Page 115 of Chasing Lyric
I grin, but it fades as I watch Lyric again, surrounded by puppies and smiling like she’s having the time of her life. “Yeah… I’m all in. There’s no backing out now. I’m fully committed. But I’ve never seen you committed before, either, Dax. I guess that’s what I was trying to say the other day.”
“It’s not a good look on me, but you do make it seem appealing. Dammit, Chase, your pussy-whipped ways are turningmeinto a pussy, too. Pull your shit together, man!”
Smirking, I turn back to Lyric, who’s picking up one of the puppies and cuddling it, petting its fur. She seems more than content right now.
Phase three seems like it was a great idea.
Maybe now I can make my move.
She’ll have to know this was from me. I mean, who else would have set up a puppy-petting zoo in her front yard?
I exhale through my nose, trying to steady the riot inside me. “I’m going in.”
Dax straightens in his seat, his brow creasing. “You really think it’s a good idea? Going in so soon?”
“Look at her,” I say, my eyes locked on Lyric. She’s laughing, her face lit with something I haven’t seen in too long. “She’s happy.”
“Exactly.” He leans in slightly, lowering his voice like he’s trying to talk sense into a ticking bomb. “You want her to stay in that mood. Keep the momentum going. Trust me on this, Chase.”
I do trust him. He’s been solid through every move of this plan. But my chest aches with the weight of how badly I need to be near her. The pull is primal, physical, a craving that burrows under my skin and leaves me feeling unhinged. “I have to see her, Dax. Just for a second. She’s laughing, smiling… maybe she’ll let me in.”
“Too soon, Chase,” he mutters, his tone edging toward pleading. “I’m telling you.”
But I’m already gripping the door handle, his voice muffled by the rush of blood pounding in my ears. My body moves before my brain can stop it. Every step toward her feels like pushing through thick cement, as if my whole nervous system is on high alert, firing with tension, hope, and fear all at once. My boots crunch over the gravel when I approach the pen. She doesn’t notice me at first, being too caught up in the chaos of eight puppies crawling over her lap. But one golden retriever pup bounds toward me with that clumsy, tail-wagging energy, and when I crouch down to pet it, Lyric lifts her head.
Our eyes lock.
And in an instant, everything shifts.
The joy drains from her face like someone flicked a switch. She stiffens, holding a squirming puppy tight against her chest like it’s a shield. I freeze, my heart slamming into my ribs. My stomach drops, and the moment, filled with soft laughter and sunshine, curdles into something sharp. The air between us crackles with tension, thick enough to choke on. The puppiesbark and tumble around my boots, but the only thing I can focus on is the storm brewing behind her eyes.
She’s not just mad.
She’s looking at me like I betrayed everything good we ever had.
And I don’t know how to fix it.
I don’t even know if I can.
But standing here, seeing that spark of happiness vanish the second she saw my face? It guts me.
I try to speak, but nothing comes. Not yet. Not with that look Lyric’s giving me.
I’ve faced deals gone south, men twice my size swinging fists, and pressure that would break most. Butnothingcompares to this, standing in front of the woman I love and knowing I might have ruined her idea of what we were supposed to be. And fuck, if that doesn’t tear me up from the inside out.
She was so happy moments ago.
I thought I picked the right time to make my move.
I thought I was breaking through her walls.
I thought I was making progress.
As I glance into Lyri’s eyes, and she stares at me, not saying a word, I think maybe Dax was right—it’s too soon. The tension in the air is so thick, so palpable, not even a freaking chainsaw could cut through it. Her intense green eyes shine back at me, but they’re not holding the same life they usually do. They’re dull like the sparkle has faded, and they now only show despair and sadness.
I need to say something.
Break this silence.
