Chapter 13
Ashley stood and turned in the other direction. “I’ll be in the lady’s room.”
In horror, Chase watched as Reid passed their table and trailed after Ashley. Chase stood and followed, a pit forming in his stomach. Clearly, Ashley was in no state of mind to deal with the guy alone, and he wouldn’t let her. And yet, Chase couldn’t help feeling a twinge of disappointment at Ashley’s reaction. How was she still this affected by Reid? It had been a year and a half.
A waitress stopped right in front of him to set down several heavy platters for a table, and Chase was forced to take another path. When he found the restrooms, Ashley and Reid weren’t there. He checked the bar and then walked outside.
Ashley threw her arms around Chase. “There you are.”
She immediately pressed her lips to his and stayed there until he responded, his lips turning from frozen shock to willing participant. It was sweet torture. He could feel the panic and stress emanating from her, a trembling in her fingertips winding through his hair. He knew it was all an act, and yet he continued to kiss her, every press of his lips a message that she was desired, that she could count on him. When she pulled away, he took a deep breath and looked into her eyes, already seeing the apology written there.
She turned back to her ex. “Reid, this is my boyfriend, Chase.”
Reid was staring at them with a bored poker face, though Chase could see the irritation and anger he was hiding. “Hi, I’m Reid.” He held out a hand.
“I know who you are.” Chase didn’t shake his hand. “I think you missed the lady’s room, Ash. It’s just inside and to the right.”
Thankfully, she took the hint and headed inside.
Reid moved to follow, and Chase blocked him. “I don’t think so.”
“I’m headed back to my date.” Reid looked him up and down. “Ashley and I were just catching up. Calm down, man.”
Chase let him by, the adrenaline from his anger and that amazing yet defeating kiss coursing through his body. He took a couple deep breaths of the warm night air and went inside to hear Ashley’s explanation. He wasn’t looking forward to it.
***
Ashley brushed trembling fingers through her hair as she stared in the bathroom mirror. Reid had changed so dramatically that last month they were together, she wasn’t sure she ever saw what he was truly capable of. And that’s why seeing him now filled her with so much dread. How had she almost married the guy?
She should have stayed at the table with Chase and stood her ground. But she hadn’t, and Reid had followed behind her as she walked past the ladies room and kept going. To him, it was all a game, and her fear only made it more fun. He’d grabbed her wrist as soon as they got outside and that same fear came barreling back.
When she’d pulled away, he’d turned back into friendly Reid, asking how she’d been, as if he hadn’t given her a fat lip their last week together. As if he hadn’t just manhandled her a second ago. He’d always been like that. Able to pretend everything was fine when it clearly was not, twisting people’s emotions around so he looked like the good guy. Even tonight, he’d acted as if she’d invited him outside to make small talk.
Why couldn’t she move past this one stupid relationship? Unfortunately, she knew the answer to that all too well. Reid had taken more than her self-confidence. He’d talked her into moving in together, into being intimate when she’d always planned on waiting until her wedding night. And because of that, she’d stubbornly stuck with him. Put up with him. Wanting him to be the first and the last, when he’d never deserved either.
If it wasn’t for Paige’s interference, and Shaun and his friend, Preston, acting as muscle, she wouldn’t have had the courage to kick him out. The truth hurt. She’d been weak then and she was weak now, only this time she’d put Chase up as her shield.
Chase. How would she face him now? That kiss. She rubbed her eyes and groaned. And then groaned again as she realized she’d just wiped off most of her eye makeup. Chase’s kiss was just like him. Sweet and fierce. Careful, with a surprisingly hot passion to it. Her knees wobbled a little as she relived it in her mind. How could she act normal around him now? What must he think of her? How could she ever tell him why seeing Reid hurt so much?
She straightened her shoulders and walked back to their table, getting there just after the food arrived. She wasn’t the least bit hungry now. Chase watched her with wary eyes, and she didn’t dare let her gaze shift to the corner where she knew Reid was sitting. That man would not hijack any more of this date.
“How’s your steak?” she asked.
Chase poked at it. “Haven’t tried it yet.”
“Chase, I’m sorry.”
He raised his hand. “Don’t apologize. Let’s eat.”
She nodded and dug into her potato. He was right. Now was not the time for this discussion, not that there ever would be a good time. Instead, she told him about her job interview at the dental office and the other places she’d applied to. Her food was delicious, and as she talked and nibbled at it, her appetite returned. It was sad that talking about the job search was helping her relax again.
She let out a sigh of relief when the check came. The waiter boxed up their leftover food, and she and Chase left, not nearly as relaxed together as when they’d come in.
She could almost feel Reid’s eyes on her back. Oh, how she wished to never see him again. But if she ever did, she’d have to be better prepared. Brave. It was time to face her demons herself, starting with contacting the poor woman who had the misfortune of being his date. Reid was always between jobs. If Ashley was a betting woman, she’d guess he wasn’t the one picking up the check for their dinner.
The ride to her apartment was agonizingly quiet. She didn’t dare bring up running from Reid or introducing Chase as her boyfriend. She wasn’t sure which part had upset him more. But if he was angry she’d kissed him, then there really was no hope. He didn’t want anything more than a safe friendship between them. And she had too much baggage to be safe.
Chase got her car door and walked her to her doorstep, kissing her on the cheek, though his mind seemed elsewhere.
