Worth the Chase

“You always walk home at night alone?”

I practically jump out of my sneakers. “Jesus! How’d you get out here so fast?” I turn to confront him.

“Your friend inside gave me a heads up you were trying to bail on me. Now, she’s my friend, ’cause I just tipped her my entire wallet for the information.”

I roll my eyes. “Sorry you wasted all your money. Have a good night.”

His voice stops me again. “I don’t know what your problem is. You’re the one who propositioned me, so why are you being such a bitch?”

I spin around so fast, I almost give myself whiplash. I’m in his face within seconds. “How dare you? You know nothing about me.”

“You’re right. I don’t. What I do know is I keep trying to and you keep blowing me off.”

“Maybe you should get the hint.”

“Maybe you should stop being so stubborn and get to know me.”

“Oh, geez, there’s that needy guy shit again.”

He scoffs. “Needy?”

“Yeah, needy! What do you want from me? I turn you down at every angle and you still just pop up like a stalker—”

He wraps his hand around my neck and pulls me into him, his mouth claiming mine. I want to pull away. I should pull away. But his touch is everything I’ve been craving since I lost Jax. My heart speeds up. My hands wrap around his neck. His tongue pushes past the barrier of my lips, and I allow it. We explore one another until our kiss turns desperate. His grip tightens, bringing me against his massive chest.

Flashes of Friday night filter through my mind. My fingers dig into the back of his neck. I forget we’re standing on a sidewalk in the center of town—a small town where everyone knows my father. If he got word I was openly making out with a stranger, it would be his final straw. Just a little bit longer, I’ll have enough money to afford my own place, move out, and never look back. Until then…

I rip out of Chase’s hold, hating the absence of his touch. His eyes are fogged with the same emotion swirling through my veins. Need. Desire.

“What? Why’d you stop?”

Because you’re not in my plan.

Because you’re not him.

Because for a split second, I wanted it.

“Because it wasn’t doing anything for me, and I’m not into kissing for charity.”

His eyes, a mix of light brown and green, pop open. “Charity?”

“It’s the nicest word I could think of.”

He scoffs. “You were melting in my arms, Angel.”

“More like dying. That was painful.”

“Painful?”

“I mean, I’ve had worse, but it’s second runner up.” He looks ready to blow. I get the feeling he’s never been told he’s not good at something. If I wasn’t lying to get myself out of this situation, I would be right there with his fan club, holding up my five-star banner. “Look, I bet you’re a nice guy, you’re just not for me. Let’s simply call it what it is: a dud. No sparks. Not gonna happen.” He looks as shocked as my body feels. My lips are still tingling. My skin is on fire. My words aren’t matching the way my sex pulsates at the sight of him. I need to get away from him.

“Maybe we should try it again.”

God, he doesn’t give up. “No.”

“Yes.”

“Not gonna happen.”

“Well, it should happen.”

Why is he making this so hard? “Seriously, do you obsess over everyone you have sex with?”

“I am not obsessed.”

A sarcastic snicker falls from my lips. “You just normally show up at people’s jobs?”

“Yes. I mean, no. I mean—I was in town. I needed a book and was hungry. Complete coincidence you happened to work at both. Maybe you’re the one stalking me.”

I let out a full laugh. “I’m the stalker?”

He shrugs. “Yeah. The nail marks on my neck are a clear indication you want me. Bad. Practically attacked me.”

“Give me a break,” I scoff.

“You know what? I will. You seem like a nice girl. We’ll chalk this up as a misunderstanding. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a library book to return.” He doesn’t even allow me time for a rebuttal before he turns on his heel and casually walks off down the sidewalk.

Chapter 6

Chase

The entire drive over to Levi’s is torturous. My Spotify playlist has gone to hell. Every song is like a universal sign playing through my speakers that Bridget is right. Maybe I am an obsessed stalker. Morrissey’s “The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get” blares through my speakers, which agitates me, so I skip it. The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” is another no. I’m not watching her every move. I skip it again and Death Cab for Cutie blares, “I Will Possess Your Heart”. When Sarah McLachlan comes on, I snap.

“What the hell!” I slap the stereo off to get the damn song off as Levi opens my passenger side door and hops in my car.