Wright Kind of Trouble, page 9
I waved her off. “Nah. I can only be so-so at something for so long. And since there’s no ice skating here, just going to focus on school.”
“Ice skating?” Annie gasped. “You can ice-skate?”
“I’m from Seattle. Absolutely yes. Whitt even played hockey, growing up.”
“Whitt! You played hockey?” Annie yelled into the bleachers.
Whitt glanced around as everyone stared at him. “Uh, yes, for a few seasons.”
“Hot!”
Jordan just shook his head, striding toward his wife and pressing a firm kiss to her lips. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
She smacked his ass. “Only if you go down with me. Till death do us part and all that.”
“Romantic,” he said with a laugh.
“Speaking of till death,” Annie said, “I need to check on Chase.”
Jordan’s eyes clouded over. “Do I even want to know?”
He might not, but I sure did.
“His parents are divorcing.”
Jordan remained impassive. “And?”
“And…he’s probably a wreck.”
“Should I repeat myself?”
Annie smacked him on the chest. “Don’t be a dick.”
Jordan smirked. “Oh, this is me being reasonable.”
“Why are they getting a divorce?” I cut in before they could devolve into a gooey, romantic mess.
Annie turned to me and sighed. “I’m not sure. I’d guess because Arnold is a cheating bastard. Charlotte is way too good for him. I can’t believe she waited this long to pull the plug.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Tell me about it!” Annie said. “Not that Jor cares, but I’m worried about Chase.”
“He’s an adult,” Jordan said. “He’s probably fine.”
“Yeah, but he isn’t returning my texts or calls. I even texted Ashleigh.” She grimaced, checking to make sure Julian was out of earshot. “She, of course, had a million things to say about it, but said she hadn’t heard from her brother either. So, he must be really beat up about it. He was always so close to his mom.”
“That’s awful.” I frowned.
I understood that fear. I was that close with my mom, too, and I’d been there through all the worst of the stuff with Owen. I didn’t know how I would have survived it all alone. I’d had West and Whitt there for so much of it and my friends from high school.
Doing it all alone would be…tough.
“I just wish he’d let someone in, you know?” Annie said with a shrug. “It used to be me, but now, I’m married to this lug.” She punched Jordan again playfully. “And oil and water don’t mix.”
Jordan shrugged unapologetically. “The Sinclairs dug their own grave.”
Julian leaned his way into the conversation. “I heard y’all talking about the Sinclairs. I would like to add my distrust and distaste for them as well.”
“We know,” Jordan said, shoving him off.
Julian laughed, bumping into Hollin.
“Those fuckers tried to ruin the winery,” Hollin said. “Let ’em burn.”
Hollin’s girlfriend, Piper, shrugged. “Tried to steal my winery out from under me. I second the sentiment.”
“Eve,” Hollin said, gesturing to Whitt’s girlfriend. “Sinclairs, yes or no?”
She wrinkled her nose and gave a thumbs-down.
I swallowed back all the Sinclair hatred. It shouldn’t have felt personal. It had nothing to do with me. And yet I felt personally offended for Chase.
“Maybe,” Annie said with a sigh. “Still wish I could help.”
“I know that feeling,” I said.
Annie gave me a thankful look as the rest of our friends and family went on about their Sinclair hatred. Annie and I were in agreement even if she had no idea why I was on her side here.
“Pizza?” Blaire called out to the crowd of players.
“Yes,” Annie said as she jogged over to her friend.
I watched her go along with a chorus of people saying yes. It was a tradition to go out to Capital Pizza after the game, but suddenly, my stomach felt all twisted.
Chase’s parents were getting a divorce, and he had no one to talk to. He’d cut Annie out. Even his sister couldn’t get ahold of him.
He was an adult. As Jordan had reminded us, he could handle this himself, in his own way. But that didn’t mean he should have to handle it alone.
I hadn’t spoken with Chase Sinclair since we’d said our good-bye all those months earlier. I’d had the most memorable kiss of my life. I heard him call me baby girl one more time. My insides melted. And then I’d walked away. Because what else could I have done?
It would be foolish to break the silence I’d personally set up. I was the one who had said he was toying with me by inserting himself into my life. And I couldn’t regret forcing this separation.
I’d spent months after looking for him on every corner. It didn’t make any sense. Because why would he be on the Tech campus? Why would he come to Wright Vineyard? He had no business at Wright Construction. He’d said he’d steer clear of Wright events entirely. I wasn’t going to see him, and it was what I’d asked for.
Still…
I glanced down at my phone, pulling up Chase’s phone number in my Contacts. I hadn’t had the nerve to completely remove him. I wasn’t using the number. What was the harm in keeping it as a just in case?
“Harley, you coming?” Whitt asked, his arm slung around Eve’s waist.
“I actually really need to work on my history paper,” I said.
It wasn’t a lie. I did have a history paper due this week. But…it wasn’t the whole truth.
“All work and no play makes Harley a dull girl,” Eve teased. “Come on. It’s just pizza.”
“Maybe next time.” I waved them off and headed for my Kia.
