No one can save me.
Certainly not Chase Steinberg.
Chapter 20
Chase
“Eight, nine, ten. Way to finish those reps, bro.”
“Keep going,” I snap to Cliff my gym partner. The bar drops back down to my chest, and I bench another hundred and fifty pounds.
“Dude, you just did five sets in a row. You’re gonna blow your—”
“Keep fucking going,” I hiss, pushing the bar up. Beads of sweat drip down my face. Every muscle in my body burns. My arms shake, but I refuse to stop.
“Chase, for real, man. You’re overexerting yourself.”
I ignore him and fight through another rep. My muscles start to spasm, but I push harder. “Okay, I’m done.” Cliff grabs the bar and slams it onto the bench. I shoot forward and stand.
“What the fuck? I told you I wasn’t done.” I get into his face.
“Yeah, and I told you that you were. Whatever shit you’re—”
“What’s up, ladies? You two about to kiss or something?” Ben walks up, eyeing us both. “You two good?”
I don’t back down. If Cliff has something to say, I’ll pummel his ass right here. He stares at me a few more seconds, then backs down. “Nah. All’s good. He’s all yours.” He grabs his towel and walks off.
“What was that all about? Thought you and Cliff were cool.”
“Well…now we’re not.” I grab my towel and wipe my forehead. When I turn around, Ben is still eyeing me. “What? You got somethin’ to say? Not in the mood. You can fuck off too.”
Ben throws his hands up. “Whoa, chill out, man.”
I can’t chill. I can’t eat, sleep, work. I can’t do a goddamn thing. I’ve been so consumed by her absence. It’s been three days of constant phone calls and texts where I’ve begged her to talk to me. Hear me out. Her rejection is killing me.
“What’s up, man? You’ve been ghosting everyone. Totally blew everyone off on guys’ night, and now you’re looking like you want to fight the entire gym. Talk to me.”
“I can’t.”
“Why can’t you?”
“‘Cause you wouldn’t understand, okay?”
I try to walk off, but he steps in front of me. “Try me.”
Running my fingers through my hair, I let out a huge breath. “Bridget—and don’t give me that fucking look. You have no idea.”
“You’re right. But I’d sure love to finally hear the true story of how Kip’s little cousin ended up at your place.”
“It’s a long story.” A very long story.
“Lucky for you, I’ve got all the time in the world.”
I’m sure he does, nosy asshole. “Don’t you need to go lift some weights or some shit? And I thought you were mad at me?”
“I got over it. Plus, I’ve been going through my own shit.”
“About that. I’m an asshole. I should’ve remembered the—”
“Stop changing the subject. Let’s go hit up Jimmy’s Bar for beer and burgers. Your treat. My advice isn’t free.” He turns around and walks off without waiting for my answer.
Son of a bitch.
“Jesus fucking Christ.”
I take a sip of my beer, my throat dry from babbling like a schoolgirl. I just told Ben everything.
“Jesus fucking Christ.”
“Is that all you can say?”
“Well…for starters, Jesus fucking—ouch! Fine. I think that’s a crazy story. Crazier that you’re, like, in love and shit. You can’t really be mad at Kip for only speaking what he knows. He doesn’t know your real situation.”
“That every single time I’ve ever made fun of you guys, it’s all coming back to bite me in the ass because now I’m the one who’s in love and I’m eating my words.”
“Well yeah. There’s that.” He chuckles. “It’s the ones who are the most naïve about love that get it the worst. And you my friend have it bad. I can tell by the way you talk about her. You practically have hearts shooting from your lovesick eyes.”
“Fuck off, dude. I do not. Plus, it doesn’t matter. She wants nothing to do with me. She won’t even hear me out.” He just shrugs. “I thought you were here to help me?”
“I am. But not sure you can be helped. I guess I should have asked for more details before offering my therapist services. You sound screwed all around.”
“Gee, great. Thanks for telling me what I already know.” I swig my beer. “If she would just talk to me. She would know it was a misunderstanding.” I wish I could rewind time and take back everything I said. Stood behind my relationship and Bridget and told Kip the truth. Eating his fist was going to hurt no matter when he fed it to me. It would be worth it. She was worth it.
“Say she talks to you again, which I probably wouldn’t if I were her.” I give him the watch it eye. “Say she does. What are you going to do about Kip? Telling him you took his sweet, innocent cousin’s virginity in a hotel room without even getting her name is not the way to go.”