Page 12 of A Touch of Heaven

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Someone suggested a game of truth or dare a while ago, and it’s my turn. Everyone has chosen truth so far. I stop all this pussyfooting around and choose dare. Jax and Asher whisper between themselves, and then Asher gives me his typical shit-eating grin. I don’t acknowledge it, but I realize it’s exactly like Harper's. I’m too drunk to care enough to see what’s coming.

“Okay, Chase, get us started and pick someone here to kiss. We will let you decide how far to take it.”

“Whoa, but not me, man… I’m your brother.” Nate grins at me, laughing. “I’m excluded from this dare.”

I laugh until I see Brooke’s hand on his knee and his arm around her, and the agony of seeing that hits me like a truck. She looks flustered as my eyes meet hers. I lick my lips and walk toward her but, at the last second, turn to Harper sitting beside her.

I pull her up with my hand on the side of her face and slam my lips against hers, kissing her passionately. Heavily making out with her, using my hands to run over her body and through her hair. She’s kissing back just as furiously, which surprises me, and I have half a mind to drag her into my room, make her scream my name, and try to forget about Brooke for one night. As we lose air, I pull back.

“Thanks, Princess,” I say, deliberately using my pet name for Brooke for added spite to get back at her for looking so cozy with my brother. I know it’s cruel, but right now, I don’t care. I’m too far gone.

Harper looks flush and guilty as she sits back down, and I just grin, turning to Asher to brag about the fact that it was an easy dare. His eyes are like thunder, and his body is tense.

For a split second, I think he’s going to jump over the table and hit me, which I know I one hundred percent deserve. But then he relaxes, the mask slipping back onto his face within a second, and laughs. Getting another of Harper’s looks like she’s disgusted with him.

I lean back on the couch, grabbing my beer and meeting my girl’s eyes.

“I’m going to bed.”

She instantaneously looks away and gets up without saying another word, slamming her drink on the table, and I watch her disappear upstairs. I instantly sober up and realize I fucked up again, and I don’t know who’s madder at me right now. Brooke or Asher. I look at the beer in my hand and put it back on the table, sighing, realizing what I’ve done.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

CHAPTERFIVE

CHASE

The following morning, my head is killing me, and I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol from last night or the drama I caused yesterday. I head outside in just a pair of pale gray joggers, feeling the breeze on my body, and hope the ocean will wash away my actions from last night.

I exhale loudly into my coffee, leaning against the balustrade, wondering how the hell I’m going to fix this. I didn’t just hurt Brooke last night. I hurt my best friend, and he has more pain than he can bear already. I hear someone clear their throat, and I don’t turn to look, knowing who it is already.

“What is it, Harper?” I growl, hoping she will go away. I am not ready to face anyone yet.

For some reason, she thinks that the tone in my voice gives her an open invitation to come and stand next to me. I take a sip of my coffee, not making eye contact, keeping my eyes on the sea.

“Well, aren’t you a ball of sunshine in the morning?” I turn to face her, glaring a little at her but also impressed at how she stands up for herself. Maybe she’s been rubbing off on Brooke. That’s the thing I’ve always liked about Harper. She doesn’t give a flying fuck. She wears her heart on her sleeve and gives everyone shit that deserves it.

“Why did you kiss me last night? Why not Brooke?”

I don’t even know how to answer that. The truth is, I wish I had, but maybe that would have made things worse.

“I don’t know, Harper. Why did you kiss me back?”

She sighs, “Because Asher was being a dick, and I thought if he saw me with you…” she trails off, looking away, so I finish her sentence.

“You thought he would come to his senses and admit that he loves you?” She blushes and looks away.

“I wouldn’t say love, but I’m pretty sure he has feelings for me.”

I snort, not answering that, knowing full well that’s exactly how he feels, even if he won’t admit it. She rolls her eyes at me, and I can’t help but smile warmly at her.

“Looks like we both used each other then last night.”

She nods in response, sighing, resigned to her fate too.

“The difference is he knows how I feel…she doesn’t.” I tip my head, smiling at her, so she is smart, I think.

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