I sank into the driver’s seat, and before I could think better of it, I pressed the button.
The phone rang twice before a voice answered, “Hello?”
“Hey, Chase.”
The line was silent a beat too long. “Harley?”
“Hey.”
“Hey.” He repeated my word back at me. We were both quiet for another few seconds before he said, “Are you okay? Did something happen?”
“Oh, yes,” I said quickly. “I’m fine.”
“Then…can I ask why you’re calling me? I thought…well, it doesn’t matter.”
“I heard about your parents.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry.”
His laugh was sardonic. “I’m not.”
“Annie said you’re not answering her.”
He sighed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Okay. Can I come over?”
“What?” he asked in a slightly strangled voice. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
No, I really didn’t.
“I don’t think you should go through this alone.”
Another beat of silence.
“Harley, you don’t have to…”
“We haven’t spoken in months. Do you want to see me or not?”
“Yes,” and this time, there was no hesitation.
“I’ll be there in fifteen,” I told him and then hung up before he could argue.
The map to Chase’s house was ingrained in my mind. I hadn’t been there in over a year, and it felt like I was going on autopilot to get there. I parked in the driveway and headed to the front door, which opened before I even knocked.
Chase was in board shorts and a blue Yale T-shirt. I, however, was still in my Tacos uniform. I’d only traded out my cleats for black Adidas slides.
His eyes were wide and surprised. “You’re in red.”
I glanced down at the uniform. “Yeah.”
“I’ve never seen you in anything but black.”
“Well, don’t get used to it,” I said. “This is a special occasion. I was filling in for Nora.”
“If you say so,” he said with a small smile coming to his lips. “Red looks good on you.” He pulled the door open wide, and I crossed the threshold into his house.
I waved him off. “I wear other colors. I crocheted a long off-white vest once. Wore it all the time. It was like festival wear.”
“At least white is monochrome. This is like seeing Wednesday Addams in red.”
“Pig’s blood?” I offered.
He laughed. “Just so.”
“And you? Do you always go around announcing that you went to Yale?”
He furrowed his brows. “I don’t go around telling anyone I went to Yale.” I pointed at his shirt. “Oh. Well, I was alone.”
“Uh-huh,” I teased.
He shrugged. “So what? I went to Yale. At least I’m not lying about it.”
I tried not to shiver at the ease that came with his presence. His nonchalance as I made fun of him. The secret smiles that somehow tugged on my heart and reminded me exactly why I’d fallen so hard.
I turned away from him and went to the record shelf. I pulled out a Bowie vinyl and put it in place on the record player. The Bose speaker connected correctly this time and started playing.
“Where is Bowie?” I asked.
“Passed out in his bed.” He tilted his head toward the bedroom. “We went on a ten-mile hike and kayaked for a few hours today.”
My eyes rounded. “Whoa. I’d be dead, too. How are you standing?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Was actually about to go swim. Still have energy to burn off.”
“By all means,” I said, gesturing to the back door.
He arched an eyebrow. “I don’t think you came over here to watch me swim.”
“No,” I agreed. “But maybe we could sit outside?” My eyes snagged on the couch, where he’d made me completely collapse. “You know…not in here.”
His eyes followed my gaze. “Yeah. All right.”
We stepped outside and into the warm spring air. Summer was fast approaching, and already, it was heating up. I was just glad dust storm season was mostly on the out.
I sank into a cushioned chair and ducked my feet underneath me while Chase dropped down across from me. For a few minutes, both of us were silent. It wasn’t even uncomfortable. I kept glancing at him. My heart and body were trying to remind me exactly how attracted I was to him, and my brain was saying, Whoa, whoa, whoa! Don’t go there again!
“So, your parents,” I finally said.
“Yeah.”
“You’re not answering Annie about it. Or Ashleigh?”
He kept his gaze on the glittering reflection of the pool. “Just didn’t want to make a big deal about it.”
“You realize not talking to anyone about it makes it a bigger deal?”
“Guess I see that now,” he said with a shrug.
“And you’re not unbothered.”
He turned to face me, and my cheeks heated at the intensity there. “My dad cheated on my mom enough times that she finally had enough. They were working on their marriage after the last girl, and he promised he wouldn’t do it again. But he obviously did it again because he’s a narcissist.”
“I’m sure he did. Speaking as someone with a narcissistic father, I can say, he’ll always do it, and it’ll always be someone else’s problem. I’m proud of your mom for finally breaking away.”
He pushed his hand into his hair. “Yeah. I’m glad she’s leaving. I don’t know how she’s going to survive him.”
“She’ll have you,” I said as if it made all the difference.
His expression changed as if he’d never thought of that.
“My mom had me. I had my brothers. There are people to lean on, Chase. You don’t have to tackle the world alone.”
“Sometimes, it feels like it,” he admitted.
“Well, you could answer your phone when your sister and best friend call.”
“I answered when you called.”
My heart rate picked up. I wet my lips and broke the stare. “You did.”
“There’s another problem.”
I glanced back at him. “What’s that?”
“I’ve been working for the company.”
