Page 29 of Broken on the Mountain
Then, just at I pull his zipper down, my phone buzzes.
Once. Twice. Three times in rapid succession.
We both freeze.
"Ignore it," Chase murmurs against my neck.
I want to. God, I want to.
But the screen lights up with Mom's calendar alert:"Gala meeting. Noon tomorrow. DO NOT BE LATE, Piper!"
Reality crashes back and Chase feels me tense. He sighs and pulls back, reading my face with those too-perceptive hazel eyes.
"Why is this so hard?" I whisper against his chest, feeling defeated all over again.
"Well, and I'm no nurse like you, but I think because you were about to rub it."
I swat his shoulder, but I'm laughing too, the tension breaking just enough to breathe again. "You're terrible."
The laughter fades, and I gather courage. "I just don't get it. That first night we shared was so amazing. Spontaneous and wild and exactly what I needed." I pause, searching for words. "But everything since then has felt... different."
"Different how?"
"Different like I actually care what happens next. Different like I'm not ready to leave in—" I check my phone, "—five hours.Different like this was supposed to be simple and fun, and instead it's—"
"Complicated?"
"Terrifying."
He just listens, his hand stroking my back. When I finally look up, there's this expression on his face. Soft. Tender. Almost... hopeful?
"Don't you dare laugh at me, mister." I slap his chest. "I'm being serious here. Let me have my moment."
But he chuckles anyway. "I'm not laughing at you."
"You're literally laughing!"
"I'm laughing because last night, I wanted nothing more than to take you home. To keep you in my bed until this morning." His thumb brushes my cheekbone. "But I thought you wanted to keep things casual. No pressure, remember?"
My heart stutters.
"Piper, I'm going to let you in on a little secret." His eyes meet mine. "I'm not good at this stuff. The casual thing, the no-strings thing. I'm terrible at it. I catch feelings like other people catch colds. Fast and completely."
"Oh…"
"Yeah. Oh." He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "So if you're scared because this feels like more than a weekend fling? Join the club. I've been terrified since approximately hour two of knowing you."
He glances at my phone, still grasped in my hand.
"But I also know you have to go home."
"I don't have to go right this second—"
"But you do have to go. And for me, this fear is all because…" He trails off and looks away, like he can't bring himself to say the words.
"What, Chase? Tell me."
"I just hope you come back."
