Taking Chances (Taking Chances 1)

Groaning he leaned back far enough to look at me like I'd lost it, “Don't do that. Don't act like it's okay when it's not. You do this with everyone. And please don't make excuses for me. Yes I was drunk, and I don't always realize what I'm doing after I've been drinking, but that's no excuse Princess.” His voice wrapped around my nick-name lovingly, and though it threw me off for a second, I'd have to think about that later.

“Well maybe you shouldn't drink then.” I joked to lighten the mood.

“Maybe I shouldn't.” His eyebrows furrowed together, but he didn't look angry, just thoughtful. “Why him Harper?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why Brandon? You'd never been kissed, why'd you choose him to change that?”

It was weird to have him not making fun of me, I almost didn't know how to respond. “Why not Brandon?” I replied simply. He snorted a laugh but didn't say anything. “Why does that bother you so much Chase?”

“Because you deserve someone who realizes how amazing you are. You shouldn't have just let the first guy who gave you the time of day kiss you.”

“You're acting like I gave him everything and all we've done is kissed!” I unwrapped my arms and sat down on the bed. “And who are you to judge who I do and do not kiss?”

“Please don't. Don't give him everything.” He placed a hand on either side of my body and brought his face back to mine. “He doesn't deserve you Harper.”

My breath was coming faster, and though I knew I should lean away, I couldn't make myself actually do it. “And who does Chase...you?” My voice was barely above a whisper.

His eyes flashed before he closed them and hung his head. “No. I don't deserve you either. You need someone who will cherish you, protect you and take care of you. Someone that realizes they'd never be able to find another you in the world, no matter how hard they looked.” He looked back up into my eyes and we just stared at each other.

I was blown away, the emotion in his voice when he'd said that was unlike anything I'd ever heard. But we barely knew each other, there was no way he could think all this about me. He moved until his lips were hovering just above mine, and I thought my heart would stop.

“Chase...”

His voice was husky, and I could feel his breath against my lips. That alone was enough to make my eyelids flutter shut and my mouth open slightly. “That first night, I did realize I would never meet another girl like you. But you deserve someone who has waited for you as long as you have waited for them. And no matter how much I wish I could be that guy, I can't Harper.”

I had to bite back a frustrated groan when he moved his face away from mine. My arms gave out and I flopped down to the bed, trying to control my erratic breathing. It couldn't be healthy to feel this way for someone. A whimper escaped my mouth when he pressed his full lips to my throat.

“You're amazing Harper. There will never be anyone good enough for you.”

I secured my fingers in his hair, but didn't pull him closer. To be honest, I was a little terrified of what would happen when I did. If I kissed him right now, I don’t know if I’d be able to stop. And what would that say about me? I finally had my first kiss just last night, and not fifteen minutes ago Brandon had me pushed up against the wall. The way my heart would pound for each guy separately was already frustrating me to no end, I didn’t want to complicate things further by kissing Chase. And even though I hadn’t known Brandon long, I couldn’t stomach the thought of hurting him. Before I could move my arms back, Chase skimmed his nose up the inside of my forearm and kissed my wrist and palm before setting down my hands and walking out the door.

I stood up and tried to shake all feelings for Chase away before going to the bathroom to freshen up for when Brandon returned. When I walked back into his room he was sitting there with an iced coffee and blueberry muffin. I grinned and practically bounced over to kiss him. His stone face broke into a brilliant smile right before he caught me and lifted me off the carpet. That boy seriously liked picking me up.

“Did everything go okay?”

“Yep, he was really nice. Just apologized profusely, said it wouldn't happen again.” I'd already decided what to tell him when I was in the bathroom.

“It better not.” He grumbled into my hair and set me back down.

I laughed and turned to my coffee, “Thank you for this.”

“You're welcome. It's not much, but I was kind of hoping I could take you out tonight.”

I almost choked, “Out? Like a date?”

He chuckled and grabbed my hand pulling me towards the bed, “Yes a date. I know it's cliché, but how does dinner and a movie sound?”

“Sounds perfect!” I said a little too enthused. I slapped my hand over my mouth and turned beet red. “I'm sorry,” I mumbled into my hand, “I've never been on a date.”

He smiled and brushed the hair out of my face, “What was yesterday then?”

