I don’t know what that means, but I do know the one thing I didn’t want happening is happening again.
Chase is having a moment. And it’s a really big one.
Chapter Twelve
Chase
I never left.
Her location shoot was an hour away, but the plan was to deliver the food and come back. I mean, I’d hoped she’d introduce me around ... as a friend. But I was also happy to just feed her.
Until I heard her scream.
I wasn’t even in the park, but I came running because it sounded just like ...Fuck.I can’t even go there in my head, but I know she did because I heard what she said ... she saidhe.
Evie was back in that night, even if only for a split second, which is why I never left. I waited around, really fucking tired, pretending to ignore all the security checks in the form of glances she gave me.
Because I needed her to know that no matter where she was, I was there too.
And when she packed up, so did I.
But now, watching her from the doorway as she stands aimless in the middle of her room, I’m at a loss for what to say or do. The night’s caught up with her. All the adrenaline gone, and now only the aftereffects of her panic attack hang heavy on her small frame.
Evie’s feisty and spunky and an absolute force of nature. But she still feels like the softest wind could knock her over.
With a heavy exhale, I uncross my arms, pushing off the jamb, and walk inside her room, saying something so I don’t startle her.
“Hey, let me help you.”
I come up behind her, my fingers gently hooking under the strap of her bag before I slide it off her shoulder and place it on her bed. She looks down at the ground and rubs her forehead, letting out a sigh.
“You don’t have to do anything for me, Chase. I’m fine. You’ve done enough.”
She says it as I walk past her toward the bathroom.
I can feel her eyes on me as I turn on the bathtub, filling it with warm water, testing it with the back of my hand to make sure it’s hot enough.
“Bubble bath?” I ask, locking eyes with her.
She stares at me for a moment, like there are a million thoughts running through her, before she points to a cabinet, saying nothing. So I open it, finding some other jars labeled bath salt, as well as the bubble bath.
The sound of the water bubbles whooshes as I pour it all in and walk back inside the bedroom, extending my hand, motioning with my head for her to come with me.
Evie frowns, and I think she’s going to push back, but she doesn’t. Instead, she takes a hesitant step forward and slips her soft palm into mine.
“For the record, I can undress myself,” she says quietly.
Her eyes lift, slowly meeting mine again. There’s not nearly enough snark behind them for me to stop worrying, but I play along, saying something outlandish as I lead her inside the bathroom.
“Oh, I know. You used to strip in my dreams plenty.”
She huffs a surprised laugh. “Is that so?”
I shrug, giving her a wink over my shoulder. “Duh. We’re just friends now, so you don’t do that anymore, which is why I said ‘used to.’”
Or maybe I’m yours ... “This is my ... Chase. This is Chase.”
She places her phone down on the counter, looking at the filling tub, seemingly lost in thought, so I start to walk away.
