Page 107 of Love Collided

I felt like I was watching something that I wasn’t supposed to be seeing.

“Come on,” Ash said. “Let’s go say hi first.”

She moved me through the crowd, my legs following her from muscle memory more than an understanding of what was happening.

The crowd parted as we got closer and the thought of her touching him so intimately only made my stomach drop more. A strange mix of anger and jealousy making me flush, and sick.

“Hey Chase,” Ash said, a smile plastered on her face, but Chase’s eyes went right to mine. Dull, lifeless eyes that only widened when they saw me.

“Ashton? Is that you?” Chase’s dad said, sticking out a hand to shake hers. “I haven’t seen you around lately.”

“I’ve mainly kept to my dad’s parties, but he asked for my assistance tonight,” she said with a small laugh. “Said this would be a bigger party and he would need reinforcements.”

That made him laugh before he turned to me. “And Scout, correct?”

“Yes, that’s me.” I shook his hand, not daring to look at Chase again, but I did notice the girl’s hand had dropped from him.

I wanted to reach out and grab him. I wanted her hands to stay off of him.

I wanted him to be mine, and have any right to tell him not to let other girls be all over him.

Ash turned to the girl. “I feel like we may have met, but I apologize. I’ve been away so much my memory isn’t working great.”

The girl got the hint, shaking Ash’s hand. “Luckily, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Claire.”

She was sweet, her blonde hair pulled up into a fancy bun. Her jewelry flashing in the lights, and I’m sure every single diamond on her was real. Her dress fit perfect, and I realized this was the life Chase had. Every hair in place, every piece of clothing being tailored to fit like it was made for you, everything had to be perfect.

Ash had put waves in my hair, half of it pulled into a braid that sat at the back. It was pretty, and I felt beautiful in my deep green dress, but I would never be this type of beautiful.

“Nice to meet you. Both of you.” She reached her hand out to me and I took it, my stomach threatening to throw up the burger I had inhaled on the way here.

“Claire is Chase’s soon to be fiancé,” his dad said, smiling proudly, and I tried not to notice how he was looking at me whenhe said it. I would hope that was only a coincidence. He couldn’t possibly know what was going on.

“Fiancé?” Ash said, nearly spitting out her drink, her shock mimicking mine.

He had a fiancé, or at the very least, his dad thought he did.

“I swear to god if you keep telling people we are going to be engaged I’ll —” Now I was really going to be sick. I couldn’t even look at him, but I could hear the disgust in his tone.

“You’ll what, Chase? Embarrass me in front of everyone like you are threatening to do now?”

I finally looked up and was surprised that Chase’s eyes were on me. The calm, hollow look was still there, as though what his dad had just said didn’t even faze him.

“Excuse us,” I said, grabbing onto Ash, and immediately pulling her away.

“Scout, wait,” Chase said. I thought he would catch up to us, but when I looked back, his dad had his bad arm in his hand, holding him in place. If it was anyone else, I might start threatening them to let him go, but this wasn’t my fight.

If he wanted to let his dad stop him, he could.

We made it to the table someone had directed us to, and we were swarmed right away. Two guys sitting down on either side of us.

Ash smiled with that fake smile she had mastered. “Can we help you?”

“Only wanted to see if you two cared for company.”

“No, thanks we —” Ash started, but I cut her off.

“Yes, actually, we do.”

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