“I’m not sure. She just texted me nine-one-one, our emergency code, and I have no idea what’s going on. She was supposed to be seeing Greg tonight and now this.” I fumbled with my phone. We’d never really needed to use our emergency text before and I was in the middle of a panic when Chase placed a hand over mine.
“Call her and I’ll be right here.”
I pressed the phone button by her name and in that moment, Chase’s phone vibrated as well. He showed me the text from Greg that said he wanted him to meet up with him and the guys.
The second I heard the phone answer, I flew into action.
“What’s wrong and who do I need to kill?” I had no idea where mama bear came from, but the smile on Chase’s face showed just how much it amused him.
“Can you kill Greg and this counselor?”
Just as Lilly asked the question, Chase got another text from Greg.
“Greg wants me to meet him downtown.” Chase tried to whisper to me as I held my hand over my phone, trying to muffle his voice.
So much for our plans tonight.
I nodded at him that I understood, but I knew the sadness that was in his eyes was reflecting in mine too.
“Come over and we’ll have a girls’ night.” I gave Chase a shrug and half smiled at him. We would have to try this again another weekend when neither one of us had plans.
“Who was that?” Lilly asked next. I put the phone on mute for a few seconds and tried to shoo Chase away.
“You’ve got to go, she heard you.” I pushed him off the couch.
“She’ll find out one day.” Chase gave me a chuckle as he headed toward the door.
“Not today!” I clicked the unmute button and answered Erica. “Who was what?”
I tried to pretend I had no idea what she was talking about, but she was not having it.
“I heard someone else on the other end.”
I hit the mute button again as Chase lingered in the doorjamb. A car pulled up to the curb and I assumed he had called an Uber who was nearby to pick him up. I placed a kiss on his lips and shoved him out the door and slammed it shut.
I hit the unmute button again, bringing myself back to Lilly.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’ll see you soon and I’ll call Alexa over, too.”
I hung up before Lilly could say anything else and dove into action calling Alexa, letting her know about the crisis at hand and to come over immediately. I was lucky that Chase had already ordered pizza, but when it arrived, sadness filled me again.
I was helping my best friend, but somehow in all of this, I just wanted to be back with Chase. I wanted for Lilly to hear him in the background of our conversation and know that I was with him. I wanted our friends to see us together and know how much love we had for each other. I wanted all of that, but still, I wanted Chase all for myself.
I just didn’t know how long we could keep this up.
Especially when Chase was already calling me his wife.
Chase
The Uber driver dropped me off in front of The Dock, one of the local bars Jack and I frequented. I walked in to see all the guys had already gotten there and were seated in the back of the bar at the only booth there.
I waved to Holden, the bartender, and snatched up a beer he placed on the counter, then made my way over to the table.
“Why the urgency?” My tone was clipped. I knew Greg needed us, but damn, I needed Erica right now. I took a swig and slid into the booth. Jack was next to me, Greg across from me, and Max sandwiched between them.
“Just got out of this therapy session with Lilly.” Greg’s tone was just as annoyed as mine, but it felt like he wanted to get away from Lilly, rather than me wanting to run back to Erica.
“And?” Jack tried to get Greg to continue. I took another sip and watched as Greg tossed back the rest of the amber liquid in front of him and waved over to Holden to bring him another. “Our counselor wants us to go on a date.”
