Page 63 of Beneath the Stars (Sugarlake 1)

I’m about to grab a drink when there’s a knock on the door. I glance up the stairs, hoping the noise doesn’t wake Sam and Anna. Who the fuck would be here this late?

I’m stunned into silence when I see who it is.

“Hey.” Goldi looks up at me through her lashes, and I swear my fucking heart skips a beat. She’s so goddamn beautiful.

“Can we talk?”

28

Alina

My palms won’t stop sweating. I don’t know why I’m here, standing in the middle of Chase’s living room. When I was driving Daddy home, the night kept playing on a loop in my mind. Getting the call from Johnny. The way my chest caved in when I saw Chase. Me, selfishly letting my emotions get in the way of him helping.

So, here I am. Attempting to swallow down my pride long enough to apologize. Just say what you came here to say. “I was unfair to you earlier tonight.”

His brows lift, but that’s the only response I get. I grind my teeth as my anxiety rises. The shame over what he saw threatening to drown me. “I should have told you I’m grateful for your help. With Daddy, that is.”

He’s silent. Still just staring at me from across the room.

“Say somethin’!” I smack my thighs.

“What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know, call me a bitch or… or tell me it’s okay. That you forgive me.”

He sighs, wiping his hand across his mouth. “Out of the two of us, Alina, you’re not the one who needs absolution.”

His words surprise me. They roll around in my head, and I’d like to pretend I feel nothing. But the twinge in my chest lets me know that’s not quite true. Regardless, I’m not here to talk about the sins of our past. “I don’t wanna talk about any of that. I just—I got Daddy home and then I realized I never even thanked you. So, thank you, I guess. You didn’t have to do what you did.”

I shuffle my feet, my hands going to my back pockets. His eyes are searing, leaving me raw and exposed. It’s uncomfortable. Finally, after a few torturous moments, he breaks his gaze, grabbing his keys off the rack on the wall. “Will you come with me somewhere?”

“What?” I breathe. I came over here to apologize, not to torment myself by spending hours in his presence. I don’t know if I can be around him and pretend the scars I wear weren’t made by him.

“Just… come with me somewhere. I’d like to continue our conversation, but I don’t want to wake Sam and Anna. Please.”

I should leave. I should turn around and march back out that door. I came here to say what I needed to say. The guilt has abated. But instead, I stand here like an idiot.

Say no. “Okay.”

A grin overtakes his face and those dang dimples knock the breath from my lungs.

I follow him outside and down the driveway into his shiny, blacked-out Ford F250. We drive in silence. He seems calm like this whole situation isn’t absolutely insane. We turn into familiar territory and I realize he’s taken us to the lake. He bypasses the lot, driving us right onto the sand, backing up so the bed of his truck faces the water. I’ve never been to the lake in the middle of the night. Why did he bring me here?

He turns off the engine and hops out. I suppose I should follow him, but I’m twisted around in my seat, looking back and admiring the water. Marveling at the stillness of its inky black surface—wishing I could take some of its serenity for myself. I jump in my seat when the passenger door opens. Chase is standing there, a boyish grin on his face as he holds out his hand. “Not much point of being here if we don’t get out and enjoy the view.”

I peer down at his outstretched palm. The memory of what I imagined those hands doing makes heat coil low in my gut. Probably shouldn’t touch him. I maneuver around him and slide off the seat onto the ground, taking in my surroundings. It’s deserted. I guess midnight on a Monday isn’t a peak time for lake goers.

Chase moves and I expect him to start walking toward the water, but instead, he goes around to the back of his truck. He drops the tailgate and hoists himself up, turning to look down at me with his hands on his hips. “Come on, Alina May. Let’s stay awhile.”

I walk around the side and peer into the bed, watching as he spreads out a large, thick green blanket. Does he just keep that back here? “Do this a lot, do you?”

“You know the motto. Always be prepared.” He smirks.

I can’t help the laugh that escapes. “Now I know you’re full of it. You were a lot of things growin’ up, but a Boy Scout? That, you’ve ne

ver been.”

“Yeah, well there were a lot of things I should have been. Guess I was just a little late in learning the lessons.” He comes to the edge of the truck bed, reaching down to help me up.

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