Taking Chances (Taking Chances #1)

“I told you, I'm fine. I don't want you to worry about this, it's nothing.”


“Brandon, please don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think I can watch you fight anymore. I just –” I fumbled for a few seconds trying to put my thoughts into words, “seeing that happen to you, I freaked and Scarecrow had to stop me from running out there. I can't watch something like that happen to you again. Would you hate me if I didn't go to them anymore? I'll wait for you in your bed for when you get back, but I can't watch them.”

He pulled me close to his right side and kissed my forehead, “I could never hate you, especially over something like that. I'm sorry you were worried. I'm sorry you had to see that.”

“Don't apologize, I'm just glad you're okay. Well, as okay as you can be right now” I sighed into his chest and he squeezed me tight.

“I love you Harper.”

“I love you too. So much.” I kissed him softly and settled in to finally sleep.

***

I smiled against Chase's kisses while he led me back to his room, which we had barely left an hour ago. Gasping when I realized where we were, I pushed him a little bit away from me and looked around confused.

“Chase, we can't do this here! What if one of the guys walks in? Oh my God, what if Brandon comes home early?!” I could have sworn we were at his parent's house, when did we get to his?

“Don't worry Princess, no one will catch us.”

A part of me was screaming that it was extremely likely someone would catch us, but when his lips touched my naked body, I couldn't seem to care enough to stop him again. I ran my fingers through his hair and pulled his head away from my stomach and back to my face.

“I guess we'll just have to try to be quiet this time.” I whispered huskily.

Chase groaned and brought himself between my legs, just as I was feeling the pressure I was craving, he called my name but his lips never moved. I blinked and looked closer at his mouth when I heard my name again. That was definitely not Chase's voice. Oh God, Brandon was here!

“Chase!” I hissed, “Chase we have to stop, he's going to come in here!”

He smiled crookedly and pressed further into me, “Let him.”

The door opened then, and my boyfriend's head peered in, “Brandon! No!”

Brandon simply smiled and looked at me, “Wake up sweetheart.”

Huh?

“Come on sweetheart, we need to go to class.”

I looked over to Chase who was now shaking my shoulder, then back to my boyfriend. What on earth was happening?

“Harper. Get. Up.” I had no idea who said that last one.

My eyes flew open and I sat upright, my face smashing into a naked chest. “Brandon!” I nearly screamed.

“Jesus Harper! Calm down.” Brandon's arms wrapped around me and he kissed the top of my head. “Are you okay?”

I pushed back on his chest to look at his face, then around the room. Brandon's room. “I think...I was dreaming.”

Dreaming was an understatement. Up until the end, everything had seemed so real. Everything felt so real. I was still completely turned on for crying out loud! I felt sick to my stomach that I'd had a dream of cheating on Brandon. I was still fully dealing with the guilt of actually cheating on him, I didn't want this too.

“Was it bad?”

“Um, no. No it was fine.” Not fine, not okay. Why can't I stop thinking about him?

“Are you sure? Your heart is racing and you're drenched in sweat babe.”

“I'm good, it just freaked me out a little.”

Brandon shrugged, “Okay, well go get ready, we have to leave for school soon.”

I grumbled, but he lifted me out of the bed and set me down in the bathroom. Brandon had been doing a few physical therapy workouts with his trainer for his shoulder and was doing much better. There was only pain after working out but he was taking it easy and had told Scarecrow he had to miss the last two fights. I didn't know when he was going to go back, and didn't ask. Honestly I didn't want him to, but there's no way I would ask him to stop doing something he loved. After I was mostly ready for the day, I walked into the kitchen and froze. Chase was standing with his back to me, talking to Bree. He must have heard me enter the room because his back tensed and he straightened from crouching down to speak with his sister.

“Uh, good morning.” It almost sounded like a question.

Bree glanced around Chase, her smile widening, “Morning doll! How'd you sleep?”

Chase barely cast a glance over his shoulder, saying nothing. That hurt.

“Pretty well, you?”

“Excellent.” She bit her lip and her face flushed.

“Ugh, seriously Bree? Save it until I'm gone at least.” Chase made a gagging noise and walked out.

My dream hadn't done his voice justice, at all. That was the first time I'd actually heard him say anything in weeks, and unfortunately it wasn't directed towards me. I watched him retreat down the hall then turned to start the coffee pot.

Molly McAdams's books