Chapter Twenty-One
Chase
The commotion of the party was in full swing by the time Erica texted me that she was pulling into the drive. I had to get here early to help set up and give face to as many people as I could, so I could focus on Erica being here.
I wasn’t all too pleased with bringing her to an event, but it needed to be done sooner rather than later. I excused myself from a conversation with the mayor’s son and made my way to the front of the house. Erica caught my eye the moment I saw her. There she stood in an elegant rich purple gown that barely grazed the floor. Her hair was swept to the side and she was holding a clutch with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She was the epitome of elegant and was about to outshine anyone on the back patio.
“Peaches.” My voice was rough as she took a step toward me. My hand reached out and grabbed for her waist before my lips crushed to her. A hand went around my neck and I let my lips dance across hers before a cough came from behind Erica.
I pulled away to see my cousin, Chad, standing there, laughing at us and just shaking his head before leaving us back in our own bubble.
“I’m sorry, peaches. I got a little carried away.” I leaned down and gave her another quick kiss.
“I’m pretty sure I did too.” She giggled and wiped at my lip. I just now noticed she had lipstick on. “You look fine, just a little lipstick on you.”
There was only a little smudge on the corner of her lip.
“Let me fix you now.” I swiped my thumb over the corner, bringing it down and wiping the excess on my pant leg. “All better now.”
“This place is huge, Chase.”
I pulled her along with me, showing her around the house. It was large, but I almost never came here anymore. I was obligated to attend functions with the family, but they were usually galas held at different locations in the state. This was a family function, though, one that was held every holiday season, for all friends and family to get together at once before the chaos of another year started to ensue.
“It’s my parents’ second house. They have a lot of business still here in Atlanta, so they come often and were tired of staying in a hotel. It’s got six bedrooms, five baths, a game room, theater, court out back, garden.”
“That’s a little much, don’t you think? Especially for a second house.” Erica craned her neck to see everything. Unlike her parents’ house, there was nothing on these walls. It felt like it was more for show, rather than a place my parents stayed sometimes. But it was for show. My father had guests over almost any time they were in town, especially after a few years ago when he had a heart attack, he built an office in this home and the one back in Savannah. It made life for my parents much easier, but it caused me and my sister to come home less and less, because we both wanted nothing to do with the politics. And that’s all my father was interested in.
“It is.” I turned us toward the back patio where the rest of the guests were. It wasn’t like someone was going to stop and introduce us, but it felt like someone had when we stepped out of the house. The hushed tones of conversations came to a halt and all eyes weren’t on us, but on Erica herself. She stopped a whole room just like she had stopped my heart.
I ushered Erica farther onto the porch, over to where my mother stood with my father. I needed her to meet my family before others that had known me just as long as she had started to pry. I didn’t want to overwhelm Erica, and I knew it was already starting. She stiffened in my hand and I pulled her into my side with my arm around her waist and her hand still held in mine. It was awkward, but I knew having her this close would help with whatever she was feeling right now.
“Who is this, Chase?” my mother asked first. She stood taller in her white lace dress and pushed her dark brown hair over her shoulder, not a single piece out of place. She was as pristine as could be, the proper governor’s wife.
“This is Erica, Mother.”
My mother held out a hand and Erica took it slowly, looking up at me and then back at my mother.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you.” Erica’s voice was quieter than normal and I felt the need to step in.
“These are my parents, George and Addison,” I introduced them, giving the advantage back to Erica.
“Son, we can introduce ourselves.” My mother tsked at me, but I didn’t care. It wasn’t about making them look good. I was here to show off Erica and show her my family and a part of the life she would have to endure as long as my father was in office. “Erica, what brings you here today?”
“I’m here with Chase.” She placed a hand on my chest and it only brought us closer together. I leaned down, placing a kiss on top of her hair, and my mother’s eyebrows rose.
“Never in my life have I ever seen Chase with someone.” My mother placed a hand over her heart, her voice carrying across the lawn, and looked between the two of us.
“Addison, stop making a scene,” my father spoke harshly into my mother’s ear, but she just swatted him away.
“Don’t rain on my parade, George. This is the most excitement I’ve ever had at a party. Go talk to Mason about some city planning. Maybe it will help you feel a little better.”
My mother was always one for the dramatics, but it shocked me how much she was taking to Erica. My father walked away, not taking a second glance toward Erica and me, but I didn’t expect him to. He thrived on his job and just as my mother said, it would make him happy to work.
“Now.” My mother clapped her hands together, bringing her attention back to us. “Where were we?”
She looked between Erica and me, but we both stood there, speechless.
“What?” She put a hand to her face, then her hair. “Do I have something on me?”
