since our Christmas Eve kiss, in fact, and I didn’t know what to expect.
Chase smiled from across the room and stood from his chair, waving me over. He looked as good as ever, and my heart leapt at the sight of him after all these months.
“Thanks for coming,” he said as he pulled me into a hug. Okay, so far he’s acting normal.
“Of course,” I replied, hoping my voice sounded convincingly calm.
“Do you want coffee?” He laughed, then answered his own question. “That’s right, you hate the stuff. What about some hot chocolate or a dessert?”
“Sure, I’ll go grab a hot chocolate. Are you good?”
He stood before I could. “I got it. Be right back.”
I watched him in line, admiring the way his long-sleeve T-shirt stretched taut against his shoulders and his jeans fit just tight enough to show off his undoubtedly toned butt. Forcing myself to look away, I gave myself a pep talk. Get it together, Haley. Now is not the time to drool over Chase’s physique.
A few minutes later, Chase returned, hot chocolate in hand. He sat across from me at the tiny table. “How are you? I missed you.”
“I’m good, thanks. I really missed you guys, too.” If he noticed my use of “guys,” he didn’t show it.
After we spent some time catching up on the last couple of months, Chase looked down into his coffee and started rubbing the back of his neck nervously. This is it, I thought, my pulse racing from a combination of fear and excitement. We’re finally going to talk about the kiss.
He took a deep breath before returning his gaze to mine. “I know I’ve given you mixed signals, and I wouldn’t blame you if you’re angry with me. But, now that I’m back, I think that we should talk about what happened at Christmas.” Suddenly looking even more stressed, he said, “I’ve had a lot of time to think about this, and . . .”
He trailed off, and I felt more and more awkward by the moment. How did things get to this point? I honestly wasn’t sure whether I was more nervous for him to pseudo-dump me (considering we never actually dated in the first place) or ask me out.
“It’s fine, Chase. Clearly you think the kiss was a mistake.” My heart sunk, and I pushed my mug away and stood, ready to avoid any further humiliation.
Chase grabbed my wrist and pleadingly said, “Wait, Haley. It’s not what you think. Please stay.”
As much as I wanted to leave, I needed to hear him out. Once I was seated again, he held my hand in his. “It wasn’t a mistake because I didn’t want to or didn’t enjoy it. It was a mistake because it’s not something I was free to do.”
I raised my eyebrow. “What? You told me you didn’t have a girlfriend.”
“No, no. I don’t.” He groaned. “Why is this is so difficult?” And then he added almost under his breath, “Probably because I don’t think you’re going to like what I have to say.”
I sat quietly as people ordered coffee, the door opened and closed, and the milk frother hissed. I wasn’t giving Chase an easy out of this one; I wanted him to prove he was the guy I thought he was. I wanted him, as Jess put it, to “man up.”
Chase scrubbed a hand over his head. “Haley, have you ever felt like your loyalty was divided? Or that your head told you one thing when your heart wanted another?”
I considered it for a moment and responded, “Sure,” although I wondered what that had to do with us.
“As you know, the team is close, closer than most.” I nodded, thinking back to my recent conversation with Kara. “And sometimes we take a more unique approach to things.”
“Okay,” I said, drawing the word out, still not sure where this was going.
“I’m not supposed to tell you this, but I’m hoping it will help you understand the situation.” He paused and drew in a deep breath, my anticipation ratcheting up with each passing moment. “When you first came to Santa Cruz, the guys and I made an agreement not to pursue any kind of romantic relationship with you, because we didn’t want to complicate matters or make you feel uncomfortable.”
Struggling to process his admission, I sat there stunned for who knows how long before he squeezed my hand softly. “Haley, sweetie, please say something.”
“So you guys made what, a pact, not to date me?” He nodded, his expression sheepish. “But why? I mean, who does that?” My tone wasn’t angry, merely astonished.
He shrugged. “At the time, Jackson thought it was for the best since we knew you would be staying with us for the foreseeable future.”
“So . . . is this a lifetime ban?”
“No, at least I don’t think so. Honestly, we never discussed it.” His expression softened. “That’s why I wanted to talk today—I really like you. I have for a long time, and . . .” He paused, whether from nerves or to gauge my reaction, I wasn’t sure. “And, I’m hoping you feel the same way.” My breath caught as he continued, “But, if you do, I need to go about this the right way. I think we should talk to Jackson.”
“What?” I finally managed to choke out. This conversation was getting more and more unbelievable by the moment, and I honestly wasn’t sure how to respond. The idea of approaching Jackson about dating Chase just seemed wrong, but I couldn’t bring myself to say that aloud.
