“What made you choose those?”
He beamed his white smile at me, “I heard you talking to Bree and Mom about them being your favorite. And ever since that day all I've wanted to do was get you orange lilies, but I knew I'd probably get punched again. This was my way around it.”
“It looks amazing Chase, thank you.”
He shrugged, but he still couldn't contain that smile.
“I'm serious.” I grabbed his face with both hands and brought him close, “I love it, thank you.”
Chase kissed me once and skimmed his nose across my cheek. “God, you're beautiful Harper.”
My phone rang then, Brandon's name flashed on the screen. “Hey babe.”
“Hey, how's the tattoo look?”
“Um, it's not done yet, can I call you after?”
“I'm going out with some buddies from high school, I'll just talk to you tomorrow, kay? But send me a picture when it's done. I love you.”
My stomach clenched, “I love you too. Have fun tonight.” I pressed the end button and looked up at Chase's closed off expression. “Chase –”
“So you'll need to go buy some anti-bacterial soap to clean it.”
“Please talk to me.”
“I'm trying. Look, here are some aftercare instructions. Don't take the wrap off for at least an hour. If anything looks wrong give me a call.” He dropped the paper on my stomach and stepped back.
“Chase!”
“I have another appointment, and he's waiting. I'll see you later.”
I looked into his guarded eyes and exhaled deeply, “What do I owe you?”
“Nothing. It was a gift. But I'm busy, please go.” He turned away from me and walked to the back.
Aces.
***
Everyone loved my tattoo, even though Bree wouldn't talk to me for about an hour because I hadn't told her beforehand or let her come with me. Chase really had done an amazing job and I wished I could fix things with him, but he'd been avoiding me since the tattoo parlor. It didn't seem to matter how we ended things lately, he always avoided me after. It was probably for the best though, Brandon would be back two nights from tonight, and I already had enough guilt eating at me, I didn't need to add more. I hated myself when I thought of the kisses with Chase, how Brandon trusted me completely and I'd gone and kissed the one guy he had always worried about.
Mom and Dad went to Lake Tahoe with a few of their friends yesterday, and Bree begged me to go to LA with everyone for the weekend, but I faked being sick. A bunch of them were going clubbing tonight and tomorrow and planned on splitting hotel rooms both nights. I would have wanted to go, but everyone was going with a boyfriend or girlfriend except Drew, and I didn't want to be left to deal with him. All I really wanted to do was sit at Bree's house and mope. When I moved here, I wasn't planning on falling in love with the first two guys that came along. Hell, I wasn't planning on falling in love during college at all. I wanted to have dysfunctional relationships and flings, but did that happen? Nope. I felt like Elena from Vampire Diaries. She has two insanely hot men who are in love with her and would do anything for her. One of which, she would give almost everything to be with, and the other she continues to push away, even though she can't ever actually stay away, so she won't have to admit she was in love with him too. At least my guys weren't brothers. Thank God for that.
Chase walked into the house an hour after Breanna left and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw me. “I thought you were going to LA?” His voice was gruff, and his face was still guarded.
“No, I told Bree I was sick.”
“Are you?” He started to move towards me but stopped himself.
“I'm fine, I just wanted to be alone.”
“Well I'll be gone in a few minutes. I just need to grab a few things. How's the uh – how's the tattoo?”
“Beautiful.” I breathed, “Can we talk about that night?”
“There's nothing to talk about.” He called over his shoulder, heading for the stairs.
I jumped off the couch and raced behind him. “Yes there is, you completely shut down and you've been avoiding me ever since!”
“I'm not avoiding you, I just have nothing to say.”
“Why are you treating me like this? What did I do?”
“Nothing!”
“So this is what you do then? You make girls feel like they're special for a few days, then treat them like they're nothing?”
He turned on me right before he got to his room, “You're really gonna put this on me? One minute you're kissing me, the next you're talking to your boyfriend and telling him you love him!”
“What did you want me to do, not answer it?”