Page 108 of Love Collided

Her eyebrows jumped up, but she didn’t say a word as they sat down next to us.

They quickly introduced themselves, Justin and Josh. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to keep that straight, but I didn’t think it mattered.

Justin sat by me, throwing an arm over the back of my chair. His fingers hovering near my shoulder.

They started talking about who was who, and Ash joined in. She was always pleasant in conversation no matter what was happening. Years of dealing with these types of events drilling it into her. I didn’t know how she did it because I was ready to stomp out of here.

I wanted to turn around and look for Chase, but I wouldn’t do that. If he didn’t want to come find me and stay with his fiancé instead, then we had nothing to talk about.

Another minute went by and I realized Justin’s hand had moved closer to my shoulder. I went to move forward, but froze as a head came down between Justin and I.

“If you don’t take your hand off her chair, Justin, I’m going to break it.”

Justin laughed, but didn’t move. “Hey man, where have you been?”

“I’m pretty sure he was with his fiancé,” I said, leaning back again.

“Oh yeah, Claire is here?”

I only sneered, so it was common enough knowledge that they were engaged somehow that even this guy knew about it.

“I think you thought I was kidding, but I’m not.” Chase grabbed Justin’s arm, pulling it back until he ripped it away.

“Ouch, what the fuck?”

“Don’t fucking touch her again.”

“Go away Chase. You don’t need to be over here bothering us when you have a fiancé to attend to.”

Justin shook his head. “She’s right. You can’t have a fiancé and take the other single hot girl here.”

“I don’t have a fiancé and she isn’t single. Come on, Scout. I need to talk to you.”

Ash’s eyebrows jumped up and a smile spread across her face.

“Don’t you dare say one word,” I said, pointing at her.

“Oh babe, I don’t need to say anything. I will be here enjoying every second of this, though.”

“Scout, come with me.”

“No.”

“You don’t have a choice right this second and if you don’t get up right now, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and walk you out of here like that in front of everyone.”

I stared at Ash and she laughed more. “He will do it, Scout.”

“Fine,” I said, standing up so fast that the chair knocked into him. “You get five minutes.”

He grabbed my waist, pulling me against his side, and holding onto me as though I might bolt. I tried not to look up, but failed. Everything about him wasn't him. The dull lifelessness in his eyes, the weirdly perfect posture, the cold tone. I hated it.

We rounded the corner, making it into a side room before he slammed the door shut, falling against it with a hard, deep breath.

This was the Chase I didn’t like, the one that I met the night of the races.

This wasn’t my Chase, and a lump formed in my throat when I realized he may never bemyChase again.

THIRTY

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