Page 5 of Stealing Chances

“Why do you keep asking about her?” Bree began, but my mom hurried to hush her.

“Are you fucking kidding?” I asked through clenched teeth.

“Chase,” Mom muttered disapprovingly.

“They’re on their way,” Dad finally answered. “We called them as soon as we found out you’d woken.”

“They’re on their way.”

The words replayed again and again as my eyelids closed and relief barreled through me.

Wasn’t sure I’d taken a full breath before then. I’d gladly take the pain that came with it if it meant she would be here soon.

Theywould.

“We should talk before they get here,” Dad continued. “Because from what the doctor said, some of your confusion seems to revolve around her.”

I just needed a chance to talk to her. To fix things.

Then again...if that day was years ago...no, it couldn’t have been. Itjusthappened. I remember it all so damn clearly.

“Chase, who do you think Harper is?” my dad asked slowly, a whisper of worry weaving through his words.

Forcing my eyelids open again, I took in the curious and concerned looks of the people in the room as my eyebrows drew close in confusion. “My girlfriend.”

“What?” Bree said on a breath, sounding wholly confused.

Before I could respond or fully comprehend that shock was mixing with everyone’s concern, the door opened, and my heart took off.

Slamming against my broken ribs when she entered my line of sight, looking more beautiful than the last time I’d seen her.

“Harper.” Her name was a breath wrapped in gratitude—

What the fuck?

The frantic beating of my heart.

The relief.

Everything disappeared when my best friend, Brandon, stepped in behind her and curled his arm around her waist in a move that shouted possession.

A move I’d been forced to watch him do with her so many times before I’d finally gotten the chance to make her mine.

“Hey,” Harper said a little hesitantly, gaze drifting around the room before landing on my sister and narrowing in confusion. “Is something wrong?” At that, her gray eyes snapped to me, then my parents and the doctor.

Brandon wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her close as he leaned against the wall. Nothing but relief on his face as he said, “Man, you scared the shit out of us. Glad you’re awake. Glad you’rehere.”

I’d been breaking before the accident.

Drowning under the realization that I’d been losing Harper over something I knew I couldn’t have done. Because touching someone else when I had her? That...that I wouldn’t do.

But we’d been through so much bullshit just to be together, and I’d known it couldn’t end like that. I’d known I’d do anything to fix it.

But she was on the opposite side of the room instead of at my side. In Brandon’s arms, once again. And no one in my family seemed to think anything was wrong with this nightmare of a scenario.

“What are you doing?” I asked Harper, words straining around the betrayal and heartache overwhelming every other physical pain. “You’re just gonna stand there with him after everything?”

“Chase,” my dad said in hesitant warning, but I didn’t look away from Harper as her eyes widened and Brandon’s head slanted in question.

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