“My first vlog,” I say, my voice trembling. “I posted it online, and no one likes it.”
“No one likes your outdoorsman videos?”
“They’re not just outdoorsman videos. They’re outdoor butt videos.”
Chase slowly tilts his head to the side. “Excuse me?”
I tear my eyes away from his because if he rejects me right now and that light in his gaze disappears, I might literally collapse.
“I didn’t lie to you. My videos are about a city boy learning to be in the woods—that part is true. But they’re also about body empowerment and sex positivity and self-acceptance.” I gulp in a deep breath. “I’m making videos of my bare butt for the internet because I want to teach people to love themselves, except no one actually loves my butt, it turns out.”
Chase doesn’t say anything. I hear Max panting through the silence as I stare at the hardwood floor. When I can’t stand it anymore, I look up, fully prepared to see rejection on his face, but Chase offers me a hesitant half-smile instead.
“I like your butt,” he says quietly.
I laugh through my tears. “Well. Thank you.”
I watch him working through his thoughts. His brow furrows, and his lips slightly purse, but he doesn’t look angry.
He just looks worried. Concerned.
Fuck, I’m a mess.
“Have you eaten today?” Chase asks, finally breaking the silence.
“Kind of. I had a bowl of sugar before I came over.”
Chase grunts. “Well, that’s half your problem. Let me feed you.”
Before I can answer, he turns and walks into the kitchen.
“You don’t have to do that,” I say quickly, following him. “You already picked me flowers, Chase. And my career is not your problem. I didn’t even want to dump that on you.”
He faces the open fridge. “There’s some leftover spaghetti. My mom’s sauce.”
“Spaghetti is good,” I answer quietly.
Chase pulls it out of the fridge. He starts messing around with the food without saying anything, his back to me as I sit at the counter. I’m dying to know what he’s thinking, but I get the strong impression he might need a minute to process, so I fight my impulses and stay silent.
Finally, he turns to face me again. “Your butt,” he says, pointing to his own. “Like, without clothes on?”
“It’s for educational purposes.” I take a gulp of the beer. “Sexual education.”
Chase crosses back over to me. I can see the hesitance in his expression. Carefully, gently, he reaches out and rubs my shoulder. “Wow. I didn’t even know that was a thing you could do for a living.” He squeezes a little harder. “Sorry your videos aren’t getting the attention you wanted.”
Fuck, he’s so perfect. Chase clearly doesn’t know how to process this new information, but he’s not balking. He’s still just trying to be a good guy and support me.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you the whole truth right away.” I shake my head. “And it’s okay. I’ll figure it out. I just have to keep working on it. I don’t really have a backup plan, so I’m going to have to work harder, you know?”
“I do know.”
I force a smile. “Your butt videos flopped online too?”
Chase chuckles. “Nothing like that. But I got some rough news today.”
I clear my throat. “Don’t leave me hanging here all alone. What’s your depressing news?”
“My aunt,” Chase says. “She’s moving, and the family is thinking of selling the lake house.”
