We had some big revelations on this couch last night. Between the EdTechU son-of-a-multimillionaire shocker and my ex-boyfriend sob story, I could have easily let it come between us. We’re from different worlds, much like how it was with Evan. But at the end of the day, Chase is still just the helpful guy trying to care for me. He rushed me to work after being jolted awake by my panic. He called my friends to come help me. He calmed me. How I ever found similarities between him and Evan is beyond me. Chase is in a class all his own.
The door thudsas it closes, and I bolt upright. Through the bleariness in my eyes, I can barely make out the large, fluffy coils wearing scrubs and glasses. “Mom?” I say, rubbing my face. “What are you doing here?”
“My Bakersfield contract got cut short, but I’ll be heading to LA in two days for a new one. No work today?”
“Nope. Patti gave me the day off.”
“Good! You work too much anyway, Kay.”
“Says the lady speeding all over California for a living.”
“I guess you came by it honest. I’m going to shower and then, let’s get groceries? Maybe lunch?”
“Yes, to groceries, but lunch has to be quick. I have a date.” I stand from the couch and inch toward the hall.
“Adate?” she teases. “It’s that cute White boy from the hospital, isn’t it?”
I shrug, wiggling my eyebrows while walking backward to my room without answering. I’m not giving her any information before I have to. She’ll find out when Chase picks me up later anyway.
Navigating the store today is so much easier than the last time we came together. The lines are within the range of normal, and the bread is fully stocked. We don’t have to split up this time, so I push the cart, hopping up with my feet on the basket to glide down the aisles. Mom is in the middle of telling me all about the drama between her coworkers in Bakersfield when she bumps into someone tall. The glasses fly off her face and slide along the floor.
“Oops, I’m sorry. Let me grab those for you.”
“Kendall?” I say, recognizing Hunter’s dad immediately.
“Kayla, hey,” he says distractedly, handing the glasses back to Mom. He freezes once he finally gets a clear view of her face. Mom cleans her lenses on her shirt, scrunching her nose as she slides them back over her eyes.
“This is my mom, Karla,” I say. “And this is my friend’s dad, Kendall.”
He sticks his hand out, looking at her intensely despite the smile on his face. “Nice to meet you.”
Mom stares down at his outstretched hand for a couple of seconds before clearing her throat and giving it a shake. Her eyes flick up to his and then back down as she takes a step backward.
“Is Chase bringing you over for dinner tonight?” He turns his smile on me.
“Yeah, he just texted me about it.”
“Great,” he says, nodding and looking at Mom again. She’s distracted herself with a cracker box on the shelf, so he turns back to me. “Well, we’ll see you later then.”
“See you later!” I wave as he leaves. Kendall looks over hisshoulder once more before moving to the next aisle. Turning to Mom with raised eyebrows, I ask, “Not your type?”
“No one’s my type, Kayla. I’ve got bills to pay,” she snaps, throwing the crackers in the basket and grabbing the cart out of my hands with a huff.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
KAYLA
I’m checking myself in the mirror in the far corner of my room when three swift knocks hit the front door. Hustling out to the living room, I see Mom lounging on the couch, feet curled under herself. We look at each other for a split second before she leaps off the sofa to answer the door. I spring from my spot in the hallway, making it a second too late.
“Let me meet him,” she says, laughing.
“You already met him.” I roll my eyes, grabbing my purse behind her. She’s such a “Nosy Rosie” sometimes, and I don’t want her sticking her nose in this early. “Please, Mom, just let me open the door…”
“You couldbothopen the door,” Chase says from the other side. I widen my eyes at Mom and point my head to the couch, mouthing the wordstop. She wiggles her eyebrows, reaching for the doorknob and yanking it open. Sliding past her, I close the door on her slipper before nudging her foot back into the house with my own.
With a big exhale, I turn and bite the smile that appears when I look at Chase. The sun beams down on us, and his light blue polo matches the bright sky. He bends to kiss me, but just beforeour lips meet, I hear an excited squeal from the other side of the peephole.
“Hey, Chase!” Mom yells from behind the door.
