He pulls open the decorative entry door with Caleb on his hip and I cautiously follow him inside. Which was a good thing, as soon as Chase is across the threshold he’s assaulted by four girls who all look to be under the age of twelve. “Chase, Chase you’re here!” I hear one of them shout as a girl with two ponytails bouncing on top of her head leaps into his arms. “Calm down I was just over like a week ago,” he laughs out as he sets down Caleb before being assaulted by hugs. “Me! Me!” The littlest one of the group demands as she stomps her little feet in place. She looks to be around three if I’m judging by her appearance and looks to be about the same size as Caleb. Chase scoops her up and plants a kiss on her blonde curls. “Girls this is Caleb, why don’t you show him your room Belle?” They all run off towing Caleb along by the hand. Ah kids have it so easy. Instant friends.
“Hi honey. Thanks for picking all of this up for me, I always manage to forget a thing or two even with all the years of practice.” A woman wraps an arm around Chases shoulders and I can instantly tell this is his mother. They have the same matching green eyes. She peeks over his shoulder. “Oh Chase! You didn’t tell me you were bringing company. Sorry dear I didn’t even notice you with all of the girls excitement.” She turns and wraps me in a warm hug, she smells just like I imagine a mother would like cookies and cinnamon. She steps back and elbows Chase, “I’m Mary by the way. My son normally has better manners and tells me when we’re having company.”
“Oh I’m sorry if I’m intruding. Chase insisted I come, I just assumed he at least told you before he asked.” I narrow my eyes and look back at Chase who has suddenly became occupied with a nonexistent spot on the impeccable floor of the entry way. I don’t know how this house stays so clean with so many people living in it.
“Not a problem dear we have enough food to feed an army. You are just as beautiful as Chase described. It’s hard to get him to shut up about you sometimes but we like to hear it, he rarely discusses any girls so we know that you must be pretty special to him.”
Chase talking about ME? She must have me confused with Ashley, the blonde bimbo I’ve seen hanging around. Chase and I haven’t even talked more than a few words the past few weeks. Just as I’m about to interrupt her to correct the assumption Mary steers me towards the kitchen, “C’mon Leah dear lets introduce you to the rest of the girls, they’ll all be so excited that you’re here. And I just need to meet that sweet little Caleb, I’m sure Belle will have him occupied for a while.”
I feel my mouth drop open and then I quickly shut it and shoot a look at Chase who’s making his way towards the set of stairs the kids all ran up. So it was me Chase has been talking about and nonstop apparently according to his mother. After the Halloween party I had just assumed he had moved on with Ashley.
Mary introduces me to her husband Chris and the rest of Chases sisters who all seem to gush over my presence. I learn all about Chases youth and the activities he participated in throughout high school. His older sisters, Amy and Katie, like to bring up the more embarrassing stories about Chase which he simply shook his head at and gave his trademark smirk to. They even filled me in on his past relationships and that he just had one serious girlfriend, Julie, during high school.
“I think because he grew up with all of us girls, it gave him a soft heart,” explained his oldest sister Amy. “Chase would do anything for anyone no matter the situation. That’s what we all love about him. That bitch Julie knew exactly how to play Chase too, she knew he would come running at her beckon and call.” I look over at Chase as she said this who was looking down sheepishly with a blush rising to his cheeks. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Chase embarrassed before.
“Oh Amy stop it!” Mary chided her oldest. “Julie was a bit of a drama queen but her and Chase have been over for awhile now. There’s nothing wrong with my baby boy having a soft heart, he just needs someone to handle it well for him,” she looks over at me with a pointed look. “Now let’s get all this food out to the table before it gets cold.”
The meal was spread out on an elegant dining room table with fall decorations scattered across it that were lovingly made by Chases younger sisters who pointed out which one each of them made to me. Caleb seemed to be fitting in well with them and they seemed excited to have a little boy around, making him king of the kids table.
Chase and I sat next to each other with our loaded down plates. I leaned over to whisper in his ear as we sat down, “So does your family know about Ashley or is she one of those secret girlfriends?” He scrunches up his nose and gives me a confused look, “Ashley? Wait you think….No we aren’t dating. We used to awhile ago but it was nothing serious and I did her a favor by taking her to that party but she uh… well she got sick of me talking about this other girl I’ve had a thing for.”
I raise my eyebrows at him, “Oh another girl? You do get around don’t you Chase and you have your whole family tricked in to thinking you’re this precious mamas boy, huh?” I teasingly ask as I grab a roll out of the bread basket that’s being passed around the table.
He looks back at me and rolls his eyes, “Leah seriously do I need to spell it out for you? That girl would be you. Ever since I met you that first night your all I think about day and night. Trust me there’s no other girl that compares to you, I just wish you would see that.”