Page 96 of Tell Me When It's Over

He considers it before shrugging. “I guess. The guy wouldn’t take no for an answer right away either. Pissed me off.”

“What’d you do?”

The corners of his lips tug up. “Hung up on him.”

My eyes bulged. “Chase!”

He laughs, flicking water at me again, making me squeal. “What? It isn’t like I had any intentions of making connections with the guy. He said his piece, thought I’d take his $1.5 million and walk away from everything I built from the ground up.”

Jaw dropping, I silently repeat the number he just said as if he was talking pocket change. Did I hear him right? There’s no way a number like that came out of his mouth.

His laugh gets louder. “Did I just make you speechless?” Swiping a hand through his long, curly wet hair, he swings a leg over the edge and sits beside me, water droplets dripping onto the ground. “I’m not sure if I should be offended that you didn’t think my work is worth that much.”

“God. No!” I choke out, picking my jaw off the ground and swallowing. “No, sorry. It’s just…wow. That’s a lot of money. I mean, you work by yourself, so I’m impressed that a guy who clearly specializes in investments—”

“Corporate takeovers,” he corrects.

“Takeovers,” I amend, “would be interested in putting that much money down on a one-man business. You should definitely be flattered. Proud.”

“I am.” He leans forward and pecks my cheek before reaching for his towel and drying off his hair and body. “Want to go in and watch a movie or something? I was thinking about ordering delivery. Maybe from that new Indian restaurant.” I try not making a face even though it’s hard. He should know by now that I don’t like spicy food.

Biting my lip, I feel the guilt rise when I tell him, “I have to get going. Kyler told me he’d help me get in some last-minute studying.”

“I can help.” He stands, offering me his hand. I take it, le

tting him haul me up. I know he’d help me, but I’m sure he’d rather do other things. The last time we studied together, he kept getting distracted by something on his phone, or telling me about some new video game he was testing out for a buddy. It was hard to concentrate, and I’d feel bad if I ignored him to get something done.

I give him an apologetic look. “I know you can, but I already made plans with Ky to do it.”

His brows furrow, walking over to the table with me to help put my things away. “I thought you said he had plans tonight?”

I shove my books into my bag and turn to him. “Yeah, Mia talked him into going over and helping her and Dylan reorganize the baby’s new room. She’s been going crazy buying stuff. When I talked to Dylan last week, he told me he had to hide her credit card, but she memorized the numbers and still shopped online for more clothes, diapers, you name it.”

“The baby is due soon, right?”

I nod. “End of November.” I can’t believe in a month Mia is going to have a baby. She and Dylan decided to keep the sex a surprise, so everything in the nursery is white with a mixture of colors because apparently “assigning one color to the baby based on the sex is ridiculous.” At least, that’s what she told everybody one day over dinner when Kyler asked if he should buy the baby something in blue or pink.

Then Mia started crying.

It was a little traumatizing.

“Did she ever hear about that part?”

Draping my strap over my shoulder, I follow him into the house. “They ended up passing on her, so she was pretty bummed. But her agent already got her two other scripts to read over. I’m supposed to go over tomorrow to help her run lines because the audition is in a couple weeks.”

He stops by the door with a frown deeper than the one previously. “I thought you and I were going to my friend’s party tomorrow?”

My lips part. I’d forgotten about that. He asked me last week if I’d be interested in making a quick appearance. His friend Jacob was hired at some thriving multi-million-dollar startup company and the party is to celebrate. Cheeks pinkening, I nod in confirmation. “I can do both. What time is the party again? I probably won’t be at Mia’s until noon, but that leaves me all day to help her before meeting you.”

Chase scratches his jaw, shoulders stiffening. “I figured we could get something to eat before. Jake will probably have some lighter food, but nothing much. We haven’t been out since…” He hesitates, wincing slightly. “We haven’t gone out in a while.”

A while. I know when the last time we went out was, and it has been a lot longer than two people dating should go without actually making plans. We’ve hung out, he’s helped me with school, I’ve listened to him update me on his business on occasion, and sometimes we’ll eat a meal with his mom. Things have been distant and strained and I know it’s my fault, but my head can’t sort out the millions of thoughts that circle my skull whenever Chase is involved. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I promised Mia I’d help, but I can leave early. I’m sure Kyler or Dylan will be more than willing to fill in.”

“Kyler will be there too?” His tone is weird as he studies me.

I make a face. “Of course. We always get roped into running lines with her together.” He’s quiet. Too quiet. I’ve told him that before, haven’t I? “Why?”

He turns the door handle and gestures for me to follow him out after snatching up his keys to take me home. “No reason. You’ve just been spending a lot of time with him.”

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