Page 81 of Legal

I flipped through, those warm fuzzies flooding me again. Chase with a baseball mitt, riding his bike, holding a lamb at the petting zoo. “His first guitar?” My heart squeezed. He was holding a Les Paul Junior.

She nodded. “He was about ten, I think. Our neighbor at the time had a barely used one, and Chase worked for months to buy that thing. Washed cars, did yard work, whatever he could.”

There were more and more shots taken at and around the hospital the further I paged through. “Chase told me you were a patient there sometimes, and he’d sit with you in the room. I hope you’re doing well now?”

Her smile was reassuring. “Oh, yes. I’m doing wonderfully now, but it was touch and go for a while. Did Chase explain why?” I nodded, hoping he hadn’t betrayed her privacy. “I was the sick one, but he’s the one who suffered. I was laid up in that hospital room more than sometimes, Jillian. If I added it up, Chase lost years of his childhood being there with me. It forced him to grow up way too fast, but he never complained. I don’t know what I did right to deserve a child like him, but….”

My heart started pounding again. Her eyes were misting up, and I thought she’d start crying any minute. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I gave her a hug. It must have been the right thing because she came back smiling.

“Don’t mind me,” she said, “I get a little emotional when I think back to those days.”Nice one, Jillian. If I hadn’t looked at that photo album… “Do you know I was advised against having him?” I shook my head. “My heart was too weak. I was told if I went through with the pregnancy and birth, I was basically signing my own death warrant. But I knew it’d work out. I had age on my side. Being a young mother had its advantages. I doubt my body would’ve been strong enough if I’d waited to have a child later in life. My only regret is relapsing so often as he grew.”

“From what I know of Chase, he turned out pretty well regardless. He’s one of the most honest and caring people I know.”

Her grin was wide. “I agree, but thank you kindly for saying so.”

“Ready?”

I whipped my head back to see Chase standing there. I hadn’t heard him come up. He held out his hand, and I took it.

“Ready,” I said.

Did I say I was ready? What a joke. I’d been so relaxed and comfortable at his parents’ house—to my complete surprise—that I’d been coaxed into a feeling of invincibleness again. But after we parked in the structure and stepped out of the car, my chest resumed its manic behavior.

Walking with him hand in hand pushed my limits to the extreme, but I tried my best to keep my anxiety under wraps. Chase deserved that. God, why couldn’t I take whatever he was on? He was much too calm, as if making an entrance with a woman fifteen years his senior was the most normal thing in the world.

We went through the glass doors and into the main lobby of the historic building. The hall was located in a hotel, and I couldn’t even muster up thoughts of sneaking off with him later. My lust was on the back burner; that’s how fired up my nerves were.

“You made it through the visit with my parents. This should be easy, right?” He pumped my hand a few times.

I exhaled long and loud. He was right. I’d been way more worried about that, and it’d turned out great. I could do this.

It wasn’t long before we spotted theWelcome to Perry and Stephen’s Engagement Partysign. “Well, this is it,” I said. Another hand squeeze from him, and we were pushing through the door.

Holy fuck. I felt like I was just drop-kicked by a kangaroo. She came at me full speed and rammed me backward. “Jills!” Perry screeched, squashing me in a giant hug. “You’re early!”

“By just a few minutes.” I glanced around; there weren’t many there yet, and that made Chase and me stand out more. She popped off me like a suction cup, letting me get a good look at her. “Doing a trial run? Wow… You look beyond amazing.” Perry wore a short white tulle dress, the contrast shocking against her inky hair. Instead of resembling a princess on her wedding day, she’d make that princess look like she was beaten with an ugly stick. Perry was going to be the bride who made all others envious. Hell,Iwas envious, and I didn’t even want to get married again.

“Thanks. It was too casual to wear as my wedding dress, but I thought it was perfect to wear for the party.”

“It definitely is.”

Perry set her sights on Chase next, earning me a smirk from her. “I’m giving you a get-out-of-jail-free card for this, Jills. I’m taking back that first strike I gave you. As long as you don’t screw up again, you’re all clear.”

“Um, thanks?” At least she didn’t say, ‘I’m so happy you finally wised up and took my advice to bring Chase out in public because now you two can fall deeply in love and live happily ever after, and by the way, did you do anal yet?’

“Chase,” Perry said, pulling him in for the same hug. “Thanks so much for coming. It means a lot.” She turned him slightly, so she was facing me and whispered, “Heishard.”

“God, Perry. He can hear you, you know. You’re right by his ear.” Chase chuckled, and she felt up his arms and shoulders a few times before letting go.

“Not that Stephen isn’t, of course.”

“Not that Stephen isn’t what?” My brother came up beside us, and I swore I detected a grimace when he noticed Chase, even though he was expecting him. At least I hoped Perry had warned him beforehand.

“Hard.”

“What?” Stephen said.

“You’re hard,” she said loudly.

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