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 “I really don't know what answer you're expecting.” I replied to Chase. I could feel my heartbeat in my mouthI didn't like when he was in these moods. He had a look in his eye, and that was not how the Chase who loved me looked at me. I had to stop breathing and clench my palms to stop the rising tears. “Do you fucking love Kevin?!” He said, he looked like he'd just swallowed bile. “I don't love him, Chase.” I replied truthfully, “but I'm not sure about my feelings for you.” “How long have you felt that way?” He asked. “Can I be honest?” The conversation was in a different tone, and I appreciated it. I didn't want to be confronted, I wanted to be asked. “Yes, please.” Chase's voice was breaking. “I never really came back after what happened.” I confessed. He just kept looking down at the center rug. The tears pooling in my eyes had made all the colors morph into one indescribable shade. “Chase, I came here drunk that night.” I confessed. “I had a
Emma's POV “Welcome. I've got wine.” I said, and sprang up to my feet as soon as Kevin got close enough to me. I didn't enjoy the rush of blood to my nether regions at the sight of him and smell of his cologne, but really, my body had a lot to do in coming to terms with my mind and heart. “Not too happy to see me.” He said and smiled sadly, looking away. “Would you rather be alone? I'd just drop this and be on my way.” He held my keys up, before tossing them gently to my reading table. “You're breaking me, Kevin.” I managed to say. “I don't even know where we are, I don't even know where to start, you can't blame me for acting like this. Even though I genuinely think wine would help.” I said, looking down. I didn't have the mind to look Kevin in his face. I felt so shitty. This must've been how Chase felt every single time he fucked up. It hurt so bad being on that other half of a relationship drama. As horrible as it is to admit, I'd rather be the one cheated on. I just cou
Emma's POV “I think you know where your keys are.” Chase looked me in the eyes. His blue eyes were no more sexy, they were icy. “We can take it from here, Dave.” I turned to the uber guy, dismissing him. “To think that you're the one who was so concerned with how I'd handle Kayla!” Chase screamed. “I think you should know that I didn't think this was gonna happen!” I yelled back at him. I wasn't known to be the noisy neighbour, and I didn't want Chase to make me be seen as one, so I entered my apartment, which was stuffed full of flowers and hampers and gifts, a note on my reading desk which I snatched up immediately, and a wine on my bed. Gosh! It was so sexy. I didn't know how to feel. Kevin really went out of his way. What I didn't understand was why he'd do that, knowing when he left, he left me to Chase, and really, the outcome was inevitable. “I see y'all have a fun night planned, I wouldn't want to interrupt any plans you've made.” Chase said, with his hand
Emma's POV “Is it just me, or is this trip actually unnecessary?” I asked him, as we boarded a flight back to MA. “Come on!” Chase said as he took my hand. “You know it is. We're not planning to accumulate a lot of school work, are we?” He smiled. We didn't have to wait with the business and economy passengers, cause, well, we're first class. “Every single trip to reality sucks so much.” I whined. Chase held my hands tightly under his, maybe ensuring I wasn't gonna run away, and it's not like I wanted to either. “We have to keep taking it.” He said and sighed. “You really do not know much about being supportive.” I muttered and just let myself be led like a sheep to the slaughter. “Come on, Em.” He said, still not taking his eyes off the road, “You know everyone's just doing what they have to do.” Chase said. “Do I have a choice?” I whispered to myself. I wasn't mad at Chase, I was just angry that our little baecation was over and that we were gonna be separate
Emma's POV “Hey mom!” I was overfilled with excitement and anticipation. From what Chase briefed me, we had a whole lot of fun stuff to do. It was quite risky that we were taking such a break from school, but it's nothing Chase's dads connections couldn't fix. He said that we were gonna have fun, and he was gonna make sure of it. “How are you, sugar?” She asked. It'd been a minute since I saw my mom that happy. “Never been better.” I replied a little too enthusiastically, I was so happy to be away. Somewhere no one knew me. “You look it.” She smiled. “Why did you not call me? Forgot about your woman in all your boy dramas?” Unfortunately for me, the phone was on speaker, and Chase wasn't far. Which definitely meant he was paying more than the usual attention. “Come on, mom!” I chided. “It didn't exactly end the way we thought.” I was trying to be as cryptic as possible, if I had my way, I'd have avoided the whole topic all together. “Tell me.” She said, looking s
