Page 71 of I Hate You More

Tessa: Maybe you should just kiss Chase now and get the plan over and done with. If things are already that bad it couldn’t hurt…

I almost dropped my phone as I read her message, and my fingers practically flew across the keyboard as I replied.

Me: I’m not kissing him in front of all of these people!

Tessa: It was worth a try.

Me: Please just save me?

Tessa: Can’t. I have my own awkward family dinner to get through. I’ll call you after.

Me: k

I slowly put my phone away, not quite ready to return my attention to dinner. Looking up at the rest of the table, I saw nothing had changed during my brief texting reprieve. Fake smiles did nothing to cover the tension in the room. It felt as though we were all seated on chairs covered in nails—you couldn’t afford to relax into your seat, so we all sat rigidly waiting for the torture to finally be over.

“We should probably get going, honey,” Mrs. Williams eventually said to her husband. “We have an early flight tomorrow.”

Chase’s fork clattered down against his plate. “You’re not staying the weekend?” His eyes narrowed as he looked between his parents.

“We were planning to,” Mrs. Williams replied, her voice turning sickly sweet as she tried to placate her son. “But, unfortunately, something came up at work this afternoon that your father and I have to deal with. It can’t wait until Monday.”

Chase scoffed and shook his head. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“Watch your tone,” Mr. Williams snapped. “You know how important our new project is.”

“Yes, I’m well aware. It certainly trumps your son, that’s for sure.”

“Please don’t speak to your father like that,” Mrs. Williams pleaded.

Chase stood from his chair, fists clenched at his sides. “I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to have an active involvement in your kid’s life to warrant the termfather.Good luck with your project. I’ll see you both in a month, if you bother to show.”

He turned and walked from the room without a backward glance. An uncomfortable silence settled over the table, and no one seemed able to look each other in the eyes.

“I, er, should probably go check on him,” Shane suggested.

I surprised myself by jumping up first. “No, you stay and finish your dinner. I can do it.” I didn’t wait for Shane’s reply before I took off after Chase. I couldn’t get away from the table fast enough, and I really didn’t want to stick around for any awkward goodbyes.

I no longer felt annoyed with Chase for being such a jerk to me before dinner. He was only acting out because being around his dad was clearly so difficult for him. It didn’t really excuse his behavior, but I understood why he was upset and emotional.

As I climbed the stairs to my room, I found Chase sitting at the top of the steps, his head cradled in his hands. I approached him slowly and eased myself onto the step at his side.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” Chase murmured to me. “And I’m sorry about before dinner.” His hands dropped as he looked up at me, and my heart broke when I saw the pain in his eyes. His expression was so vulnerable, and I saw how much he was hurting.

“My dad and I…” He sucked in a breath and shook his head as if he’d reconsidered what he was going to say. “He brings out the worst in me,” he finished.

“He doesn’t seem like the easiest guy to get along with.”

“Especially not when you’re his son.”

It was hard to see Chase’s pain, and it made me especially grateful for my own father. Dad wasn’t always around, and he could sometimes be quite strict, but I never questioned his love for me. I never doubted he would drop everything in a heartbeat if I ever needed him.

“I’m sorry your parents aren’t staying for the weekend.”

Chase shrugged. “It’s not like I really want to spend time with them,” he said. “It would just be nice if they put me first for once.”

He leaned back and stared up at the ceiling for what felt like several minutes. I didn’t know what to say that could make him feel better. Eventually, he looked back down at me and gave me a tired smile.

“I think I’m going to head to bed,” he said. “But are we still on for our hang out tomorrow?”

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