Relapse

The cocky asshole knew I’d say yes.

I look down at my outfit once again and shake my head. There’s no point in changing if it really is a casual place, so I grab my purse and lock the door, heading over to the car.

The car is cool when I get in, the AC blasting and I look at Chase as I pull the door shut. “You were confident that I’d say yes.”

He offers me a lopsided grin. “I weighed the odds,” is all he says, but the words practically drip with arrogance.

“And the odds told you that I’d say yes?”

“Well…” He drawls. “They told me there’d be no reason for you to say no, so I guess you could say that.”

I hold back a grin, not wanting to boost his ego anymore as I watch him. He turns to look at me, his hazel eyes bright.

I find myself staring right back, a slight tension buzzing in the air as he runs a tongue along his lips. My body heats, until the cool air of the AC becomes too much for my skin and I shiver slightly.

Chase breaks my gaze and turns the air down. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” He places one arm behind the headrest of my seat as he glances over his shoulder to back out of the driveway. His demeanor is very relaxed and casual in a way that I don’t feel as I look at him. How am I supposed to keep things platonic when we haven’t even made it out of the driveway yet and I’m turned on?

Then there’s a part of me that is still nervous about going out with him, no matter what he says about knowing about my interactions with the other two.

Do the others know about this then?

“Did you tell Emmet and Nathan of your intentions?” I question, deciding that wondering won’t help when I can just ask the source.

He glances over at me briefly before turning his eyes back to the road. “Not that it’s any of their business, but yes, they do know, we’re very open in our household, not many secrets going around.” There seems to be a weight to his words and I narrow my eyes at him as I cross my arms across my chest.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He lets out a soft laugh as he glances at me again. “Calm down, firecracker, no ill intentions. I just want you to know that we’re all aware that we like you.”

My heart skips a beat at that and I stare at the side of his head. “People don’t just say things like that casually,'’ I tell him. Truthfully, while I’ve gotten hints of flirting from all of them and while my lips have tangled with two out of three, and gone further with one, I haven’t been quite sure about how they actually feel. Especially considering the agreement Emmet and I’d come to. Then there’s Nathan who hadn’t done more than give me a simple peck on the lips that I’d felt the ghost of all night. He hadn’t mentioned another date or tried to take the kiss further.

Then there’s the fact that I’m a single parent with two kids and that’s something most people don’t want to touch.

Surely not three people.

“Well, it’s the truth and I find that as long as people tell the truth all parties will be unhurt in the end.” Chase says.

As I look at him, I wonder what kind of person the officer actually is. I’ve gotten flirtatious and mischievous vibes from him that make me feel like maybe it’s just the way he acts with everyone. I mean he flirted with me the first time I met him, after knowing me all of five seconds.

We remain silent for the rest of the short trip and I try to get my wild thoughts in control. When we pull into the lot of the place, it’s busy. The restaurant isn’t actually that big and I start to wonder how all these people could possibly be crowded in there.

Chase holds the door open for me and the smell of bacon fills my nostrils, making my stomach grumble. The place is bursting with energy as waitresses rush plates to tables.

“Someone will be with you in just a moment,” one of the waitresses says with a quick smile before she’s moving on to deliver the food on the tray that she holds.

A couple of minutes pass before a waiter with ruffled hair and a strained smile is standing in front of us. “Hi, table for two?” He asks, his eyes move over my shoulder and he squints before the smile becomes a real one. “Oh, hey Chase, almost didn’t recognize you.”

“Yeah?” Chase smiles in amusement. “It looks like you’re having a chaotic morning.”

The man lets out a snort. “That’s an understatement. Our hostess didn’t show up this morning so I’m doubling as host and waiter.” He shakes his head. “I’m ready to quit.”

Chase lets out a laugh.

The man turns his gaze back to me and he smiles, holding out a hand. “I’m Blake,” he says and I shake his offered hand. “Booth or table for you guys?” he asks.

“Booth,” Chase tells him and he nods.