Page 38 of Legal

I believed her, but it was still fucked up. “The red dress? Seriously?” Well, at least everything made sense now.

She giggled. “Yeah, that was a little over-the-top, huh? It was probably good that you didn’t take my advice and change.”

“Right. Because I was really close to doing that.” I rolled my eyes, and she giggled again. After the adrenaline spike I just went through, I was coming down into a state of mellow. “Oh, Perry. What am I supposed to do now?” I said softly. I had to explain to Chase that it wasn’t me who wanted to see him tonight, and that made me feel like an idiot.

“I don’t think it was a coincidence he called today when you weren’t available to shoot him down. I think it was supposed to work this way.”

I raised my eyebrows. “You were meant to impersonate me? Come on, Perry. This isn’t some star-crossed lovers’ fate crap.”

She shrugged just as two tall bodies approached from either side. Chase on our right and Stephen on our left. Perfect.

We bolted up to a sitting position, and Chase smiled. “Hey,” he said.

“Hi.” I flicked over to Stephen. His jaw was set as he fired off glances to Chase. I couldn’t tell if he recognized him from the game or was just suspicious.

“Chase, this is my brother, Stephen. Stephen, this is Chase… uh, a friend of mine. And of course, you already know Perry.”

They shook hands, and Perry whispered in my ear, “I’ll take care of him.”

She jumped up and wrapped her arms around Stephen, hauling him away. Chase sat down beside me on the blanket, and I scooted over. Dulled senses were no protection; my body was already zinging to life. Hmm…. What shade were those irises today?

“You looked like you had a ‘deer in headlights’ moment when you saw me here.”

“Yeah, about that…” I told him about the mix-up but refrained from mentioning the ‘never seeing him again’ part. When he was next to me, my steadfastness wavered. Everything conflicted inside, seizing logic by the throat. What I wanted and what I should want was never more at odds.

In short, I was a mess.

“So, how would you have responded to me?”

“I don’t know.” That was the honest truth. I could make determinations before the fact, but would I have ended up caving? I didn’t know. “Where’s your roommates, ah… Trevor and…?” I couldn’t remember their names. I’d been a little distracted when Chase had mentioned it.

“Trevor and Connor. They’re in the beer tent. Look, Jillian. I can go; it’s no problem. I’m not here to fuck up your plans.”

I glanced around. Where were Tony and Val? I hoped they hadn’t left without saying goodbye, but if so, I didn’t blame them. They probably didn’t want to get in the middle of my drama session.

“No, don’t go,” I said. “I mean, if you have to get back to your friends, that’s one thing, but don’t make me be the reason you leave.”

I meant it too. I wanted him there on that blanket with me. Maybe Perry’s devious lowered inhibitions plan was working, but whatever. It felt good right now, and to all the passersby, there wouldn’t be anything usual about us sitting there in the middle of a festival waiting for the fireworks to start.

“All right,” he said.

We sat in silence, and it wasn’t awkward. He sipped beer from his plastic cup, and I watched all the kids running around making designs in the air with their sparklers.

Chase leaned over just a tad, but enough to send a fresh blast through me. Dynamic green. That’s the color I’d chosen for him today. “They’re going to have karaoke soon.” I nodded. They had it every year; a big hit with the kids and the wasted. “Do a duet with me.”

“What?” I turned and stared at him. The gold was hiding in there somewhere. “You sing too?”

“Not one of my strengths but no one would be paying any attention to me anyway.”

“I’ll pass.” Talk about bringing attention to ourselves.

“Then a private show it is.”

My heart somersaulted, and I was about to ask him what he meant by that when Perry waltzed over. She stuck out her bottom lip. “Stephen just got summoned. He’s on the phone now. Another stupid fucking work problem. And on a holiday too. Fucking slave drivers.”

“Well, technically it’s not a holiday, but it still sucks. I’m sorry,” I said. “Hopefully, it’ll get wrapped up soon.”

“No, that’s the problem. He has to go back home and log on. I’m just coming over to let you know. I’m going with him.”

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