Page 17 of Just A Little Chase

Lauren meant what she’d said when she’d told Chase “We’ll see”. She had a few tricks up her sleeve that she hoped he wouldn’t be able to resist.

With any further discussion about Chase’s past clearly off the table, she’d still managed to discover interesting things about him during those chats, like him admitting that he was a history buff who was fascinated by the past Civil and World Wars and the Vietnam conflict, and other periods in history. She was secretly happy to learn that tidbit, since her gramps served in the Vietnam War and the two men would have something to bond over.

She’d also learned that she and Chase had a lot more in common than she ever would have imagined. They both loved to watch psychological thrillers and crime shows and true-life documentaries, along with listening to classic rock music, and they also enjoyed attending cultural events in the city.

He’d told her that he’d taken Billie to the Museum Mile Festival a few months back, and while he didn’t love Broadway shows because he got too antsy sitting in those small, crowded seats, he’d sucked up his discomfort because he knew how much his sister adored the whole theater experience. It was something Billie had never done until Chase had taken her to see Wicked, and now, according to him, she was obsessed with New York’s theatrical performances.

After sharing the endearing story with Lauren, he’d laughed and told her that his sister’s fixation with Broadway made gift giving for Billie very easy.

Lauren still didn’t know the whole backstory between Chase and Billie, but she’d gotten the impression that he was a dedicated big brother and that he enjoyed spoiling his half-sister with all the things she’d missed out on because of her time spent in foster care. It was just another side to Chase that revealed how kind and selfless he truly was when it came to someone he cared about.

About ten miles outside of Fairview, Lauren realized there was one important thing they hadn’t yet discussed, and would undoubtedly come up at some point.

“We need to agree on a story about how we met, because I know someone is going to ask,” she said, glancing over to the driver’s side and taking in Chase’s gorgeous profile. Actually, she was shocked that her mother hadn’t already posed the question, but Lauren wanted to be prepared and make sure their stories matched. “It needs to be something ordinary, because typically I’d never be orbiting in your world.”

He cast a glance her way, and though he was wearing sunglasses, she could see the downward cast of his brows. “Why do you say that?”

“Let’s just say that I doubt your life, and my life, would have intersected under normal circumstances,” she said, trying to be polite about what she was inferring.

“I don’t know,” he said, absently tapping his thumb against the steering wheel. “You work at the Meridian with wealthy clients.”

She shook her head and gave a small laugh. “Not quite the same, because at the end of the workday I’m a simple girl who lives in Briarwood, just outside of Queens, and you have an apartment in the Flatiron District in Manhattan. I drive an older, used Ford Taurus and you own an Audi. After paying rent, groceries, bills, etcetera, I barely have enough money left over at the end of the month to pad my savings account while I’m sure the word ‘budget’ isn’t even a part of your vocabulary.”

He was quiet for a moment before speaking. “What you see with me is honestly more of an expectation because of my position as a partner at the investment firm. It puts clients at ease knowing I’m entrenched in their world, but I wasn’t always this wealthy,” he said, confirming what she’d already suspected as he kept his focus on the two-lane road leading into her small town. “I grew up in Bay Ridge in Brooklyn. I had to pay my own way through college and racked up more debt than a young twenty-something kid should have to worry about. I ate my fair share of ramen while living in a shithole of an apartment with three other guys when I was looking for work after graduating. And just for the record, I like that you don’t run in what is perceived as my social circles.”

She stared at him in surprise, not sure what to make of that. “Why?” she asked, needing more clarification.

He glanced in her direction, and even though his eyes were shielded, she could feel the sudden intensity of his gaze. “I like that you’re down-to-earth and unpretentious and real… because it makes it easy for me to just be myself around you.”

Holy shit. The statement was so profound, so revealing of who Chase really was, that she didn’t know what to say in response.

He returned his attention to the road in front of them. “So, how about we go with something simple as far as how we met, like we were introduced by a mutual friend or acquaintance, which is partially true.”

She had no idea who he was referring to. “Like whom?”

He grinned at her, and that relaxed and easy gesture made butterflies swirl in her stomach. “We both have Billie in common, and considering she really is the reason why we’re in this together, let’s go with that.”

It made sense. She knew Billie because of the connection to Future Fast Track, and Billie was Chase’s sibling. She could have easily introduced the two of them at some point. “Okay, that works.”

The navigation system in Chase’s car directed him to make a right at the next light, indicating that they were only minutes away from her parents’ house. She’d promised her mother that she’d go to their place first so they could meet Chase and they’d stay for dinner, before they headed to their room at the bed-and-breakfast in town.

Chase cleared his throat, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel. “By the way, are your sister and Greg going to be at your parents’ tonight for dinner, too?”

“No,” she said, absently smoothing a hand down the skirt of the casual dress she’d worn. “My mom said that Ashley and her bridesmaids are at the wedding venue, doing some last-minute decorating for the ceremony and reception tomorrow evening.” Honestly, even if that was just an excuse, Lauren was grateful and relieved, because she selfishly wanted tonight to be stress-free with Chase. Or as much as it could be, considering she knew her family would undoubtedly grill him with questions. “You’ll meet them at the wedding tomorrow night.”

They drove down a tree-lined street, and then they finally arrived at the house she’d grown up in, with a light blue exterior and a wraparound porch complete with a swing. Pansies, violas, and asters bloomed around the structure and a brick-inlaid walkway led up to the front steps.

As much as Lauren loved living in the city, she couldn’t deny the nostalgia she experienced whenever she visited home.

Just as Chase parked the car at the curb and turned off the engine, her mother came out of the house, wearing the floral-patterned apron that Lauren had bought her for Christmas since she’d probably been preparing dinner. Her mom was followed by Lauren’s dad, then Gramps, and she knew the welcome committee wasn’t for her, but for the “new man in her life” they all were eager to meet.

“Looks like it’s showtime,” she said, glancing at Chase with a grin. “Are you ready?”

He took off his sunglasses and tucked them into the middle console, his own smile more reserved. “Ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.”

* * *

Chase secretly loved watching the enthusiastic way Lauren greeted her parents. How she ran up the walkway with abandon, hair flying out behind her and squealing in excitement as she embraced them all in a hug, while he made his way to the house at a more leisurely pace, to give her family time to welcome Lauren back home. The trio looked just as happy to see her, too, and it was hard not to envy their close-knit relationship.

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