Page 47 of Chase

Fuck.

Luckily, Layla didn’t see her at the club. She was having another fucking fit, trying to use her job as a way to manipulate me. I could care less anymore. Her hold on me is over.

Nothing matters anymore, except my Layla.

Chapter Twenty

Kade drove me to the University the next day. Chase didn’t come home, and I had no idea where he was. I didn’t ask Kade or James either, although I was dying to know. Kade walked me to my class.

“Meet me by my car when you’re done.”

“Okay, thanks for the ride.” He kisses my head and leaves. I could have driven myself but Kade insisted, because he was coming here anyway. However I have a feeling Chase told him to keep an eye on me.

Class dragged on, and I couldn’t stop thinking about Chase. Afterwards I was walking and texting Nikki at the same time, when I came face first with a wall. Or what felt like a wall, it was actually a hard bodied male. I almost go flying but he steadies me. I look into brown eyes and apologize. I do a double take when I recognize Derek, James and Kade’s friend.

“Layla, right?”

“Derek, hi! How are you, I haven’t seen you since my first night in the house.”

“Yeah, I was there at the party last weekend, but the boys told me you were out of town.” He looks like he was disappointed by that news.

“Well I kind of made an appearance last minute, I had no idea they were going to throw a party.”

Derek chuckles, “The Steele boys always throw parties, so you better get used to it.”

Steele? Oh yeah, James and Kade have a different father to Chase. Kade and James Steele, hot name!

“So are you dating anyone right now?” He asks me confidently. Oh wow. I had no idea he was interested.

“Well, not exactly. It’s complicated; I’m not really interested in dating anyone right now.” It’s the truth. This thing with Chase has me consumed. “I could seriously use a friend though, if you want the position?”

Derek gives me a full blown smile, he’s a handsome guy. “I’ll take any position you offer me.”

I laugh. “No, but seriously. I can do friends. Come on, I’ll walk to you your next class.”

The rest of the day is uneventful, and I walk to Kade’s car and wait for him:

L: I’m ready when you are.

K: On my way.

He arrives a few minutes later. “How was your day?” he asks.

“It was good. I ran into your friend Derek.”

Kade raises his eyebrow and mutters “I bet he loved that.”

“We are officially friends. Trust me; I could use all of those I can get.”

“I was told to keep an eye on you, and you come back, best friends with the campus playboy. Chase is going to love this,” he grumbles.

“Chase and I are over, so Chase doesn’t have to love anything,” I say tonelessly.

Kade sighs, and tenses his hands on the steering wheel. I quickly change the subject.

“Hey! Derek is your friend. Besides, I thought you or James would have the title of campus playboy.”

Kade laughs, “Well, we are friends with him for a reason,” he glances at me and waggles his eyebrows, “Similar interests and what not.”

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