Page 34 of Beneath the Stars (Sugarlake 1)

My grip on the phone tightens as I squeeze my thighs, trying to ease the ache. “Yes,” I say on an exhale. I don’t know how I’ll explain it to Mama and Daddy, but I’ll think of something later.

“Thank fucking God… hey, hang on a second.”

He’s talking, his voice muffled like he’s covered the phone with his hand. A girl’s voice is in the background. Jealousy washes over me.

“I’m back. I’m gonna get off here though, run some errands and take a nap before I leave. Recital’s at five, right? I’ll be at your place by three-thirty. Damn, I can’t wait to see you.”

“Is Lindsay there?” The words are out before I can stop them.

“Uhh… yeah. She just showed up.”

“Oh.” All the anticipation I was feeling disappears. I can’t stand her and he knows it. But still, he keeps her in his life.

He chooses her when he should be choosing me.

Jax bursts through the door, hands filled with platters of cookies. “Just call me Sugar Daddy, sweetheart, because I’ve got all the sugar you need.” His eyebrows wag, and I snort out a giggle.

“Is that Jax?” Chase’s voice cuts through the line.

“Yeah, of course it is. He just got back with the refreshments for tonight.”

“How nice that you have him to help,” he says, dryly.

Irritation slams into me. “Yep. You have Lindsay, and I have Jax. Havin’ friends is the best, ain’t it?”

“That’s not fair.”

“What’s not fair is you bein’ glued to a girl that I’ve told you repeatedly makes me uncomfortable.”

“And I’ve told you there’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“You haven’t told me anything, other than she’s in a bad place and ‘needs’ you.”

“She does.”

“Well, so do I, Chase.” I rub my forehead. I’m so tired of having this same conversation. “Listen, I don’t wanna fight. I’ll just see you when you get here. I’m really lookin’ forward to our night together.”

“I don’t want to fight either, baby. All I want is to show you all the ways I can love you. And I do, you know? I fucking love you.”

I try to trust in what he says, but it’s no consolation. His words are just that. Words.

I push away my irritation and finish getting ready. Chase is supposed to meet me at my house so we can ride to the rec hall together. But when three-thirty comes and goes with no Chase in sight, I give up and hitch a ride with Jax.

I’m backstage with the director and my girls, trying to pump them up. It’s fifteen minutes until showtime, and still no word from Chase. I peek around the curtains and see Jax in the front row. I give him a small wave before scanning the empty seats around him. Still nothing. The disappointment settles into my bones. I don’t see my folks either, which is strange. I slip my phone out of my pocket one more time, checking for a call, a text, something. It rings in my hand.

Unknown.

I excuse myself from backstage quickly, hoping it’s Chase.

“Hello?”

“Hi. Is this Alina Carson?”

“Yes. Who’s this?”

“Ms. Carson, my name is Judy Davis. I’m a nurse at CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga.”

A foreboding tingle creeps up my spine, making me stand up straight. “Okay… how can I help you?”

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