“I almost left the hotel when I realized it was you,” he said instead.
Tommy blinked.
“What?”
Chase nodded.
“I didn’t expect that.”
“Why didn’t you leave?”
Chase turned toward him fully now.
“Because you looked more like yourself than I’ve ever seen you.”
Tommy’s brow furrowed.
“What does that mean?”
“You weren’t competing,” Chase said. “You weren’t guarded.”
His voice dropped slightly.
“You were just… there.”
Tommy swallowed.
“And you liked that?”
Chase didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah.”
Tommy’s pulse kicked harder.
“Why?” he asked.
Chase stepped half a pace closer.
Not crowding.
Just closing the distance.
“Because I’ve spent my whole life trying to win,” he said.
His eyes held Tommy’s.
“And you’re the first thing I don’t want to compete for.”
The patio door slid open.
Both of them turned.
Logan stepped outside.
His gaze moved from Tommy to Chase and back again.
“Everything good?” he asked.
