“It’s okay.” Chase cut her off. “You don’t have to say anything back.” He dropped his hand from the wall, righting his pants as he strode away from her.
In that moment, Larke despised herself. He’d noticed her brief hesitation.
“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” He was watching her slide her panties back on.
She shook her head. “You didn’t.”But I hurt you.Yes. She was the one who had done the hurting today. Regret gnawed at her. She should’ve told him. She should’ve given in without fear and hesitation and told Chase how much she loved him too. But it was too late now. Her credibility was shot. He would think she was saying it out of guilt and pity. Chase hated pity.
Sighing inwardly, she asked, “You don’t have to go soon, do you?”
“There’s no one waiting on me.”
“What about your stepfather?” Larke asked, selfishly contemplating what the man’s death would mean for Chase and the group. “How is he doing?”
Chase lifted a shoulder. “I saw him earlier before you called me. He’s gotten worse. Guess his time is coming up real soon.”
“Oh.“
He nodded, although his features now appeared closed. Guarded somewhat.Because of her?
Her heart twisted. But then Larke recalled something she’d wanted to ask him. If Chase saw that she wanted him to meet her friends maybe it would help somewhat toshowhim how much he meant to her, before she confessed her love for him. Bolstered by the idea, she asked, “Have you ever gone bowling?”
His eyes widened, regarding her as if she’d lost her mind. “You mean that place I saw you getting your ass slapped?”
She glared. “Thanks for reminding me. But yesandfrom the look on your face I’d say it’s a no go.” She gazed at him, hoping he’d prove her wrong by agreeing to go.
“Why?” His brows furrowed. With suspicion?
“I thought it might be fun. And I could introduce you to my friend and her boyfriend.”
“The Indian girl you went to nursing school with and her black teacher boyfriend?”
Larke frowned, somehow troubled at his tone of voice and well, that he had to mention those details, as if they bothered him.
“That’s them,” she answered. “Riva and Jason. We could do a couple of rounds and leave if we’re not having fun. There’s an alley not too far from here so I don’t think we’ll have another incident like the one inside the hunting store.”
“Did you tell your friends about me?”
“I told Riva. She suspected I was seeing someone. I trust her. But even if I hadn’t said anything, they would’ve remembered you.”
“They won’t mind me being there?”
“They won’t. I wouldn’t have mentioned it if they did.”
Chase’s eyes grew colder by the second. Distant. “I think I’ll pass.”
“Why? Do you have other plans?” she asked, slightly afraid it was about him not wishing to be around other races.
He read the worry on her face and snapped, “Stop trying to read my mind.“ He started pacing the living room, paused, then spun around, facing her. “Look. I know you always try to see the good in everyone and stay positive, which is a good thing, or else you wouldn’t be with me. But c’mon, Larke, you don’t really believe your friends actually want to hang out with me unless they wanna use it as an opportunity to talk down and preach to me. The ignorant, redneck, racist asshole. I might not be as smart as you and your friends, but I know how this works.”
Her stomach dropped. Chase thought she would invite him out so her friends could ridicule him? She stared at him in disbelief. He couldn’t. He honestly couldn’t. And she refused to believe he did. He knew her, had to know by now, that she’d never let anyone mistreat him in front of her.
Larke carefully chose her next words. “Other people might think they know you, similar to how I was so sure I knew everything about you in the beginning. But they don’t. They don’t see you the way I do and there’s no way I would sit back and let anyone talk down to you or say awful things to you. Just like I know you wouldn’t do the same to them.”
He said nothing although the tell tale signs of frustration and anger were gone. Larke decided to push her luck. “You mentioned my friends being more intelligent than you. I don’t believe in comparing intelligence, but have you noticed that lately a lot of your actions haven’t been that of a die-hard white supremacist? Isn’t it blasphemy to suggest a person of color being smarter than you? When you saw that little boy chasing after his dog, you never hesitated to help. And don’t think I missed the way you looked at him when you spoke. There wasn’t a shred of prejudice in your eyes. Those things tell me a lot.”
Chase shrugged. “Maybe it just means I suck really bad at being a die hard racist.”
She reached for his hand. “I’m waiting on the day you completely fail at it.”
He chuckled low, without humor. “Trying my best, angel.”
