Page 78 of Beneath the Stars (Sugarlake 1)

“I hope it’s okay I’m here.” Chase moves toward me, angling his head down to look in my eyes.

“Uhh… yeah. Yes, it’s—it’s fine. What—how…”

His eyes twinkle with amusement as I stumble over my words.

“I was at Sam and Anna’s, figured I’d walk over. Keep your dad company, give you a break.”

My heart trills. “You’re here for me?”

He puts his hands in his jean pockets, briefly lifting his shoulders. “You need rest.” He says it like it’s no big deal—like he’d do this for anybody. Maybe he would. I’m realizing I truly don’t know this Chase, at all.

“That’s…” Gratefulness surges out of nowhere and I have to choke it back down. “Thank you,” I manage to whisper.

Chase stays. He mans the grill next to Daddy, who I hear laugh. Honest to God, he’s laughing. My heart soars at the sound.

Daddy drinks himself into a stupor and starts slurring during dinner. But at least for tonight, he stayed home. He had a good night. He didn’t act like he hates the sight of me. I stare at Chase across the table, my body tingling as I look at him. The gratitude vibrates through my bones. He didn’t have to spend his time like this. But he’s here. For me—and maybe a little bit for Daddy, too.

I’m the first to stand from the table, picking up the dirty plates and taking them to the sink. Daddy stumbles out to sit in his recliner and watch TV. I can feel as Chase moves behind me, the static buzzing from how close our hands are. He reaches out, uncurling my fingers slowly as he places the car keys in my palm.

My eyebrows furrow. “What are you doin’?”

“Go home, Alina. Get some sleep. I’ll clean up. I’m gonna stay here and make sure your dad stays put. Try out that guest bed,” he teases.

“What?” I gasp. “No, no, you don’t need to do that. You’ve done more than enough.” A strand of my hair falls forward, tickling my cheek. He brushes it behind my ear, his fingers lingering. Butterflies erupt in my stomach as his palm cups my jaw. My mouth parts, the inhale sharp against my teeth.

“Let someone take care of you for once, Goldi.” His eyes glaze over as his thumb swipes across my mouth. I bite my tongue to keep it from slipping out. I want to taste his touch on my lips. I clench the keys in my hand so tight I’m afraid I’ll break skin. I need to keep my grip on reality.

I step back. His hand stays in the air for just a moment before he comes back to himself and drops it down. He gestures toward the front door. “Go home. I’ve got it under control.”

I shouldn’t accept his offer. I’ve trusted him before and look where it got me. The beat of my stitched-up heart remembers how he shattered it. But I’m so tired. So I swallow down all my doubts and nod my head. “Okay. But call me if anything, anything goes wrong. And if you decide you wanna go home you can call too, just let me know and I can drive back over here. It doesn’t matter if it’s—”

“Alina.” He chuckles. “It’s fine.”

“Right.” I blow out a breath and start backing up toward the hallway, my eyes never leaving Chase’s. “Thank you.”

He smiles and those dang dimples make me smile back. I’m a sucker for them every time.

When I get home, I’m out as soon as my head hits the pillow. I sleep soundly for the first time in years, and I wake up refreshed. I don’t talk to Chase at work, but I feel his eyes on me. It shouldn’t excite me the way it does.

When I get to Daddy’s house that night, Chase is there again. Cooking dinner and then pushing me out the door.

On Friday, while I watch Chase slip Daddy a Dr. Pepper instead of a whiskey, I let myself imagine what it would be like if he were mine.

I don’t hate it as much as I should.

34

Alina

“Want to catch a movie tonight?” Jax asks.

I look over at Becca, sipping on her second mimosa and shoveling pancakes in her mouth. She shakes her head. “Can’t. Have a date.”

“You? Have a date?” I point at her, narrowing my eyes. Becca loves men, but she isn’t the dating type. Growing up, she was a firm be

liever that commitment of any kind was a waste of time. Now that she’s an adult and still living under her daddy’s—aka the church’s—thumb, that lack of commitment has only grown. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen her go on an actual date in my life.

“Yep.” She looks up, realizing we’re both staring at her. “What?” she mumbles around a mouthful of pancake.

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