I furrowed my brow. “Sinclair Realty?”
“Yes.”
“But aren’t you working at the law firm?”
He blew out a harsh breath. “Honestly, I’d always had this idea that, eventually, I’d take over the company. But then I got into law, and I was working with Kai.”
“Kai?”
“My partner. He moved up here from Houston with me. His wife is from Clovis. So, it was good for them, too. Not completely selfish, but I thought I’d be doing that for another decade before I wanted to start working for the company.”
“And that’s a problem?”
“Well, I’m working with my dad.”
“Ah,” I said, seeing the whole picture. “Have you even talked to your mom?”
He flexed his hand. “Yes. She doesn’t blame me for working for the company.”
“But you feel guilty.”
“It feels like I’m choosing him over her.”
“That’s silly,” I said. “Unless you’re like me and you have completely no contact with your terrible father, there’s no choosing between them. They’re both your parents. Your mother knows that.”
“What’s no contact like?” he asked me, turning his body to face me.
“Excellent. Best decision I ever made. Not that he respects my wishes.” I rolled my eyes. “He bought me a BMW when I was home for Christmas.”
“Nice gift.”
“No!” I argued. “A bribe. I don’t want it. I don’t want his money.”
He nodded. “I get it.”
“I’m going home in a week, and he’s back in Seattle. I know he’s going to try to worm his way back in.” I clenched my hands into fists.
“Maybe I should go no contact and see how it feels.”
I laughed. “I thought you wanted the company?”
“It’s selfish.”
“You’re allowed to be selfish for things you’ve worked for, you know?”
He slid off of his chair and sank into the spot next to me. I tensed, expecting…well, I didn’t know what to expect. All I wanted was to lean forward and capture another perfect kiss. But that wasn’t why I’d come here. I’d been in his place, and I knew what he was going through. And…I’d wanted to see him.
“Thank you,” he said simply.
“You’re welcome.”
“I should probably call my sister.”
“Probably. And Annie.”
“Jordan is going to hate it.”
I winced. “Probably, but she’s your best friend. Don’t be stupid.”
He laughed, reaching forward and tucking a stray strand of my blonde hair behind an ear. I shivered at the touch.
“It was good seeing you.”
I cleared my throat and got to my feet. If I didn’t get out soon, I was going to break my own heart again. “You needed some sense knocked into you.”
“If I ever need it again, I know who to call,” he said, thankfully staying seated.
And though I wanted nothing more than to stay, I left.
I left and took my wildly beating heart with it.
13
Chase
May
I pushed myself past the breaking point.
Swam as hard and fast as I could to the small square deck a hundred yards from the shore and then back. I’d made the trek enough times that even Bowie had given up. I’d wiped out my own golden retriever. He was currently sunbathing on the shore with his tongue lolling out from exhaustion.
I was exhausted, too.
I didn’t want to take another stroke. But I couldn’t stop. Because stopping meant thinking. Stopping meant feeling. Stopping meant I’d have to deal with all the shit that had just been unceremoniously dumped on me.
With a grunt, I pulled myself up onto the deck, panting, my arms like jelly. One more lap. I could do one more. That would be enough.
Then, I heard the sound of car tires on the dirt road that led down to my favorite lake side spot. Bowie jumped to his feet and barked at the Kia that came into view. My stomach flipped at the sight of the little car. And then the blonde who stepped out of the driver’s side.
Bowie went off like a flash, jumping on Harley and nearly knocking her to the ground. He was sopping wet, and even from here, I could see Harley laughing and shaking the water off of her black shorts and tank top.
I dived back into the water and began the trek back toward the shoreline. She put her hand on her forehead when she heard the splash and watched me cut through the water. I was at half the speed that I’d started, but truly, it was a miracle I was still going.
When I stepped out of the lake, waterlogged and drained, she was already moving toward me, a smile on her face.
“Hey, you.”
“Hey,” I said. I felt like my legs were going to give out as I came up the shoreline.
“How long have you been doing this?”
“Since I called you.”
She frowned. “That was, like, an hour ago.”
“I know.”
Her disapproval deepened. “Maybe you should sit down.”
I reached for a towel, drying the water off of my skin before sinking onto the blanket I’d left out for Bowie. Harley dropped down next to me, and Bowie followed, getting up in her face.
She laughed and shook her head. “Still as well behaved as normal.”
“I gave up on training,” I told her.
“I can see that.”
“Thanks for coming.”
“I’m glad I was still in town. I leave tomorrow. Though, on the phone, you didn’t exactly say what was going on.”
A week ago, she’d walked back into my life to help me with my parents’ divorce. And I’d certainly thought that was the worst of what was going to happen before she left for Seattle. I hadn’t anticipated what had gone down today.
“I know. I’m not sure I wanted to say it out loud,” I admitted.
Her eyebrows rose. “That sounds serious.”
My eyes traveled down her body. Her feet crossed at the ankles in her signature Docs. Her long, pale legs leading up into the tiny little black jean shorts. Her head tipped back into the sun, and the column of her neck was practically begging me to kiss it.
