Page 126 of Beneath the Stands (Sugarlake 2)

That’s exactly how Eli must feel about me.

Oh my God.

No wonder he doesn’t want to give us another chance. I’m surprised he can even stand the sight of me.

“Maybe he doesn’t seem happy because he’s around you.” Jeremy’s earlier words fly from my brain and sink to my stomach, making bile climb up the back of my throat.

“Hey, you okay, girlfriend?” Lee’s voice shocks me out of my stupor.

I sip my wine again, trying to numb the agony in my chest from where I just split it open with my hypocrisy. “Yep. Just fine.” I smile. “Hired someone? What’s that even mean?”

She shrugs. “A private investigator. Big dude. Tattoos. Lots of ‘em.” Her eyes grow wide. “I only saw him for a second, but dang, Becca. He was kinda scary.”

“Was he hot?” I smirk.

She glances back at Chase before looking at me, her cheeks becoming splotchy and pink. “He was not not hot.”

“That’s a double negative.” I point at her, my eyes squinting.

“You’re missin’ the point. What if he finds her?”

“I think…” What do I think? “I think if she wanted to come back here, she would have by now.”

“Yeah. I’m just worried about what he’ll find.” She chews on her lip. “I don’t want Chase to be disappointed.”

I grimace, remembering the younger version of Chase. The one who had the best bravado and a fragile soul underneath. He fooled a lot of people, but I always saw the truth. It’s easy to spot in someone what you try to hide yourself.

I reach across the island and cover her hand with mine. “Look, Lee. I’ve never been Chase’s cheerleader, you know this.”

She snorts. “That’s an understatement.”

I smile. “But even I can see he’s changed. He’s grown. He’s… he’s stronger. I don’t think you need to worry about how he’ll handle Lily and this investigator.”

Her mouth twists, a line forming between her brows. “Yeah. He is strong. I just don’t want him to go through more heartache, ya know? I want it to bring him peace.”

“And what about you?”

“What about me?”

“Well… will findin’ Lily give you peace?”

She lifts a shoulder. “I don’t know. I feel like I let her down when I didn’t speak up about my worries.”

My stomach twists. “I didn’t speak up either. We’ve all made mistakes. But Lily is responsible for her own actions, Lee. People have to wanna save themselves.”

She sniffles. “You sound like Chase.”

I cringe. “Yuck. Hard pass.”

She points the knife at me. “Don’t be a jerk.”

I laugh. “I’m just playin’.”

Chase waltzes back in with the steaks a few minutes later and we all sit down to eat. If you had bet me a million dollars, I wouldn’t have guessed Chase knew how to entertain guests, especially ones who were hateful to him

through most of our childhood. But he does it with grace, and I find myself in awe of the transformation.

Who is this man?

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