Lily's POV I know Ema was mad at Chase, but I didn't feel that was enough reason to entertain that slump. I felt so bad for Chase. But if I had done too much in defending him, it'd just have made the whole outing awkward. She didn't even look too sure of herself. I'm sure she just did it for the fun of it. We packed our bags into the boot and headed for a park, maybe we'd get to talk. I put the speakers on, but the volume was as low as possible. We'd just come out through one of the worst times as a friend group, and I really just wanted peace and quiet. I wanted my homegirl to be happy. I wanted dinner under the dark sky, I wanted double dates when Gray and I were in the country. But that wimp was gonna make it impossible if he pressed harder than he was already doing. I could just see the desperation on his face. If he wanted her so bad, why did he say all the things he said about her to Gray? But it's a subject I couldn't really bring up, cause Gray and I were past that,
Chase's POV It's the first time I'd been without Emma in a minute. As I reentered, I wondered what else there was to do. I'd spent my days for almost a week, loving her. It's all I really wanted to do. I wanted to make it a paradise for the both of us. I wanted our little happy family. I wanted peace, I wanted love. I need something to convince me that going to MIT, traveling across the states, when I really needed to be close to my dad, for some reasons… “Hey.” I was so excited to see Lily's text. I literally begged her to keep me on the loop. I wanted to know how things were going with Emma and her. “Just leaving the clothes store.” She texted again. I just liked her text, ready to get on with other things. “This Kevin guy…” I swear my heart beat doubled, my eyes dilated, all the blood in my body ran straight to my head, I felt my head pumping. What the fuck was he doing here? I never gave him much of an audience while he pulled that bullcrap. So I don't think I un
Emma's POV “Woah!” I gasped, trying to slow it down. Lily and I had just had one of the most beautiful moments we ever shared. We went to a children's park right after we licked up the mountain like ice creams we bought. All those were Lily’s idea, but I so fucking enjoyed it cause really, I was a child at heart anyway. Watching the kids play, so carefree and unworried, helped me less burdened. I felt free-er to talk. “Lily.” I started. “I've been thinking about it a lot, and I'm not sure about Chase and I anymore.” I said. “I mean, I thought we talked about this already.” She replied. “Have we?” I asked. I barely ever felt in the mood to talk to anyone, and when I did, all I really wanted to do was let it out. “Or are you bored with me already?” I sulked. “That is, you trying to guilt trip me.” Lily sighed. In her defense, I was really confusing. But in mine, I was confused too. I didn't really know what I wanted yet. It's a life I really should've been more
Emma's POV “This is a lot.” I croaked, as happy tears welled up in my eyes. “No it isn't.” He replied. “It's not really what I had in mind, but I needed to do something cause y'all were on your way and I wanted it to be a surprise.” He looked nervous, and was babbling quite a lot, and I think I found that cute. “I love you, Chase.” I sobbed. He walked towards me, and took the bags out of my hand. I really couldn't care for what was in them. “I love you too, Emma.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead first, and then took the bags up the stairs. As I stood there, alone, looking at all the effort he must've put into transforming the house I felt so overwhelmed, and shitty. I can't believe I thought all those things about him. In my head, the relationship was really already at its end. “Come on.” He laughed on his way back down, “it's all for you.” He stretched his hand and took mine in his. “I feel so terribly underdressed.” I croaked. “You should've told me.” I winced.
Chase's POV I was determined to make it the most perfect night. It wasn't the first time, but was sure one of those rare times I really let myself be vulnerable. I said things as they came, and did as I thought. No second thinking, or guessing. Emma was pretty. Fuck knows I'd been already picturing her in a wedding dress in my head. I was only too convinced that I wanted to make her my bride. As I poured out my heart to her, I fervently hoped that her tears were those of consent, happy tears. “I'll take care of it.” I said. The date was going badly. The very last thing I expected was to spring up some country on me. I literally never fucking saw it coming. I'd planned the whole night in my head, how murderously romantic I was gonna make it, how we were gonna make love under the lights I'd changed the bedroom lights to. How the candles around the bathtub were gonna illuminate her skin while I begged her to let me touch her, feel her. I'd filled the tub with water and som
Chase's POV I'd been an insomniac for most of my life, but that night is one I'd remember so well. Cause it wasn't the regular fear of nightmares that kept me awake, and jutted me back to reality when I dozed off, it was the memory of how my perfect date had gone down. I was gonna give the clothes to charity, cause there was no way I could ever put them on again. Emma had totally embarrassed me, worse still, I got no apology. I took my time changing out of my clothes, even taking a shower to wash the scents of all the colognes and deodorants, in false hopes of being able to sleep better, but it wasn't working. “Fucking get off my wrist!” I screamed in frustration as I tore the Cuban off my hand. Her bags of clothes and shoes and many other things peeking out of them were still very much littering the room. I got out of the bathroom, to see that she'd started organizing stuff and arranging. I had to go past her if I wanted to get to the bed, but my mind wasn't in that space