“What, at Starbucks? I thought we were just hanging out.”

“God you're adorable.” He kissed my forehead then lay back on his pillows. “Okay, well tonight is a date.”

I bit my lip and tried to avoid bouncing up and down. I was way too excited for just a date. “When do you want to go?”

“It's almost two, we can leave at six if that's okay.”

“Four hours? I gotta go then!” I leaned over and kissed him chastely before running out of the room to find Bree.

Bree was so excited for me that she left Konrad in bed to go with me to get our nails done. I'd have to apologize to him later, but I was glad she was such a good friend. I don't know why I was nervous, but I had butterflies in my stomach as I thought about tonight. She continued to tell me not to worry since I no longer had to worry about whether or not I should kiss him on the first date, to which she got a swift elbow in her ribs. Her only real advice was to not make out in the movie theater because it was annoying and unnecessary and I would most likely be sleeping in his bed again since she planned to do more than sleep with Konrad. I thought it was bad that I was already so comfortable kissing Brandon after just a day, but when she talked like that, all I could do was shake my head. At least I wasn't like that. I doubted I would ever be so comfortable with sex. We stopped by the dorm to get an outfit Bree thought would be perfect for the night, before heading back to the house so I could shower. I was almost done shaving when I heard the door open.

“Uh...Bree?”

I heard the toilet seat close and someone sit down on it. “Nope, just me.”

“Chase! What the heck are you doing in here?” I tried to cover different body parts, but my chest alone needed two arms to cover everything, so it wasn't working out too well.

“Calm down Princess, I won't peek.”

“I could've sworn I locked that door.”

“You do realize how easy it is to unlock my bathroom door when I have the key right?”

“Can you please leave so I can get out of here?” I whined as I shut off the water. A towel was thrust through the side of the curtain and I gladly wrapped myself in it, but still didn't open the only thing separating us.

“Answer one thing first, and I'll leave.” He waited for my reply, but went on when he didn't receive any, “Are you going out with him tonight?”

“Yes Chase, I am.”

“Is that what you want to do, or are you trying to get back at me for telling you not to?”

“I thought I only had to answer one question?”

“Harper.” He deadpanned.

“Ugh, no I'm not doing it to get back at you. Yes, I really want to go out with Brandon tonight. And if he asks me out again after tonight, I'm telling you right now I will say yes. I don't see why I shouldn't go out with him, and since you clearly don't want me, I don't think you're allowed to have a say in the matter.

He flung the curtain open and I jumped back, almost slipping in the tub. “I didn't say I don't want you. I said I don't deserve you.”

“That's practically the same thing.” I glowered at him, “We both know how you are Chase, you screw every female you come in contact with. I don't want to be just another girl to someone, and when it comes to Brandon, I won't be.” I waited for a response from him, but didn't receive any. “If you can convince me right now, that I have a reason to not be with him, then start talking. Otherwise, you and your confusing words need to stop.”

“As long as he is what you want, I'll stop bothering you.” He reached out to brush his fingers across the main bruise and I watched as his eyes clouded over.

Like that wasn't confusing.

He leaned in to press his lips to the finger marks, then on my left shoulder and finally my right. Chase's eyes were dark by the time he looked back into my eyes. “I'm so sorry Harper.” he whispered and leaned in close to kiss the corner of my mouth.

My knees started shaking but I somehow managed to stay standing.

“Get my number from Bree, I have to go into work tonight but if anything happens, call me and I'll be there.”

I just nodded and watched him walk out. I didn't even know he had a job, but I was positive I wouldn't be calling him tonight. Nothing good would come of it if I did. If my heart was already twisting from what just happened, he would surely break it when I saw him with his next girl. I couldn't let myself get any closer to him. No matter how much I wished he was different, he wasn't, and he would probably never change. I needed to stop thinking about him and focus on my date with Brandon. I dried my hair and curled the ends before doing my make-up with Bree. She said we had to pick carefully because my green shirt was being used to bring out the red highlights in my hair, and we didn't want to take away from that. Whatever that meant. She settled for a neutral goldish color and thankfully let me do my eyeliner and mascara. I wasn't too keen to have someone else putting pointy objects near my eyes. My phone chimed and I reached for it, smiling when I saw who it was from.