“Unless you’re not interested in me like that,” Chase backpedaled, his expression sober yet gentle. “You can tell me, it’s okay.”
“It’s not that . . . um, I don’t know what to say. This is a lot to process.”
He smiled hopefully, his dimple winking at me. “You don’t have to decide anything right now; take all the time you need to consider what you want . . . although I hope it’s me.”
I stared at Chase for a few long seconds, wondering at my hesitatio
n. My dream boyfriend had officially dropped into my lap, and I should have been jumping up and down in elation. Instead, my chest tightened at the realization that I was facing the one thing that I had hoped for and dreaded in equal measure for months—choosing.
But, it’s not like any of the others have even asked me out. I wouldn’t be choosing Chase over anyone else . . . right?
Forcing a weak smile, I promised to think it over before making an excuse and bolting from the coffee shop. My first instinct was to back out of the Vegas trip, uncertain if I wanted to deal with the guys after discovering they’d made yet another decision about my life behind my back. I’d normally be angry, but more than anything, the knowledge of the pact stung. I wanted to believe it wasn’t personal, but I couldn’t help feeling like something was wrong with me for them all to agree.
Screw skipping Vegas. I desperately need to see Jess.
Sexy Six Pack
I followed Theo onto the jet, wondering why I was shocked that we were taking a private plane to Vegas. This was a Zenith trip, after all. Glancing around the small, but luxurious, interior of the plane, I considered my options. Eight over-sized leather seats were clustered into two groups of four, the seats in each pod facing each other; their cream-colored leather looked pristine, and I ran my fingers along the arms on the aisle seats.
Theo sat with Chase and Ethan in the pod farthest from the entrance, and I quickly took a seat facing away from them. Jackson and Liam were across the aisle from me, and when Knox stepped into the cabin, I could tell by his expression that he was surprised I hadn’t joined the other group. He sat across from me and leaned in, his concerned eyes scanning my face.
“Your first time flying?”
“How’d you know?” I asked with a laugh, but the sound seemed hollow, even to me.
Liam, clearly listening to our conversation, gave me a devilish grin and said, “You can sit on my lap. I’ll protect you or, at least, keep you distracted.”
I rolled my eyes and returned my gaze to Knox. “Mostly, I’m tired.”
“I wondered why you ditched me this morning.”
“Sorry, I wasn’t up for a run.”
Jackson looked up from his tablet and said, “After take-off, you can recline your seat and take a nap. I promise to keep the boys quiet.”
“Thanks, but I doubt I’ll be able to fall asleep, and it’s a pretty short flight anyway.”
Once we were off the ground, I plugged in my headphones and browsed my playlists until I found one I’d created specifically for relaxation. As the acoustic sound of Iron & Wine flowed through me, I closed my eyes and felt some of my stress slip away.
I had told Knox the truth, just not the whole truth. Although I was tired, I hadn’t disclosed the more pertinent information—the reason why. I wasn’t about to reveal that I’d lain awake most of the night obsessing over my conversation with Chase. And the nervousness that Knox picked up on had nothing to do with a fear of flying; instead, I was dreading facing Chase, especially with all of the guys together in such a confined space. Not that I didn’t want to see him, but I knew he’d be watching me closely, and I didn’t want him to see my current discomfort with the situation.
My thoughts were muddled, overwhelmed with confusion. I was happy that Chase liked me enough to “go public” with Jackson. But, I was scared that, if I agreed, things would change with the rest of the guys. At the same time, I worried if I didn’t agree, then I would lose the fragile beginnings of a relationship I had with Chase. I was annoyed that the guys had made the pact behind my back, but on some level, I was grateful they were trying to look after me, even before they really knew me. What the heck am I supposed to do?
The next thing I knew, someone was gently shaking my shoulder and saying my name. I opened my eyes, startled to find Jackson leaning over the aisle, his hand lingering on my arm. “Hey, sleepyhead,” he said with a smile. “Sorry to wake you, but we’re getting ready to land.”
“Oh, thanks,” I responded, returning my seat to its upright position as I pulled out my headphones. “Guess I fell asleep after all.”
After an uneventful landing, we departed the plane and were ushered into two waiting black SUVs, our luggage already loaded in the back. Even though I’d never flown, I knew enough about the process to realize that this experience had been anything but typical. No long lines, invasive security, claustrophobic seating, screaming babies, or waiting around for checked baggage. Not that I was complaining . . . seriously, who would?
