Page 38

“Carly!” Chance yells from the phone in my hand and I suck in a breath.

“I’m fine. I’m sorry.”

Hanging up, I slip out into the warm night feeling weaker than I have in years and completely disgusted with myself. My cell rings again as I walk down the sidewalk to where I parked my car and when Chance’s name pops up on the screen, I silence it.

God, how could I be so stupid?

Once I reach my car, I climb in and lock the doors twice before finally releasing a breath. It’s never been like this before. Sure, that night has haunted me for twelve years, but I’ve always been able to deal with it. And while I’m more careful than other girls my age, I’ve never freaked out because a guy was looking at me. Maybe I’m finally losing my mind. Shaking my head, I start the car and turn up the music to try and drown out my thoughts but it’s not as successful as I had hoped. Add in the fact that Chance is calling me every two minutes and it’s a small miracle when I finally pull into the designated parking space at my apartment.

I quickly get inside and in the elevator, dreaming about falling into my bed and pulling the covers up to my chin. Lord knows I need a good night’s sleep tonight if I’m going to deal with my mother tomorrow. A groan slips out of my mouth and I press my fingers to my temple at the thought of seeing her. Maybe I should feel bad. I mean, she is my mother after all but she’s never done much to deserve the title. She has two modes – the first is when she’s more interested in her new man and his fortune. That’s when Ivy and I might as well be invisible. And then there are the times she’s trying to set Ivy and I up with men who match her qualifications. I spent most of my life missing the idea of the woman my mother could be or desperately trying to avoid her. There is no in between. I sigh just as the elevator doors open and it’s only then I notice the yelling coming from the hallway.

“Don’t tell me you don’t have anything!”

“Chance?” I call, stepping off the elevator and stopping to stare at him as he paces back and forth in front of my door, yanking at his hair like he might rip it right out. At the sound of my voice, he stops and jerks his head up. His eyes lock onto me and the relief on his face overwhelms me.

“Never mind. I’ve got her,” he says into the phone and hangs up, slipping the phone into his pocket as he storms down the hall. When he reaches me, he crushes me to his body and I breathe him in for a moment, feeling more at ease than I have since I left the club.

“Why are you here?” I whisper into his neck and he pulls back sharply, an intensity in his eyes that is just as exciting as it is scary.

“What the fuck do you mean why am I here? I call you and you’re God knows where, freaked out, and then just hang up on me and I’m supposed to sit my ass at home and wait to see if I hear from you? Think again, Princess.”

I shake my head and try to pry myself from his grip, but he grunts and holds me closer. “It was nothing, Chance. I’m sorry I worried you.”

“Bullshit,” he growls, still refusing to let me go. I swear, as he looks down at me, I can feel him breaking down my walls piece by piece and I’m desperately trying to reconstruct them before he worms his way into my heart but he’s making it difficult.

“Don’t y’all know what time it is?” someone hisses behind him and I peek over his shoulder at Ms. Cheryl standing at her doorway with a stern look on her face.

“I’m so sorry. He was just leaving.”

His mouth hovers by my ear and I shiver when he lets out a small growl. “I’m not going anywhere, Princess.”

“Well, I don’t care if he leaves or not but shut the hell up. Some of us are actually trying to sleep.”

I nod. “Yes, ma’am.”

She huffs before turning back into her apartment and slamming the door. Turning to Chance, I give him a determined look that he just grins at. “You can leave now.”

“That’s not going to fucking happen.” He grabs my keys out of my hand and tucks his arm around my waist before leading me to my door and unlocking it. After ushering me inside, he locks the deadbolt and tosses my keys on the entry table.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

He arches a brow. “That’s funny. I was just about to ask you the same thing.”

“Meaning?”

Smirking, he steps toward me slowly, almost like an animal stalking its prey and it takes every ounce of restraint I have to not back up. “Meaning Tuesday was one of the best nights of my life and you’ve been avoiding me ever since.”

“Well, I’m glad it was so good for you but maybe it wasn’t for me.”

He presses his body against mine as his arms wrap around my back, keeping me from escaping as his eyes burn. “New rule. Stop lying to me.”

“I don’t agree to that.”

“Tough shit. Not that it matters much if you agree or not. Every time a lie slips past these gorgeous lips,” he says, trailing his finger over my bottom lip. “I know it. Maybe you can hide from the rest of the world, but I see you.”

My heart pounds and tears burn my eyes as I stare up into his and in a moment, from one simple look, I know he’s telling the truth. He can see me, all the broken misshaped parts I hide from everyone else are visible to him. It’s fucking terrifying. Looking away, I try to pull back and while he loosens his hold, he doesn’t release me. After sucking in a few breaths, I feel more in control and meet his eyes again.

“You need to leave.”