Emma's POV I was really done with Chase. I tried to help with the hot pan that was ruining his decor, and what I got as payback was him going out to wait on some delivery guy. “That's it.” I said to myself as I got up. There was no point in staying there, with the empty chair opposite for company. I sat for ten straight minutes, staring at nothingness. I wished Lily was there to see it. Cause a while back, it looked like I was making stuff up. He literally left me there, my hands were burning. Not even the decency of getting me ice. I shed a tear or two as I stood up and went into his room, to do what I was supposed to anyway. “I should not be doing this.” I said, as I punched Kevin's number into my phone, with my hurting fingers. I was mad at Chase, and I wanted payback. “Hey.” Kevin's voice rasped over the phone. I immediately knew that was a sign. He was breathing hard. I recoiled at the thought of interrupting something. “I'm sorry, I should not have called.” I
Chase POV “Emma, let's talk like the couple we are.” I said to her, My patience was quickly thinning. “If you think that's helping, think again.” She shot at me. She had all her stuff in hand. It was so obvious she wanted to leave. “What did you say to Lily?” She asked me again. “I didn't have to say anything.” I replied to her, “Gray didn't want to leave her. He just went to the airport and turned right back.” “Really?” She looked like I'd just told her a cock and bull story. “Yeah.” I replied. “We can go together if you want.” I added. I didn't want to say the next bit, but she made me. “My dads got a private jet.” “I don't fucking care if he owns the world, Chase!” She screamed in my face, confirming that what I'd pulled was a dick move. “I didn't mean it that way.” I apologized. “Emma, I need you to please just calm down. I'm supposed to be the mad one here. What's going on?” I asked, tired. I felt so weak, tired of it all. The whole thing had sunk its t
Emma's POV “We are both hurt. I think it's better we realize that and stop shaming the other person. Emma, you're just as damaged as I am.” Chase said. “That's not rocket science, Chase. Isn't this how you leave everyone you've been with?” I asked, “Broken and damaged?” “That's unfair, Em. You keep skipping the fact that there are always two sides to anything.” He replied to me. “You think I did, Chase?” I looked at him in his sinfully sexy blue eyes I still hadn't gotten an antidote to, not even the anger I felt, “All I did was allow you. I made you do all you did to me. In a way, I even enabled you.” “That's untrue, and you know it.” He replied to me. “I've talked about this, over and over. In my head and out of it, and it's still the same conclusion I reach.” I responded to him. “If ‘out of your head’ in any way refers to the bastard up there, I don't think I want to hear it.” I replied to her. “You've gotta get over yourself, Chase.” I said. “There's life
Chase's POV “You're still here, Em. It means you're interested.” I said. “I'm not comfortable here.” She said in a low voice. “I'd be in the garage, meet me there.” I said. “Maybe this is your time to show how low you regard me.” I let go of her hand which I had in mine, doing it both lightly and seductively. I knew I walked with such swagger, such essence that couldn't betray how scared I felt deep inside. Maybe she'd realize that I wasn't worth shit, and just go upstairs to meet her little boyfriend. I sat in my favorite of my dad's lot, the black mustang I saved Emma's ring in. That particular car had so many memories. I wanted to be in. I checked the time on my Patek, it was a few minutes to midnight. The estate gate was gonna be locked by 00:00, and if I couldn't make it out by then, I'd be stuck with Em and that bastard. 23:53, I had begun to get antsy. It'd be really unfortunate if I left, and Em eventually came down. I kept telling myself to calm down and b
Emma's POV “Can I trust you?” I asked Chase. I was mentally drained. Having played the good daughter throughout the anniversary, I wanted to catch my breath. Little did I know I had just been walking straight into Chase’s arms. “You know you can, Em.” He said, enthusiastically. “I'd hold your secret against me, Em. I wouldn't even tell myself.” His eyes mirrored mine, tired, hunger of the soul, and exhaustion. I couldn't believe that it was the same person who acted like I didn't exist last night. “I don't know where I stand with Kevin, really.” I said what I'd forbidden myself to. I made a deal with my mind to never say it. Just so I didn't believe it. The more I said something, the more I was forced to believe. “Start from the point where you left me, Em. I want to know it all.” He said, looking downI hated when Chase had that pensive look on his face. It felt like he was just a slight provocation away from murder. “After us,” I started, my mind was a bit foggy
