I didn’t like the darkness that was hidden behind his calm exterior. He was playing it cool for me, but it was senseless. Now more than ever his feelings and emotions were powerful inside me. I found it hard to distinguish between his emotions and mine. I was going to have to work on that. “Not yet,” I answered softly, knowing the moment I told him, he was going to totally do something rash and idiotic. It was just Chase’s way.
Waking side-by-side down the stairs an unusual sound floated from the family room. Youthful giggles. It wasn’t so much the giggle that sounded out of place, but the voice that belonged to the girlish laugh. Emma? I didn’t think the merciless hunter had a gigglish bone in her body. Something was definitely amidst.
Sneaking a glance at Chase, it was clear he thought the same. His dark brows were buried together, and I felt his body stiffen. Alarm speared through me. He was in the ask questions later kind of mood. An instant before he descended the rest of the stairs in warped speed, I placed a hand on his arm and shook my head. Knowing him, he would strike at Emma just because.
Together we entered the family room flooded with a vibrant cheer and were more than a little surprised at the scene that unfolded in front of us. When had things changed? How had I not seen it?
Emma was curled up beside Travis on the couch looking like a cat caught licking the milk bowl. Never had I seen her so delighted, so happy. Even her silly grin was catching. I found my lips twitching and thinking that when Emma truly smiled, it transformed her hard exterior into something beautiful.
I was finally able to see the girl he’d fallen in love with.
Travis was grinning like a total shithead. “Bow-chicka-bow-wow,” he said in what I guessed was his sexy voice.
I rolled my eyes. “You did not just really say that. It was worse than a catcall from a construction zone.”
Chase bit back a laugh.
Travis’s blonde hair was in disarray like he spent the night on the sofa with someone in particular and very pleased with himself. “So was it magical?” Travis asked.
“Was what?” I played dumb.
“Knocking boots with–” he replied only to be cut off by Emma socking him in the gut.
A laugh bubbled up in my throat. “You are a total biscuit.”
Travis’s dimples winked deeply on both sides of his cheek. “I’ve been called worse.”
“Go fly a kite. Better yet, wait until its storming,” Chase added edgily.
I pulled Chase through the front door, leaving the two lovebirds before Chase and Travis started going for each others throats. It was only a matter of time before things escalated for those two.
Weaving his fingers with mine, we crossed the yard. The autumn sun was beaming down on us, but it wouldn’t have mattered if it had been pouring cats and dogs. Nothing could contain my happiness.
Walking into the kitchen, my mom was hacking away at the cutting board. For a moment all I could do was stare, latching onto the sight of her. She had one of those dumb aprons wrapped around her waist. Her honey colored hair was pulled away from her face and thrown into a sloppy bun. It wouldn’t have mattered how she looked or what she wore, to me, she was just my mom. And I had missed her dreadfully.
“Mom!” I yelled excitedly, letting go of Chase’s hand and ran into her arms.
She was taken aback in surprise, and then her arms wrapped around me. “Angel, what’s gotten into you?”
My eyes washed with tears. “Nothing. I just missed you.”
Her hands combed down my long dark hair. “I missed you too baby. You’re just in time for breakfast.” Keeping her arm around my waist, she looked at Chase standing in the kitchen arch. “Chase, won’t you stay and join us? That is if Angel is okay with it…”
Like he was going to turn down a free meal.
I wiped my eyes with the back of my sleeve, letting a short laugh. “I’d like that.”
Spending the day with my two favorite peeps in the entire world was the best medicine any doctor could prescribe. The three of us hung out, watched old movies, laughed, and ate my mom’s cooking all day.
It was divine.
Some internal mom instinct knew that when I’d walked through the door, I needed my mommy. Yet I was far from ready to let go of my boyfriend.
I think it was safe to call him that after everything.
Again that night I spent another mind-blowing evening sleeping in his arms. My mom none the wiser. The same couldn’t necessarily be said about Devin, but I wasn’t asking and Chase wasn’t saying.
All the same to me as long as he didn’t budge from my bed.
***
“Angel, we have to do this,” Chase stated.
The clan had congregated at the Winters’ house. Packed into their living room was the whole gang: Lexi, Travis, Emma, Hayden, Craig, Sierra, Chase, and I. Everyone wanted in on the action.
We were divided in our usual groups. Chase had me pulled in his lap, arms wrapped around me and had his chin rested on my shoulder. I think it was more of a technical move than him trying some funny business. He was probably afraid I would attempt to body-slam someone.