Worth the Chase

Bystanders walking down the street stop and stare. Panic seizes my lungs as I gasp for air... “I didn’t. I’m sorry. I loved—” My voice breaks off. I can’t even finish. I give up salvaging any of the donuts and take off running.

Chapter 13

Chase

Hey, Kip. You’re looking great today. I’m dating your cousin. Is that a new haircut?

No.

S’up, Kip. Great weather we’re having today. I’m sleeping with your cousin.

No. Definitely no.

Kip! My man! I’d do anything for you—like date your cousin behind your back.

“Shit.” This isn’t going to go over well. Just walk in. Spill the beans. Take the hit. Maybe it won’t be as bad as I think it will. Levi had it coming. Banging his sister and all. At least I’m coming forward and admitting I’m banging his cousin before he finds out on his own—unless he already knows. “Shit.” I look around to see if Ben’s car is here. It is. “Great.” I’m too good looking to be hit in the face. At least Levi’s nose was already fucked up from football. I stall, debating on walking in or making a clean break. Maybe I should just send him a text. Less violent that way. It’ll give him the time he needs to calm down so we can talk about—

The door swings open, startling me out of my internal thoughts. I squeal like a fucking girl. “Gah! S’up! This weather, right? Love you, man.”

“Dude, are you okay?” Kip stares at me.

“Yes. Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” Unless I’m about to not be.

“Uh…maybe because you’ve been standing outside my front door for almost ten minutes mumbling to yourself. The guys are inside taking bets on what drugs you’re on.”

“Wait, you can hear me? Like, you’ve been listening to me?” I’m a dead man. I love my nose. It’s perfectly shaped. And soon, it’s going to be crooked like Levi’s. Shit!

“What? No, just get in here. You keep setting off my front door camera and the baby’s trying to sleep.”

He turns his back to me and heads inside as I fight not to vomit in his front bushes. Jesus, what’s wrong with me? Aside from the fact that you’re dating a girl you shouldn’t be but won’t be un-dating her anytime soon because you’ve found yourself pussy-whipped and may be in love with her. “What?”

“Huh?” Kip turns back.

“Oh…nothing.” Just having a mental breakdown.

I need to pull my shit together. I walk farther into Kip’s place, finding the whole crew sitting on the couch, the game on. “S’up, pussies,” I say, my throat suddenly dry. Why was that so hard to say? Not sure, poser. Shut up.

“You talking to yourself again, Steinberg? Last night still lingering on ya?” Levi laughs as he sips his beer.

I make my way over to an open seat and throw myself into it. “Real funny, jerk-off. Just trying to remind myself why I’m still friends with you girls. Surprised the game’s even on and not soap operas.”

Levi laughs me off while Ben stares at me with suspicious eyes.

Kip comes up behind me and hands me a beer. “Where the hell have you been anyway? You blew us off Sunday. Must’ve been a good weekend.”

They have no idea.

I also really need Ben to stop staring at me. I pull my eyes away from him and clear my throat. Act cool, man. “Sorry, not gonna let you live vicariously through me. You got yourself into that marriage mess. Deal with it.”

I take a deep swig of my beer, hoping they drop it and watch the damn game—

“No way. Normally, we can’t get him out of our hair, and now he disappears all week. Did you join some sex colony? Oh! Or has it gotten so bad, you’re stalking nunneries, trying to convert the innocent?” Kip and Levi laugh.

Ben does not.

“Listen, assholes, I don’t do clingy chicks. You’ve got the wrong idea.”

“Dude, that’s all you do. It’s why so many of them hate you. You just do them and leave them high and dry.”

Not anymore.

And to answer your questions, I’m reformed and dating your cousin.

“Well, I hate to break it to you, but I had to work all weekend. Some of us aren’t baby fed by our wives and fiancées. I’ve still gotta make a living.” Another swig. Another lie I choke down.

I regret doing it, but I steal a glance over at Ben just as he shakes his head and flicks his eyes to the game, dismissing me.

He doesn’t have to say it for me to feel it. His disapproval stings. I’ve never been one to care what others think of me. I’m a live-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of guy. But Ben’s disappointment bugs me. If he knew our situation, his outlook would be different. He wouldn’t just see me as a player messing with an innocent girl…then why can’t I come out and admit I found a girl I’m completely lost in and I’d love if they all came to my neutering ceremony.