Page 19 of Chase
His fist lands hard and pain bursts through the side of my face. I feel myself going down but can’t stop the fall.I’d fight the world for you, Sloane.The last thing I see is the floor I was desperately trying to find before when I was downing tequila.
Chapter Six
IDROVElike a bat out of hell away from Jock Row and raced back to my apartment to quickly change before the party. We had agreed on a target delivery, and then Davis insisted that he wanted his things right this minute. Same-day pick-up threw a monkey wrench into my original plans and I dug my nails into my palms for the entire drive over to the store while he blasted Morgan Wallen.
We ran outta my allotted time that I squared away for him, and I missed out on getting ready with Evie for tonight’s party. When I texted her that I was going to be late, she opted to get ready at Max’s instead. She didn’t seem mad but I am just the same. I hate being late to things. I hate when I screw up like this. But most of all, I hate that I’m missing out on getting ready with her.
Truth be told, I also needed a bit of a breather from Davis and now I won’t have much downtime before this party. I had a feeling this would happen, that he’d see right through my layers of defense within the first few minutes of us being back together.
I shouldn’t be surprised though, he knows me better than anyone. I don’t want to lie to him but my cutting feels almost too personal to share. It makes me feel guilty considering nothing has ever been off-limits between us.
An hour later I drive back over to Jock Row and the street is already lined with cars. I find a parking spot down by the baseball houses at the beginning of the street and squeeze my car in.
I told Davis I’d text him when I got here, our compromise after he protested about me leaving to go home in the first place, but I need a minute alone before walking into his house and this party.
Even the slightest possibility that I’ll see Chase tonight is enough to make me sweat like it’s the middle of the day during a Georgia summer and the cooler January air feels good on my skin as I exit my car. I know my brother didn’t want me to walk alone, but I need a moment to collect myself.
I texted Evie to let her know I’m headed over but haven’t heard back yet. She’s nervous and excited about tonight. We haven’t been to a party together since last August and it was so unpleasant we haven’t been back to one since.
I pocket my phone and start walking down the street. A group of guys walks down the sidewalk across the street parallel to me. They’re boisterous, laughing, and already drinking cans of beer that they throw into the front yards of various team houses not caring that they are littering and loud.
A man with a medium build, side-slicked blonde hair, and an unsettling look on his face jogs across the street toward me. I quicken my steps and keep facing forward. I have no desire to talk to him and hope he gets the hint. Jock Row is a lot of things but it’s also well lit and packed with people. He’d be a fool to try anything.
“Hey beautiful, where are you headed tonight?” he asks as he puts his arm around my shoulder. His friends don’t miss a beat and start cackling like a bunch of hyenas when I step away out of his reach and his arm falls to his side.
I can feel his anger brewing underneath his narrowing eyes when I turn to look at him. He’s good-looking, put together, and has probably never been rejected. He also smells like he showered in Axe body spray which was once my down fall in high school, and now a major red flag. I notice Greek letters embroidered on his jacket which makes total sense. He looks like a frat guy.Smells like a frat guy.
“To my brother’s house, now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get going. You have yourself a good night,” I tell him and physically step around him when he doesn’t move. He’s widened his stance and has taken up the majority of the sidewalk. I breathe out some nerves and do my best to not show him he’s now making me nervous. My hands are in my pockets and I dig my nails into my palms to calm my breathing which is picking up speed.
“Come on, don’t be like that, it looks like we’re headed in the same direction. Plus I told those idiots over there that I was determined to talk to the red-headed beauty when I saw you walking by yourself,” he says with a smile that shows sparklingwhite straight teeth. He’s got a gleam in his eye that I don’t trust and he’s putting me off with as his hand grips my arm.I should've texted Davis.
“You need to remove your hand and kindly take a step back,” I tell him and his hand harshly squeezes my bicep. I hold his beady stare for a beat and don’t let myself waver.
“Don’t make me look like an ass in front of my brothers, you're far too pretty for me to make you cry, sweetheart,” he says with spit dripping from his chapped and cracked lips.The absolute audacity of this guy.
“Oh come now, is your ego really as fragile as an eggshell? Don’t tell me you're worried about what they think if I turned ya down,” I tell him, while he still has his hand wrapped around my arm.
I’m trying to keep it together while squeezing my fists together in my coat pocket and digging my nails into my palms. It’s doing nothing to calm my nerves. My insides are rioting but I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me upset. He flexes his fingers around my arm and I do my best not to wince at the pain as I try to get out of his hold.
“Fight me, baby, I dare you. I won’t be so gentle next time,” he says with a mouthful of spite as I finally free myself from him. His ears are fire engine red and burning with embarrassment. I lift my chin to him and with a satisfying huff, I spin around and walk as quickly as I can down the rest of the sidewalk taking my chances that he won’t reach for me again. My confidence trails behind me with each step along with the adrenaline rush that now trickles down to droplets.
I felt him watch me while I walked away. It wasn’t the usual warm, welcoming, heart pumping,please come closer, feelings that erupt through me when Chase’s eyes follow me. No, these eyes feel cold, calculated, and spiteful. Hurtful. Threatening.
I send Evie and Davis texts to let them know I’m here. I take a few deep breaths but it’s enough to calm me down. I need a bite of pain to press the reset button. I can’t help but dig my manicured nails back into the palms of my hands to get myself right before I’m sure there are now several sets of little half-moon indents on my skin.
It’s further evidence of my racing thoughts, nervous energy, rising anxiety, and last but not least, my terrible decision to not let my brother know I was here.I should’ve texted him.I glance at my upturned hands and am satisfied with the marks, with the pinpricks of pain all over my skin.
The house is jammed with bodies swaying to music that is loudly blaring. I see backward hats displaying the Havenwood Hockey Devils logo, but none display the number five and I’m immediately disappointed.
I spot Hunter in the middle of a sorority girl sandwich and roll my eyes. Evie’s mentioned he’s been out of control lately. That boy will stick it in anything that moves and as many as he can.
He looks moodier than usual and he slightly smiles when he sees me causing the girls plastered to his side to whine when he diverts the attention they’re greedy for.
I’ve only got a smidge of patience for sorority girls after what happened at UGA. These sisters at Havenwood are no better, and the ones who hang all over Hunter are a bunch of thirsty turtles.They are downright awful and remind me of Lexi.
“Red,” he offers with a lift of his handsome head and I smile back.
“Hunter, nice to see you, sugar,” The broody, tall, dark, and handsome Wilton brother and I became friends last semester and I get more glares than ever before because of it. Now isn’t any different and I roll my eyes at them begging for an ounce of his attention. They think they have a real shot with him butthey don’t. They also don’t seem to know that he isn’t the Wilton brother I want.Is he gonna be here tonight?
