Page 53 of Lyrical

I sighed. “No, I guess not. I’m jittery about it, though.” Stephen took Daniel out the night before to this corner bar. It appeared that Perry’s plan worked because he opened up about something, but Perry wanted us to get together to discuss it. I was a little relieved that she was making me wait because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear it or not.

I perked up. Maybe it was positive. Maybe Cassie wasn’t strapped to him this weekend at all. Maybe she was gone for good.

I bolted off his lap. “Okay, I’m ready.”

“That was a quick turnaround.”

“Because I just realized it could be something I really want to hear. And going over there will work to our advantage. It’ll be easier to leave whenever we want instead of kicking them out. The sooner we go, the sooner we’ll be home doing whatever you want to do.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Whatever?”

God, I was horny. Hornier than usual. Just knowing that I had him all to myself for the next couple days revved me up hard. It took a lot of restraint not to hop back on top of him.

“Come on, let’s go.” I pulled him off the couch, and he encased me in his arms.Throb, throb.“You’re not helping, Chase.”

His lips touched mine for a brief second. “I only wanted to tell you I love you.”

“You can show me how much later.”

He laughed, letting me drag him into the kitchen so I could grab the cupcakes I’d picked up for Perry. As an afterthought, I stuffed the bottle of Lunacy Sauce into the bag as well. “We might need it.”

We took his car, and just when I was about to reach over and give him a hand job, he said, “How do you feel about me spending more time with Daniel, getting to know each other better?”

“I’d love it.” It made me a little nervous; I didn’t want anything to go wrong, but I still loved the idea. “But good luck. I’ve been wanting to spend more time with him too, but he’s been…occupied.”

Ugh. I was surprised he was able to break free to meet up with Stephen for a few hours without her. My stomach flipped. I wasn’t feeling so chipper anymore. Maybe he confided in Stephen that Cassie was pregnant. Already? Fuck. Damn fucking Chicago hotel rooms.

Chase grabbed my hand, and I looked over at him. He didn’t say anything, just stroked it with his thumb. His touch still riled me up, but my inner horny teenager now had a protective mom to contend with. Those were usually battles that left no victors.

Perry was waiting at the door when we pulled up to the curb. She waved through the glass, motioning for us to hurry up. I tried to read her expression, but all I was getting was regular, hyper Perry.

She swung the door open when we were halfway to the stoop. “Ohmigod, what took you guys so long?”

“We’re not late.”

“It still took too long.” She glanced down at my hand. “Are those for me?”

I handed her the cupcakes frosted in a thick layer of pink gunk. “Seriously?”

“Oooh. I’m starving.” She popped one out and took a big bite. “Hi, Chase,” she garbled.

We kicked off our shoes and hung up our coats in the mudroom, then followed her into the front room. “I know you’d rather do dinner over by me.” Perry felt the place was too cramped for preparing the food she didn’t like to make anyway. Stephen had lived in the small house by himself before Perry moved in. He could’ve afforded much bigger, but he liked simple.

She shrugged. “It’s fine once in a while. Since we’re more in the city, there’s not all that rabid wildlife to deal with.”

“The turkeys weren’t attacking you, Perry. They were flying into the trees. That’s where they sleep at night.”

“You weren’t out there with me. It was fucking freaky, Jills.”

And this was the same woman who planned to get married on a farm. “Stephen out back?”

“Yes, he’s grilling up some steaks.” She stopped and turned around, hands on hips. “You haven’t even asked me about Daniel yet. Aren’t you the teensiest bit curious?”

“Yes and no.”

“Well, I can tell you right now. It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“How do you know what I’m thinking?”

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