Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Chase doesn’t continue right away, but I don’t push. I’m certain he’s not done with the story, so I just wait him out, looking out across the lake and thinking about the girl he once loved. I don’t like her, of course, but that’s because she was clearly an idiot. I mean, what kinda girl lets a boy like Chase go? He obviously adored her and was ready to spend the rest of his life with her. I’ve felt what he’s packing below the belt press against me a few times, so I know it can’t be because he’s bad in bed. Not that I know if he is or not, but something tells me Chase Callahan knows a thing or two about pleasing a woman.
“Anyway, Melissa started to hang out more with her roommate, who was pledging a sorority. She was trying to convince Melissa to pledge too. Our Saturday night study sessions were replaced by her going to hang out at the sorority house with the girls, and yes, guys.
“One Sunday morning, I went to her dorm room to pick her up for breakfast, and I met her in the hallway. She was just getting home. She could barely meet my eyes, the guilt written all over her face in Sharpie. I followed her into her room, not even caring that her roommate was sleeping like five feet away, and asked her what was going on. She told me she wasn’t interested in having a steady boyfriend anymore, that she was missing out on a big part of her youth. She wanted to have fun and party, to drink and flirt. She asked if we could take a little break, but I knew what that meant. I knew that it was the end of our relationship.”
I reach over and grab his hand, offering as much silent support as I can muster. Our fingers link easily; it’s both comfortable and familiar. We’ve only touched this way a handful of times in the last week, but with each caress, each touch, it becomes a bit more real.
“So that’s when the new and improved Chase Callahan was born. I stopped caring about the future and decided to live in the now. Turns out, I’m pretty much a ladies’ man, Gabs, and the ladies just loved me,” he adds with a wink.
“I just bet they did,” I retort, shaking my head and glancing his way. “I’m sorry you got hurt.”
Chase shrugs. “It was bound to happen sometime, right? No one really finds the one they’re supposed to spend the rest of their life with when they’re seventeen. Besides, that’s when I met Harrison, and eventually, Gwen. They couldn’t resist my charm either.”
“I’m sure they couldn’t,” I reply flatly.
“Ehh, my grades were turning to shit and Harrison was in my study group. We were in most of the same classes since we were both majoring in kinesiology. He kinda helped keep me on track.”
“Now that I see.”
“What can I say, I’m like a puppy. Once you meet me, you want to keep me.”
“Or like gonorrhea. Once you’ve come in contact, you spend the rest of your life itching and getting shots to cope.”
Chase laughs. “You just compared me to an STD?”
I shrug. “If the shoe fits….”
“Ouch, Gabs. And here I was, spilling my guts to you and the bullfrogs and you compare me to a venereal disease.”
“I’m sure you have plenty of ego to pad your fall,” I tease, glancing his way once more. There’s something in his eyes that I can’t dissect. He opened up about his past, about how he became the man he is today. He was candid and real, and if I’m being honest with myself, I think I like him that much more now.
“I was a wild guy for a while, Gabs. I’m not going to lie. I didn’t date much, but never lacked for company,” he says, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Just the thought of Chase with a line of women in tow sets every jealous bone I have in my body on high alert.
I don’t like the feeling.
Not at all.
He’s not saying it to be conceited or trite. He’s giving me the facts and letting me come to my own conclusion. Not one based off hearsay, but one where I hear it from him.
“I had fun for a while, but then, I decided I most definitely wanted you.”
My lungs seize in my chest. “Me?”
Adjusting his position so that he’s sitting directly in front of me again, he moves in close. I can smell his familiar shampoo and the cleanliness of his body wash. “You,” he confirms, turning our hands so that he’s holding mine palm up. “Harrison and Gwen were in trouble and separated. I was trying to ignore the fact that you were dating that weird accountant who always smelled like cheese puffs.” I crack a smile at that one because he’s not lying. Gus really did smell like cheese puffs. “I was going out, but I was getting tired of the girls who just flung themselves at me. I wanted more.