Page 46 of I Hate You More

He seemed surprised at first, but as realization seemed to kick in, he swiftly stepped back, his hands dropping to his sides and clenching into fists. I took a step back of my own, cursing the way my body protested at the move.

It was like Chase’s hands had branded a hot mark against my skin. It tingled despite the absence of his touch, and a strange new feeling began to rise up in me—an unexpected longing for the feel of his touch to return.

I folded my arms over my chest and dug my fingernails into my arms in an attempt to wake myself up from whatever spell Chase had cast over me. My heart continued racing, and my skin still prickled at the memory of his touch. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Sure, Chase was standing there without a shirt on and looking incredibly hot, but it wasn’t the first time I’d seen him like this, and I certainly hadn’t reacted this way before.

Normally, my heart quivered in apprehension when he was near, but right now, it was fluttering with a different kind of nervousness. I really wished my body wasn’t urging me toward him again.

“Why aren’t you outside with your friends?” Chase asked. His voice held a hint of accusation in it, like I’d done something wrong by being inside. As his gaze flicked down to look at the skimpy bikini I was wearing, his expression only hardened.

He definitely wasn’t impressed with what I was wearing, and I felt a sense of defeat. I should have known there was no way he’d find me appealing, even in such a skimpy bikini, and I definitely wasn’t about to tell him that I’d come upstairs to change out of it.

“Why aren’t you?” I replied.

“I knew you were out there,” he said. “I figured it was better for both of us if I stayed away.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what I said,” he replied.

I guessed our confrontation the other night was why he wanted to avoid me. He was probably still pissed that I’d accused him of something he didn’t do. I didn’t know how to tell him that I knew the truth though, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear the reasons behind why he’d fought Declan. It was best if I just pretended neither of those things ever happened.

I glanced down at his attire and grew confused. “You don’t look like you intend to stay away. You’re in your board shorts…”

A flash of some unknown emotion crossed his eyes before his expression hardened once more. “I changed my mind,” he replied, stiffly.

“Because?”

He pushed a hand through his hair and let out an irritated breath. “Because I live here too. I could see everyone swimming from my window and it looked like fun. I’m not going to hide in my room just to avoid you.”

His words were surprisingly sharp and seemed to cut right through me. For some reason I didn’t like hearing him admit he wanted to avoid me. He must have noticed the hurt in my expression because he quickly kept talking.

“Damn it, Ally, I’m not trying to upset you. I just know you don’t believe me about the posters and that you don’t want to be anywhere near me.”

I started to frown as I looked into his eyes. They were surprisingly sincere and I got the feeling that he was honestly trying to do the right thing by me. It was really considerate, but also slightly concerning as my plan was never going to work if I let him avoid me at all costs. I was going to have to fix this or things between us would remain as frosty as ever.

“I believe you about the posters,” I murmured.

Chase stilled as he looked at me, confusion swirling in his gaze. “You believe me?”

I nodded. “Yes, and I’m sorry for assuming the worst of you.”

His eyes looked like they were about to burst right out of his head. “You’resorry…”

I nodded. “Declan admitted the truth, so I know it wasn’t you. I know I messed up, and you don’t have to avoid me over it.”

“You’re really apologizing?”

Was it really so hard to believe? It was like I’d spoken my apology in another language, and he couldn’t seem to understand it.

“Can you please not make a big deal out of this? It has been known to happen,” I replied. “I should probably also thank you for putting Declan in his place over it.”

“I didn’t fight him for you,” Chase replied stiffly. That was one thing I still wasn’t sure I believed. The kids at school couldn’t stop gossiping about how Chase had pushed Declan up against a wall and demanded he apologize to me. Declan had responded by refusing and trying to fight back. It didn’t sound like it had been much of a fight, but I’d seen the bruise on Declan’s face and had experienced his apology first hand.

“Well, thank you anyway,” I said, with a slight frown. I guessed it didn’t matter what motivated Chase’s actions because it had still resulted in Declan receiving a small taste of what he deserved.

Chase let out a heavy breath and nodded, though he looked even more uncomfortable with my thanks than my apology. “I should probably get outside. Shane will be wondering where I am.”

“Oh, of course.” I quickly stepped aside so he could move past me. Chase stared into my eyes for several long seconds before he finally tore his gaze away and started down the corridor. Once he began moving it was like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough. I stood there staring after him for a long time, confusion churning in my gut.

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