Worth the Chase

“You all right? Did you want me to give you and your stereo another minute to finish your argument?”

“Fuck you, man.”

“Whoa, chill. Just saying. I’ve been standing outside your window watching you for the past minute and a half.”

“Well, music stations are shit nowadays. What kind of crap are they playing? What happened to songs about sex, drugs, and gangster rap?”

“As opposed to what?” Levi snickers.

“I don’t fucking know. All this love drama bullshit.”

Levi’s brows shoot up, and I instantly regret the words that just came out of my mouth. “What did you just say?”

“Nothing. I don’t know.”

“No way, man. Spill. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that word. Has a—oh my God! Has a girl actually gotten to you?”

“No! Yes! I mean—I don’t know…”

Levi slaps his palm against his thigh. “This is going to be good. Why don’t you tell me now and then replay it when we get to Kip’s—”

“No! Kip can’t know about this.”

“So, there is a girl?”

“No. There’s not a girl… Okay, hypothetically, there’s a girl. More like a situation I can't figure out.” I turn to Levi and ask the question I’ve never had to ask before, “How do you know when a chick really doesn’t like you?”

Of course, this asshole laughs.

“It’s not obvious? Hypothetically, of course.”

“I don’t know. It might be obvious. But there’s no way she can’t not like me. There’s this thing about her. This weird vibey thing. I don’t even know what it is. I think I… maybe it’s because I haven’t gotten laid in so long.” Translation: I got laid by the most angelic girl and now I’m broken.

“As in you like her?”

Jesus, where’s he going with this? “No, I don’t like her! Okay, hypothetically, I like her. But she doesn’t seem to like me—and I don’t understand why. I mean, look at me. I’m every girl’s wet dream.”

Levi chuckles. “I think your Tinder rating says otherwise.”

“Dude, get your apps straight. Tinder doesn’t allow people to rate. Which would be a fantastic score if they did… and for those other sites, if you read past all the girls who are mad because I forgot their number—which was not my fault—I’m a stellar catch.”

“Okay, fine. Why do you think she doesn’t like you?”

I sit and ponder all of our encounters. “She told me.”

“Then there’s your answer. What’s the problem?”

“The problem is there’s no way she doesn’t like me!”

“I hate to be the one to break it to you, but not every girl wants to fall at your feet.”

“Pffft.” I flick my hand at him. “Lies, but I’m not talking about every girl. I’m talking about this one. She’s different. I’m not looking for her to fall at my feet. I’m looking for her to…to…” Talk to me. I swipe my hands down my face. “Fuck me.”

“I’ll pass.”

“No, asshole. Not talking about you. Her. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I am obsessed with her.”

Levi’s obnoxious laughter is not helping right now. “Wait, she said you were obsessed with her? Oh man, I’ve got to meet this chick. She sounds like a keeper.”

She is a keeper.

“Don’t plan on it. I’m not into chasing chicks. If she wants to deny herself this sexy piece of meat, her loss. She’ll come running, and I’ll have already moved on to the next toy.” I throw my car into drive and speed down the road, cutting off this conversation. “If she’s not into me, then I’m just as not into her.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Chase Steinberg doesn’t chase chicks. They chase me.” I turn to Levi, offering him my notorious playboy wink.

Three days later

It’s only because I have to return the book. I’ve got a clean record and won’t ruin it with a late fee at the library. I could not care less about seeing her. In fact, I hope she’s not working today, and I don’t have to.

“Good afternoon, sir. Can I help you?”

“Yeah, I was wondering if Bridget Matthews is working today?” Yep. Obsessed.

“She is. Did you want me to call her up?”

“No but thank you. I’ll just go find her.” I start to walk away when she calls after me.

“She’s in the mystery section. I can take that book if you’re returning it.”

I look down, forgetting the book in my hands. “Oh—yeah. I need to return this.”

Her lips twitch. “Certainly. Thank you.”

Dammit, Angel.

“It was for my roommate. Poor guy. It’s probably hard for him to live with such a stallion.” At that, I walk away, seeking out the mystery section. I find her kneeling down, placing a book on the shelf.

She’s dressed in a flowered tank top and shorts, and her hair is up in a messy bun. I take a few seconds to admire her sexy little frame. Of course, I can’t help but notice how her top is nice and snug around her tits. I force myself to blink, willing away my half chub.