Page 27 of Giving Chase

For a moment, I let myself imagine closing the distance between us, consequences be damned. The air feels charged, electric. Chase leans in, just slightly, and I find myself swaying towards him.

"Hey, Chase! We need you to sign off on these tour dates!"

Mark's voice shatters the moment. Chase steps back, clearing his throat. "I should go," he says, regret clear in his voice. "But Eliza... can we talk? Later? There's so much I need to say."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. As he walks away, I let out a shaky breath. What just happened?

Later, alone in my office, I try to make sense of it all. The divorce, Chase's marriage and impending annulment, the undeniable pull between us that still exists. I know I need to be professional, to keep things strictly business. But a small, traitorous part of me whispers: what if this is our chance?

As I start drafting an email about the upcoming tour, I make a decision. I'll keep things professional, for now. I'll be the manager they need me to be. But I'll also listen to what Chase has to say. Because if there's one thing I've learned, it's that when it comes to Chase Avery, my heart can't be trusted to make the right choice.

But maybe, just maybe, this time it's not about making the right choice. Maybe it's about taking a risk on the only choice that's ever felt truly right.

Chains (The Tower)

CHASE

The leather couchcreaks as I shift uncomfortably, my fingers drumming an erratic beat on my knee. Dr. Hendricks watches me with that patient, knowing look I've come to both appreciate and dread over the past five years.

"So, Chase," he begins, his voice calm and steady, "how did the rehearsal go?"

I shrug, aiming for nonchalance and probably missing by a mile. "Fine. Good. The guys are in top form. We're gonna kill it at the ceremony."

Dr. Hendricks nods, but I can tell he's not buying my act. "And Eliza? How was it seeing her again?"

The question hits me like a sucker punch, even though I knew it was coming. I've been dreading it since I walked in here.

"It was... fine," I manage, wincing at how unconvincing I sound.

"Chase," Dr. Hendricks says gently, "we've talked about this. Honesty, remember? Even when it's difficult. Especially when it's difficult."

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Okay, fine. It was... intense. Seeing her there, hearing us playWhispered Truths... It brought up a lot of stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

I close my eyes, remembering the way Eliza looked as we played. The emotions that flickered across her face, the way her eyes never left mine during the chorus.

"Everything," I admit quietly. "All the feelings I thought I'd dealt with. All the regrets, the what-ifs. It's like... it's like no time has passed at all."

Dr. Hendricks leans forward slightly. "Chase, have you considered that perhaps these feelings were never truly dormant?"

The question catches me off guard, but as I think about it, I realize he's right. "I guess... I guess they've always been there, just under the surface. I've just gotten good at ignoring them."

"And now?"

"Now?" I laugh, but there's no humor in it. "Now I don't know if I can ignore them anymore. But I'm scared, doc. What if... what if feeling this way puts my sobriety at risk?"

Dr. Hendricks considers this for a moment. "Chase, recovery isn't about not feeling. It's about learning to feel without turning to destructive behaviors. But let's talk about why these feelings scare you so much."

I swallow hard, knowing where this is going. "Because of what I did. How I hurt her."

"Can you tell me about that? About the last time you saw Eliza before rehab?"

My chest tightens at the thought. "Do we have to go there?"

"I think we do," Dr. Hendricks says gently. "Sometimes we need to confront our past to move forward."

I take a deep breath, forcing myself back to that day. The memories come flooding back, vivid and painful.

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