Page 52 of Chase

“Layla, you didn’t tell me you had a lunch date.” The words lunch date are sneered. His eyes are still on Derek’s. “Derek, I thought you had more common sense than to fuck with me, but I guess not.” Derek looks calm, but I can see his throat move as he swallows nervously.

“I’m not on a date, Chase, I’m just having lunch with my friend.”

He finally looks my way. “Friend? Are you honestly that naive to think he wants friendship? For fuck sake Layla..”

I cut off his rant mid-sentence. “I enjoyed lunch Derek, I’ll text you later.”

“The fuck you will,” Chase mutters as he stares daggers at Derek. Chase pulls out his wallet and leaves enough money for both our meals and a heavy tip. His eyes dare Derek to object. This is his way of taking control of this situation, of making a claim, in his own Neanderthal way. No other man is going to take care of me, his gesture says. Which is stupid, because I was going to actually pay for my own damn meal.

“Drive home with me; I’ll get someone to drop off your car.” He demands.

“Seriously what is the point in that? I’ll just follow you home, no need to inconvenience your minions.”

“I pay them to inconvenience them, now get in my car, Layla.”

“No I’m not going to be..”

“Layla, please.”

That one word spoken from him, and I feel myself soften. I get into his car without any more tantrums.

“Did you track my phone?”

He ignores me. “I suggest you never see Derek again, or he’s going to regret it.”

“Are you seriously threatening one of the very few friends I have? What the hell Chase!”

“He doesn’t want to be your fucking friend, Layla. He wants what’s mine. But he’s not gonna get it.” He slams his hand down on his steering wheel.

“We are just friends.”

“Men and women can’t be just friends, Layla, especially with a woman like you.”

“What about you and Aubrey? You two are supposedly ‘just friends.’

Chase glances at me and then his eyes open wide in realisation. “That is what this is about.” He looks like he had an epiphany.

“No, it’s not! Yes, I am pointing out the double standard, but I like Derek, as a friend. He’s a nice guy Chase.”

“He’s a fucking man whore!”

“Coming from you, that’s rich! It sounded like he looks up to you, because you’re the biggest womanizer of all!”

“What did that little shit say to you? I think I’m gonna pay him a visit, teach his ass a lesson!” he growls every word.

“You will not. He didn’t say anything. He just didn’t believe when I said I was seeing you.”

“Yeah, well. I don’t really date.”

“You dated Aubrey for a year!” I exclaim.

“Aubrey and I had a different sort of relationship. We were nothing like how I and you are, and stop bringing her up in every conversation. She doesn’t mean anything to me.”

“You mean, nothing like how we were.” He makes a grunted noise, and I look over and his knuckles have turned white. “What does that even mean? A different sort of relationship? I’d like a real answer for once, Chase! I’m getting so tired of your cryptic answers and evasive tactics!”

Chase sighs and runs his hand through his hair in frustration.

“No running, right?” he asks me in a solemn voice.

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