As if Chase senses it, his hand comes to my waist, and I let out a deep exhale.
“We didn’t mean to scare you so bad. It was just a prank,” Joe chuckles. “It’s tradition.”
He shrugs, and I nod, trying to recalibrate.
“A prank?” Chase’s deep voice levels from behind me. “Are you fucking serious?”
I glance over my shoulder to see his jaw tense. He looks fucking murderous.
Joe lifts a burger to his mouth. “Come on, no hard feelings?”
But it hits the floor, smacked right out of his hand.
“What the fuck, man?” Joe rushes out.
“Sorry,” Chase grinds out. “No hard feelings, right?”
Joe gulps, and the other guys shove their hands in their pockets, nodding sheepishly before they whisper more apologies to me.
But I’m turned around and pulled back into the safety of Chase’s arms, and it feels like I can breathe again. So I do, slowly and deeply until all the fear I felt, while still lingering, quickly begins to get replaced by anger.
What a bunch of . . .
My thought is finished by Chase. “Pricks.”
“Agreed.” I say, letting out a whoosh of breath, before he releases me again.
I’m staring up at him, but before I can thank him, Derek and Devin rush over, their hands full with plates as they stare at me wide eyed, talking with their mouths full.
“Eves, you good? We brought you all the cookies you love. Fuck everyone else.” ... “Yeah, Joe likes them, too, but now he can’t have any ... What a dick. Want us to piss on his car? We will.”
I can’t help but chuckle, and it feels nice. Apparently, the sentiment is shared, because Chase does the same.
“I’m all good,” I say, still sounding too winded. “I just got scared—a victim of a successful prank.”
Chase scoffs when I say it. He’s still pissed.Good.I’ll get there fully, but I’m still shaken.
I motion to the guys, smiling up at Chase. “These are my assistants, Derek and Devin ... Guys, this is my ...”My what? What is he? Because he’s more than a friend.“Chase. This is Chase.”
“Oh shit,” they say at the same time.
That’s when all my thoughts catch up and spill out.
“Wait! What are you ... How did you ...” I take a deep breath, letting my mouth make friends with my brain. “Why are you here?”
Devin laughs. “She asked the same question in three ways ... That’s funny.”
I ignore the Brothers Grimm, still staring at Chase, who finally looks down at me, the tension in his face relaxing as he gives me a grin. “I brought you dinner.”
The boys nod, pointing to the catering on the table as I look over and laugh. For fuck’s sake. Of course he did.
His heavy hand kneads my shoulder as he leans in closer. “Evil, you always complain about how the food sucks. So, I present a better burger with a spicy aioli sauce, garlic steak fries since you’re on set with vampires, a classic Caesar salad, and the most delicious berry compote tarts, because I know how much of a lady of the night you are for them.”
Devin takes my hand, tugging me forward as he rambles off about all the goodness waiting to be devoured. But Derek stays back, staring at Chase’s profile. I look back, eavesdropping on the conversation for as long as I can.
Chase slowly turns his face to Derek’s as Derek smiles wide and says, “So you’re the dude.”
It’s as if they speak the same language, because Chase nods. “Yep. I am.”
