So what if it was petty? Lauren was a fellow journalism major I’d met my freshman year during my Introduction to Online Media class. But more importantly, Lauren and Paul dated shortly before he met Amelia, and according to my brother, Paul had been completely and madly enamored with her. Legend has it he cried and refused to leave his room for a week, even to shower, when Lauren dumped him.
Needless to say, Lauren was a major sore spot for Amelia, who had never invoked such a strong emotional reaction in Paul herself. Amelia once threatened to break up with him in the midst of a fight, and he’d simply shrugged and said, “If you feel you need to, go ahead.”
I flopped onto my bed and scrolled social media in search of distraction, but all the highlight reels only made me feel worse. Smiling group shots, girls’ nights out, and happy couples were fresh reminders of everything I didn’t have. It didn’t help that Noelle was hostessing until close tonight and Zara had a date with some new guy from Tinder, effectively exhausting all my other friend options.
Normally, I would have enjoyed something like wandering around a bookstore solo for a while, but in light of the party downstairs that I hadn’t been invited to, even that seemed a little depressing.
Setting down my phone, I hopped off the bed and raided my closet. I changed into a nicer pair of black jeans and a cute gray sweater. I felt less shlubby, but I was still trapped in my room. I desperately wanted to get out of the house and take my mind off things for a while—and I didn’t want to do it alone.
There was only one other person I could think of.
It was crazy. One hundred percent certifiable. But it was still better than being here.
And maybe, just maybe, I wanted the excuse.
Bailey: SOS
Chase: SOS? Silk Or Satin?
Chase: Personally, I’m a fan of both
Bailey: Carter.
Chase: James.
Bailey: I’m being serious. I’m trapped in my room and I need help.
Chase: You know the lock is on the inside, right?
Bailey: Yes, smartass. But Amelia invited people over to our place and Luke showed up with them.
Chase: awkward.gif
Bailey: At this point, I might climb the fire escape to get away.
Chase: Just left an evening lecture. Wanna hang?
Bailey: Sure.
Chase: I can be there in 20.
Chase: But use the front door, James. We don’t need your clumsy ass falling off the fire escape.
Bailey: Har-har.
A rush of exhilaration ran through me, like when a rollercoaster suddenly plunges down a steep drop. It was excitement, effervescent and bright, mingled with hints of fear.
Two minutes later…
Bailey: Speaking of the front door, can you do me a favor?
Chase: What kind of favor?
Bailey: Not that kind.
Chase: Dammit.
Bailey: When you get here, can you come to the front door?
Chase: And say hi to my BFF Morrison? It would be my pleasure.
OceanofPDF.com
CHAPTER 14
OceanofPDF.com
AS A FRIEND
Bailey
Nineteen minutes later, after I’d done a significant amount of frantic pacing, hair fluffing, and generalized freaking out, the doorbell rang. I bolted out of my bedroom and ran down the stairs, tripping on my own feet halfway down and nearly wiping out.
Not that I was nervous or anything.
Unlocking the front door, I swung it open to find Chase wearing a white tee that hung off his frame perfectly and a pair of broken-in jeans. He looked like a walking cologne advertisement. It wasn’t fair for one person to be so attractive all the time. Everyone should have bad days. I definitely did.
“Hey.” He flashed me a smile that did something decidedly non-platonic to my body.
I grinned back at him like an idiot, because I was a little panicked. And oddly short of breath. This entire scenario was surreal; a little like playing with fire while sprinkling kerosene on top to keep it interesting.
Then I remembered to actually speak. “Hi.” My eyes fell to the large brown paper delivery bag in his hand. “What’s…?”
Chase glanced down, like he’d forgotten what he was holding. “Oh, a delivery guy gave me this as I was coming up the stairs. Then he bolted,” he said, expression apologetic. “Said they paid online already.”
Oh, so it was a triple dinner date too. How cute. Vomit.
“There is zero chance I’m delivering that by hand,” I said. “I’ll yell for one of them. Come in and give me one sec.” I waved him inside and slipped into my leather boots, quickly tying the laces.
Before I could call for anyone, footsteps echoed, and Amelia came around the corner. “I heard the doorbell. Is that our—” She stopped short when her eyes landed on Chase.
Not a second later, Satan himself appeared, clad in dark-wash jeans and a pale blue polo with his hair slicked back. He stood next to Amelia with a gleam of malice in his eyes that made the usual shade of blue go ten times colder.
“I thought I heard someone.” Luke took in the brown paper bag Chase was still holding and smirked. “You pick up a part-time job, Carter? Always good to have options for when you don’t make the league.”
“Yeah,” Chase deadpanned. “I applied to be a giant dickbag first, but they told me you already filled the position.”
I choked back a laugh, trying to disguise it as a cough. The smirk faded from Luke’s face as his cheeks flushed with anger. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. He’d never been all that quick on his feet verbally—only when he threw the first punch or had time to plan what he was going to say—which meant that, right now, he was drawing a blank.
“Fuck you, Carter,” Luke snapped, turning and walking away. “Jackass,” he muttered.
Chase shook his head as Luke rounded the corner. His jaw was tight, like he wanted to say something but was holding back.
“So.” I ran my hand through my hair, likely undoing all the primping I had done in anticipation of his arrival. “We should get going.”
Amelia snapped out of her daze and took the bag of food out of Chase’s hand. “Uh, thanks,” she muttered, not looking at either of us. Without another word, she turned and disappeared into the living room.
Had my roommates always been this awful? Or was this a recent development? Either way, they’d done an about-face on me, going from my supposed good friends to wanting nothing to do with me. We were like strangers now.
Maybe I’d underestimated how much social influence I’d been granted solely due to being the team captain’s girlfriend. Which was actually pretty gross.
“Anyway.” Chase’s tone lightened, and he propped himself against the doorframe, flashing me a heart-stopping smile. “Ready?”
“Absolutely.” I grabbed my olive utility jacket off the hook and pulled it on as we walked out the door. Chase waited while I fumbled with my keys briefly and locked the deadbolt.
“I’m sure they’re watching us,” I said, glancing up at him. “The windows in the living room look out onto the street.”
He cocked one brow. “Well, in that case.” He threw his arm around my shoulders again, enveloping me in masculine warmth and his intoxicating scent. It was a sort of leather-vanilla cologne, maybe, mixed with something clean, like soap or laundry detergent. Whatever it was, it made me want to bury my face in his neck for a bigger hit.
Then I remembered how, up until recently, I thought I hated Chase. Was I losing my mind?