Chase's POV “What did you do that for?!” Emma yelled after landing me a slap to the cheek. “I already said I wasn't gonna let you go.” I replied stubbornly. “Chase, my arm is hurting.” She cried, referring to the arm I'd been holding. I felt like a nasty person. Maybe it was the universe providing answers to the question I'd asked so many times, “Am I not good enough for her?” Well, I now knew I was too violent, too relentless, too impulsive, I rarely rethought my decisions, I bent everything to my will, things had to suit me, always. And those were all the things Emma stood against. “Emma, I'm a damaged guy, and I know it's really not your job to fix me. I'm a sorry project who should've belonged to my late mom and my dad who's now a happily remarried man. I get it. No one wants a project. But this is me swearing that I'd never hurt you, Em. I've learned. I do better for myself these days.” I said, frantically. Emma was rubbing her arm where I grabbed her, a sorry rem
Chase's POV. “It's not good that I'm too close to you, Chase.” Emma cried. Her eyes were already tearing up, and her face wet. Her rosy cheeks were beginning to peek from beneath the light make-up. “Why, Emma?” I asked her, letting my mouth say all the things my heart felt. “Am I so bad?” I asked. “I never said anything like that.” She answered. “So what is it?” I asked, exhausted. “Why do you want to be away from me so bad? Why do you treat me with such a long spoon? You can't deny missing me, Em. I see it in your eyes. What is holding you back?” I dared reach for her trembling hands, and she didn't pull away. It was a good thing. “Chase, I just still find it so hard to process. I'd rather think about things that hurt me, than process the whole thing. The past year has been the most tumultuous part of my life yet. I'm so fucking drained, I just need peace.” She said, “And you think that description doesn't fit me.”I asked, against my better reasoning. I then remi
Chase’s POV“I didn't think you'd be here.” She said,“I could say the same.” I replied to her Emma was the last person I thought who'd want to catch a break from the ceremony.She was at the center of it all, and really did well at her job of role playing a perfect daughter.“It's too much.” She replied with a low voice.“What is?” I asked, clearing my throat. “The atmosphere.” She explained, kicking the grass in her stilettos. Her legs looked like they must've been hurting. “Here.”I gave way for her to sit on her favorite swing. I could never take that away from her. “Thank you.” Emma was being her generic self, the side that she showed everyone else. Shy and contained. But I didn't like that. I liked that Emma I fell for, headlong. “It's nothing to Chase’s POV “I didn't think you'd be here.” She said, “I could say the same.” I replied to her Emma was the last person I thought who'd want to catch a break from the ceremony. She was at the center of it all, and really
Chase's POV I wished I could remain busy throughout the day. A time to rest meant a time to think. I was under the same roof as Emma, like I'd been wanting, but we were yet so far apart. The flowers were an ill thought decision, but I had to do something. Being in the same house with Emma for over three days was beginning to mess with my mental health. “You shouldn't have done that.” I said to myself. If only Emma had kept it a family thing and didn't have that one over, things would have been a lot easier. I intentionally left a note out of the flower delivery, but I knew she recognised the sender, irregardless. Before I knew it,my 5:30 alarm went off, and I had to throw on my tux as fast as I could. It'd be great if my dad and Linda got down to a full audience waiting for them. It was a really big deal for my dad, so big he had made arrangements for his helicopter to pick them both at ten o'clock. Linda was wearing a slick floor length satin dress in emerald green, paired
Emma's POVI decided to see my mom before the dinner. I didn't care if it was right or wrong, but I'd barely seen her all through the day and I was dying to know how she was holding up. Maybe an escape for myself was the other motive, but primarily, I wanted to know how she was doing. “Hey mom.” I said, pushing her door open. It almost felt like it was her wedding all over again. Mark was going all out. And I didn't know why it had to be that big for a guest list of just sixteen people. “This is a lot.” I smiled. “It is.” I saw the woman beneath all the makeup, hair glam, and accessories. She was still just my mom. “Can I have a moment with my daughter please?” She referred to everyone else in the room who wasn't me, and they, by my rough headcount, were about eight. “We can spare only about half an hour.” A kind lady who looked like she was in her thirties said, She had an outrageous makeup done. While it looked good, edgy, classy on her, I hope that wasn't gonna be my
Emma's POV. “You were gonna go in.” He said, looking away. “I was.” I replied, unshifting. He no longer had the courage to stare me down, and I no longer had the will to leave, “MIT looks good on you.” He said. “Thank you.” I smiled, “I could say the same for you.” “I see you've made new friends, well old ones,but you know…” He said. I chuckled within myself. Who'd have known that I could make the bad boy Chase unsure about me? “Yeah, I had no choice.” I murmured. “Uhm, how are you?” I asked, just out of courtesy, I told myself. I thought being brave and bold was gonna make me indestructible by him, but I was beginning to come off as antagonistic, and I didn't like it. Deep down, in the corners of my heart I hoped Kevin would never see, Chase occupied it. I wanted for him to close the distance between us like he'd once done. To treat me like his own. I was getting a little teary, so I dug my freshly manicured nail into my palm, I wasn't gonna cry, I could not.