Page 86 of Master of My Heart

Chase.

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Chase knocked on Jayson’s door, feeling more nervous than he had before his first day at West Point. He ran his hands over his newly cut hair. His heart pounded as he waited for someone to answer. Would it be Sabrina?

He winced as he shifted on his feet. The trip had finally caught up with him and his foot was on fire. He was exhausted and ached all over. But he wanted to see Sabrina. He had to see her. That was more important than any pain in his body.

After what felt like an eternity, the door opened. Chase’s shoulders slumped a little when he saw Jayson standing there.

“Gee, thanks,” Jayson said with a grin, obviously seeing his face fall. “I’ve never seen you so disappointed to see me.”

That got a chuckle out of Chase, lightening his mood. “I was hoping—”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know.” Jayson stepped back, opening the door wider. “She’s, uh, in her room.”

Chase stepped inside and glanced at the closed door to what used to be the spare bedroom. He’d slept in there plenty of times, too drunk to drive home. And now Sabrina had slept in that same bed for weeks.

Jayson walked farther into the apartment. “C’mon into the living room. She’ll come out in a few. Probably.”

Chase stared at the bedroom door as he made his way through the apartment, limping slightly, and into the small living room. This was his second home. Jayson had lived here for almost five years and they had a lot of fun in this place.

“Wanna beer?” Jayson asked, opening the fridge.

Chase started to answer yes, then changed his mind. “Not yet.” He wanted to be thinking clearly when he saw Sabrina for the first time.

“You sure? You look a little nervous.”

Chase glared at his friend, who laughed.

“You are nervous!” Jayson grabbed a beer and walked back into the living room, dropping onto the couch as he opened it up. “That doesn’t happen very often.”

Chase grunted. “Did you tell her I was coming?” he asked, changing the subject.

Jayson shook his head. “No. I wasn’t sure how she’d react, but I saw a text from Aiden telling her a car would be here to pick her up soon. I asked why she was going out with him. She got mad at me, but that seems to be the only time I can get an honest answer out of her. She keeps everything inside.” He took a swig of his beer. “She doesn’t look happy about going out tonight. Maybe you can change her mind.”

Chase wondered why she would be going out with someone and not be happy about it. Movement across the room caught his attention before he could ask Jayson more about it. Looking up, all normal thought disappeared. His heart thundered in his chest when he saw a young woman standing near the kitchen counter, appearing to have stopped mid-stride.

She wore a short, sleeveless, black fitted dress that showed off her slender figure and strong legs, her feet bare. Her dark hair fell in waves around her shoulders and down her chest. Her lips were parted, her beautiful green eyes wide.

Sabrina.

Five years had passed, but there was no doubt in his mind. He felt like he was back at that summer dance festival, completely smitten by the girl across the stage.

But she was no longer a girl. She was all grown up and as beautiful as he’d expected. He did a quick mental calculation, figuring she was twenty-one now. But there was something different. Something that hadn’t been there before. When he’d spent time with her on the yacht, she’d been so young and carefree. So full of hopes and dreams. This woman trembling in front of him was a completely different person. The terror in her eyes made his heart ache, though if it were of him or something else, he couldn’t tell. Her cheerful spirit had been ripped away and was replaced with fear and sadness.

“Sabrina,” he whispered, his throat tight. When he stood, she flinched. He clenched and unclenched his hands, uncertain of what to do. She looked absolutely petrified.

He stepped around the coffee table. Her eyes widened even more and she stepped backward. He froze and watched her, wishing he could somehow calm the terror she clearly felt. Chase knew he could be intimidating when he wanted to, but he certainly didn’t want to now.

She clasped her hands together, which shook terribly. She glanced at Jayson, then back at him. “I-I can’t,” she squeaked and sprinted back to her room.

Chase’s heart fell. He turned back to Jayson. “What did I do?”

His friend looked bewildered. “I don’t know. I really thought seeing you would... That she’d at least give you a chance.” He looked thoughtful. “Let me go talk to her. Hang on.”

He watched Jayson disappear into Sabrina’s room. Chase rubbed his face. He felt the rough line of skin from his temple to mid-cheek and flinched. Had his scar scared her away? He rarely thought about it anymore, which he thought was a good thing. But maybe she found it repulsive.

He started to sit back down, then changed his mind and crept toward Sabrina’s room. The door was open slightly and he could hear Jayson talking.

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