“Damn good answer.” Max patted me on the shoulder and gave a wolf whistle. I sat up, proud of the appreciation from Max and my plan to get Erica.
“I’m pretty sure I need some more alcohol in me right now.”
All this talk about what I was going to do to ask Erica out had me all in knots and the glass of scotch was completely gone and I hadn’t remembered drinking all of it. Even if it was something I knew I wanted to do, that little tinge of rejection lingered still. Max had been the one to bring it up, but now that it was peeking out, it felt like a full force in my body.
Because, what if she said no? What if she did think I was crazy after I told her everything, because at some point in time I would be telling her everything. I couldn’t keep it all a secret, but for now it would have to be.
I just had no idea how that day would come, but first, I needed her to say yes.
And that magic word would be all I needed to start our life together.
Erica
“Erica.”
Chase’s voice came from behind me and I tried to hide the shiver that ran up my entire body. That was something that came with seeing him every day now. It was also something I didn’t hide much anymore. I thought if I let him see that he affected me, he would step up and ask me out, but nothing. Years and years of pining for this man silently and he still couldn’t catch the hint. Had I not been that obvious? Did I just look like I was cold rather than affected by him being in my space? I had no idea, but I was hoping that after Chase had heard me turn Marcus down, that would be enough for him to step up, but four days later and still nothing.
We had spent practically every day together after I transitioned into the company photographer, but I was still working for Greg as well. Lunches, most weekends together, any chance we could it felt like we made sure to spend as much time as possible in each other’s presence.
Chase was towering over my desk, the one that was right next to Lilly’s, but she happened to be in Greg’s office with Alexa, talking about a new client.
“Want to do lunch today?” he asked so casually and it felt like just another lunch, but then I remembered how little time we had actually been spending together in the past five months that Alexa had been here. It became a constant of Lilly, me, and her every day for lunch. I only saw Chase afterward, and it felt like nothing really changed.
“I need to check with the girls.”
“Pretty sure Greg’s going to have to order lunch for them.”
I looked toward where Greg’s office was and could see a little through the blinds. They had papers spread across the floor and looked completely into whatever they were working on. It was such a pleasure to have Alexa join the team, especially with the fact she had helped lighten my load. Now that she had her own portion of the company, Greg had hired someone to replace her so I could continue working on my projects. Currently I had eight cover photos, plus graphics. Chase and I had already planned out a six-hour photo shoot next week just to get at least half, and then we would work from there for what else we needed.
I hadn’t read the stories, but Greg had devoured them, and so had the new girl, Elise. I used her notes and Chase’s to pick out a few local models who would work. The graphics team would do their magic on how it actually turned out. I just needed to get the base with the models.
“What did you have in mind?”
“Bakers?”
“Mmm.” I knew I was making a face. The girls and I always ate at Bakers, but it felt different to go there with Chase. We always went to Old Mills, so him asking for us to go to Bakers felt off. “Why not Old Mills?”
I tried to steer him toward our usual spot, but he didn’t seem to catch the bait.
“If not Bakers, then why don’t we try out the new sushi place around the corner?”
“Yeah, that’s fine.” I shrugged my shoulders in acceptance that something was going to be different today. It spiked my heart rate to a speed I wasn’t comfortable with.
“Let’s go.” Chase grabbed for my hand and pulled me away from my desk, leaving behind my purse and phone.
“Hold on.” I laughed at him, but he didn’t let go. He looked back at what I was pointing to, but he shook his head.
“You won’t need them.”
He dragged me to the stairs and pulled me all the way down to the lobby and then out the door, down the street, and into the new restaurant. We didn’t stop or talk along the way. It felt like Chase had a plan. I had never seen him act like this and where my heart was a little scared, there was also a part of me that grew excited to see a different side of him come out.
It made me feel a hope that something different was about to come.
“Table for two.” Chase ordered as soon as we walked into the door of the restaurant. We were taken immediately to a small table with menus left in front of us, but Chase snatched mine up before I could even have a look.
“Hey!” I laughed as I tried to grab for it.
“I’ll order.” Chase stared down at his menu without looking up at me. I cocked my head to the side, really trying to figure out what was going on with him. He had never ordered for me before and had never been so demanding, but from the way his leg was shaking the table and his hands were tapping on the menu, I would say he was nervous.