Emma's POV “Do you wanna come in with me?” Chase asked. The answer was gonna be hell yeah, but because of what happened in the past-less than twenty four hours ago, the question was necessary. “Yes.” I answered affirmatively. “Are you sure you're gonna be comfortable here?” He asked again, looking at me doubtfully. “I'll try.” I replied. “That's not such a good thing.” He remarked, heavy on his amateur British accent, taking a step back. “I can't help it. It's too many memories.” I apologized. “Don't do that.” He said, and appeared to think pensively. “Let's go somewhere. What do you say?” He looked at me. “What?!” I asked. Can't lie, I was shaken a bit. “Just like that?” I blinked so hard and fast. “Yeah. Somewhere different. Somewhere we could be ourselves. Somewhere we can start on a fresh slate and get back on our feet.”He couldn't have sold the idea to me any better. “Uhm, I,uhm. Is that possible?” I asked. The sun was so bright, I had to squint, and
Emma's POVDon't even ask why I walked out of Chase's house, cause I couldn't give myself a sensible reason. I just wanted to be away from there. It felt like something was haunting me. I had a troubled sleep, matter of fact, I had no sleep at all that night. I tossed and turned and cursed myself out for being so trashy. I kept wondering if I was cursed. Could I just not mess my own happiness up? I wanted to do something desperately. It was the day after and I was still the only one in Mark's house. It gets lonely real fast when no one is home. “You've gotta do something, Emma.” I said to myself as I sat alone in Mark's big ass living room. Confused and ashamed, but ready to make things right, I hopped into the easiest car to back out of the garage, and once again, was on my way to Chase's house. As I drove, I thought of a million things I could say. Really, just anything to explain my behavior the previous day, but nothing came to my mind. I could not even convince myself t
Chase's POV “Fuck!” I didn't understand why Emma was in such a rush to get away from me. We literally were just unloading our hearts content to each other. Was she bored? Tired of me? Did she see something that triggered her? She wasn't even with her phone. I'd have concluded that she got some type of news. Two days after my dads anniversary dinner, and I was still in Starry, against my own will. Having sworn to leave town, immediately after the dinner, with all traces of me gone if Emma didn't come into my life, I surprised myself. For every single thing I thought could never be, life kept sending it my way. Emma and I had sorted our issues, but she wasn't speaking to me. I woke up as early as 6:00am, checking my phone for texts from her constantly, and there were none. I wondered what I did to deserve the cold treatment again. It's one thing to be in someone's bad books, it's another thing not to know why. I thought long and hard of what to do. But no sensible ideas wer
Emma's POVThe person I was at Chase’s house wasn't the regular me. I was feeling a million things and I wanted anything, anything at all, that would make me feel even just a bit better. Being that close to him, saying everything I said was a new feeling. My heart was racing and my throat constantly ran dry. “Can I admit something I think of sometimes?” I asked Chase. “Yes.” He said, really enthusiastically. I thought to myself if he'd be that hyped up if he knew what was on my mind, but since I'd concluded that I'd stop keeping stuff I thought to just myself, I said it. “You might not be too enthusiastic if you knew the shit that's about to fly out of my mouth.” “Come on, Em.” He said. “I don't fancy when you refer to yourself that way.” “Okay, okay.” I said, putting my hands up in surrender. “What if Gray and Lily weren't there?” I asked him. Chase looked at me, for about ten seconds, his bright blue eyes were beginning to get their spark. Instead of being terrified
Chase’s POV “I was about to ask if I ever made you doubt that, but I remembered I have, over a thousand times.” I said, shooting myself in the foot. “People change, Chase. I believe you can too.” She said like she was holy or something. “Come on girl, don't treat me that way.” I played along. “Can we sit?” she asked, pointing at the chairs I'd already wrapped. “Sure we can,” I said, “tear them off.” “What were you gonna do, really?” She asked her. “I don't know, actually, and I'm not even lying. The plan was to be away from everywhere you were.” I replied, truthfully. “Do you still feel that way?” She asked me. “Come on!” I said. “You know that's not possible.” “Just checking in to make sure, really.” She remarked and looked away.. “Can I go now?” I asked her if I could ask my own questions. “How do you think life would have been if both of us ended up in MIT?” I asked her. “I know it'd be great, for sure. I also know it'd be straining, maybe a