But Coral pipes up, souring my mood again. “I think hot definitely describes you.”
I want to immediately saynobody asked you, Coral, but Chase leans in toward me, crowding my personal space. I don’t move.
“She thinks hotdefinitelydescribes me.”
Oh, you motherfucker. Taunting me? The audacity.
“I guess one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.”
He lets out a quiet exhale, biting his bottom lip, but he doesn’t take his eyes off me as he calls off an order of tacos. I barely pay attention to what he says because the way he’s looking at me is making my stomach flip and other parts stand at attention.
I’m so fucked. Or at least I’d like to be.
“It’ll take about fifteen,” Coral offers. “How about a beer while you wait? I’ve got your favorite in the back.”
How do you know his favorite? I’ll never let him drink it again.
His eyes tick to her for only a second as he says, “Sounds good.”
She winks at him and turns around to get it, so I raise my hands as I give him a dirty look.
“It’s okay, I’m not thirsty.”
Chase chuckles, not saying a thing as she comes back with the bottled swill and hands it to him. He put some money on the counter, but she balks and pushes it back to him.
He doesn’t take it, though, and that makes me smile.
I’m about to turn around and head to a section of tables by the beach, but he says “Hey,” catching my attention. I watch him open the bottle on the metal counter, then use the bottom of his shirt to wipe the rim before he hands it to me.
“Ladies first.”
My lips part, mostly because his charm is beginning to win him points.
“I thought we’d share it since I have to drive,” he offers coolly.
Oh.I pinch the cool neck between my fingers before bringing it to my lips and taking a drink.Okay, he can keep drinking it. It’s delicious.
I hold the glass to my pout for a moment before lowering it, licking what’s left behind as he takes the bottle from me.
Holy hell. Coral could be watching ... She could be crying for all I know, because I can’t take my eyes off his Adam’s apple and the way it bobs as he takes a swig.
I’m going to lick that later.
“Come on,” he says to me, motioning to the benches before looking over his shoulder to Coral. “Tell your mom I said hi.”
She doesn’t get a chance to answer because he starts walking, fast enough to make me spin around and immediately keep up.
Jesus. If I’m not careful, our “how I met your mother” story will include how I fell for his BDE so hard that I almost tripped over it chasing behind him at the beach.
Neither of us says anything as we sit down, only glancing at each other but not lingering. We just sit in silence as he hands over the beer and waits patiently for me to pass it back.
But the pause in conversation feels too pregnant, probably because I think watching him justbeis knocking me up. That’s the thing about finally admitting the truth to yourself. It’s like taking a screw out of a dam.
I’m flooded ... mainly with thoughts and prayers for my future because I can’t stop staring at his goddamn beautiful face, thinking about how truly attracted I am to him in spite of what’s on the inside ... actually more because of it.
The sound of waves crashes onto the shore next to us, and the occasional seagull calls, but we stay silent. Chase puts his hands behind his head, leaning back against the seat on his side as his eyes finally connect with mine, and he lets out a deep exhale. His stubble shines, and it’s hot. How did I ever think that was unattractive?
I didn’t. I just lied to myself.
