“Which do you like the most?” Chase asks softly. The fact that I don’t have to tell him to keep my meltdown on the down-low might make me love him about thirty times more.
However, what a dumb question. “I’m an artist, you weirdo. I like all colors. Hence the problem,” I hiss.
Chase chuckles warmly. I wanna whack him. “Black or navy blue would be pretty safe options, but you could go for something brighter if it makes you happy.”
“Can you please, for the love of everything beautiful, tell me what color to do?”
He swallows his laugh and tries to take my request seriously. I don’t know if he thinks I’m cracking jokes over here or what,but if someone doesn’t give me an out here, I’m gonna get really dramatic. “This grey is nice, it looks like the stains you get on your fingers when you sketch. So either that or something super out of character like pink. Those are your options.”
I roll my eyes. “You can’t even pretend to be controlling for, like, a minute to help me out?”
Chase shakes his head. “Sorry, sweetheart. That’s the best I got.”
He doesn’t look sorry. In fact, he looks like he’s about to pat me on the head and call me a cute little bunny. Although, having my options cut down significantly is appreciated. Plus, him seeing a normal grey color as graphite smudges is the most adorable thing I’ve ever heard.
Brady approaches with a tense look on his face, with a white-knuckle grip on that envelope. “Steal you for a sec?” he asks tersely.
“Is everything okay?”
My brother glances at me and arranges his features into something similar to a smile but comes across more as a grimace. “Yeah, all good, Eas.”
That’s not at all convincing. Just as I’m about to tell him to wait, Dasha turns to me. “Ready?”
I nod, trying to keep an eye on Chase and Brady from the corner of my eye, but it’s not going well. “This color, please,” I say, pointing.
“Very good choice.”
Blakely grins at me. “That’s so pretty, lovebug.” The boys steal her attention quickly, making my nerves ramp way up. She squeezes my shoulder affectionately as Dasha shakes the bottle and takes my hand. “I’ll be right back.”
I have a feeling that’s a lie, but I’m really trying to not make a scene in front of a stranger. Chase’s words echo in my ears, reminding me to breathe. I try. Dasha notices the slight shake tomy palm, but it doesn’t seem like it’s getting in her way. Small positives.
Blakely and crew take their crisis to her office, and I decide that this isn’t good. Hasn’t enough happened on this day? Reporting my abuser wasn’t enough of a strain on my delicate grip on my mental state?
God, if you’re out there, please just let Aaron die.
I almost laugh. Not like I believe in that, and if I did, He sure wouldn’t be listening to me. Never did before.
Like predicted, the trio doesn’t return to my sightline until Dasha is wrapping up with my nails. As much as I’d like to appreciate this moment, because they do look great, I can’t even try until I know what caused Brady to act weird. “Be a little easy on them until you’re sure they’re dry,” Dasha reminds me.
“Thank you.” Blakely pays her then sees her out, and I’m about ready to explode.
Chase crashes into the sofa, drops his head and rubs his eyes almost violently. Brady looks about three seconds from puking. “What the fuck is going on?” I demand.
Blakely shifts, uncomfortable. “Honey,” she starts. “Please take a breath.” She waits until I do. “I don’t know how to say this except to just say it. That envelope left on my doorstep had pictures of us at the police station and bookstore today as if we were being followed.”
My brain fractures, splinters into a thousand pieces as I try and understand those words said in that arrangement. “That’s impossible,” I whisper. “We would have noticed.”
She only blinks rapidly. “I’m so sorry, Easton. I didn’t notice it either. I never would have taken you out like that if I thought this is what would happen. It’s going to be okay though. I’m gonna turn it over to the private investigator and Chief Brooks who will share it with the FBI. They’re gonna find him. I’mso fucking sorry I put you in danger, honey.” She sounds truly devastated which makes it all that much worse.
There’s a near-painful buzzing that starts in my bones before radiating out. The urge to try and tear my skin off is eating me alive as a roaring in my ears drowns out everything around me. “No. He can’t have found me already. NO!” I shout helplessly.
~~~
Chase
Useless isn’t an unusual emotion for me, even with Easton. At best, I was only ever trusting instinct and hoping it would work out. Now, my body and mind feel foreign to me, like I can’t control them. I see him hurting. I see him slipping into that dark place that is so hard to get him back from. But I don’t know what todo.
Brady snaps into action before I can make my feet move. I watch on the sidelines as he shows his brother the type of care that I should have perfected by now. I thought I had. But my heart is pounding so hard in my chest that it’s painful, and I’m screaming at myself internally to do something, but it isn’t making me move.