The ride from the airport was fairly short, and I got just a glimpse of the Strip before we pulled up in front of the Wynn. It was the most impressive hotel I’d seen, impossibly tall and sleek. Inside the lobby, they had literally rolled out the red carpet, as red carpet patterned with butterflies and other nature items ran the length of the lobby and hallways. We passed through a sunlit atrium, and my attention was constantly torn between the colorful tile walkway, the lush landscaping and enormous flower balls hanging from the trees, and the interesting people-watching. Clearly, I had underestimated the power of Vegas to dazzle and distract.
After unpacking, I checked my phone for messages from Jess.
Jessica: I’ll be there in 30. Can’t wait!
Since she’d sent the text over twenty minutes ago, I realized she would arrive any minute. Suddenly feeling anxiously excited, I responded with our room number and took a few minutes to freshen up before I went into the living room to wait for her.
I’d barely taken a seat on the couch when the doorbell rang. Wait, the suite has its own doorbell? I hopped up and practically ran over Ethan on my way to the door.
“Watch it, Buffy,” he said with a chuckle.
I took a few deep breaths before opening the door to an earsplitting squeal. “HALEY!!!” Jess screamed, launching herself at me. I laughed and returned her exuberant hug. “Oh my gosh, this hotel is amazing! Did you see—”
She abruptly stopped speaking, her eyes widening, and I turned to see that all of the guys had made their way into the living area. I bit back a laugh, understanding her sudden speechlessness. They were a lot to handle one-on-one, but all together . . . there were really no words.
“Holy hotness,” Jess whispered. Except for those words, I guess. “You seriously weren’t exaggerating.”
“No, I was not.” I gave her a big smile. “Come meet the guys.”
After I introduced everyone, Jess wasted no time making herself comfortable on the couch. Even in a room full of strangers—ridiculously hot ones, at that—she is the same old Jess, I thought. Sure, she had cut her hair since going to college, but the loose waves kissed her collarbone and the playful, sexy style suited her perfectly. Her golden-bronze skin was as beautiful as ever, and she seemed genuinely happy, her brown eyes sparkling with mischief.
I sat down between her and Theo, glad that Chase was sitting at the table behind me. I knew I would need to face him eventually, but I was delaying it as long as possible.
“So, Theo,” Jess said, leaning over me to talk to him, “you’re still in college, right?”
“I am.”
“Are you on spring break next week, too? I am so ready for time off.”
“Yes, and me too.”
“What school is it that you go to again?” Jess asked innocently.
Theo laughed. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“Jess!” I said, poking her in the side. “You know you’re not supposed to ask those kind of questions.” Jess still didn’t know where I was living, and I knew the guys, Jackson especially, were adamant about keeping her in the dark for her safety as much as my own.
“Fine, but it was worth a try.” Turning back to Theo, she asked, “Are you doing anything exciting over the break?”
“Yeah, I’m going to Mexico for a few days with Knox and Ethan.”
“Awesome! Cabo?”
Ethan responded with a smirk. “It’s not that kind of spring break trip. Try middle-of-nowhere Mexico and rock climbing.”
“Hmmm. Not exactly my idea of a vacation, but it sounds interesting.” She repositioned herself so that she could see the guys sitting behind us. “What about you, Chase? Anything fun planned for spring break?”
“Not really. I still have to work, and I plan on spending my free time relaxing.”
“Oh yeah? And what do you like to do to relax?” Jess asked almost suggestively.
I covertly poked her again. Apparently I should have given her a lecture about not embarrassing me or any of the guys before letting her meet them. She turned her head and gave me a sly smile, then returned her attention to Chase.
“Um, I swim, play the guitar, watch baseball. Nothing exciting.”
“Oooh, guitar,” Jess said happily. “Did you know that Haley plays?”
I finally looked at Chase and found him watching me with a proud expression. “Yeah, she’s really good. And her voice is even more amazing.”
Jess’s mouth fell open as she stared at me like she didn’t even know who I was. “You played and sang for them?”
“Just a little,” I said, heat rushing to my cheeks. I knew Jess would think it was a big deal, because I’d rarely ever performed for her and my dad, always insisting that singing, especially, was a private hobby.
Hoping to change the subject, I said, “Jackson has the most beautiful golden retriever, Penny. Jess had a golden when she was little,” I explained to the room.
As Jess talked to Jackson and the others about her love of dogs and her interest in going to veterinary school, I tried to relax. As happy as I was to have her there, it was strange to see my past collide with my present. Part of me was expecting some kind of cataclysmic event—maybe Jess would push too far with her interrogation or say something so embarrassing that I’d never recover. And, even worse, I couldn’t help but wonder if any of the guys were noticing how gorgeous and fun Jess was.
“So, what’s the plan?” Liam asked.
“I was thinking dinner at that restaurant you mentioned then walking the Strip and Bellagio fountains? Sound good?” Jackson said to the room.
