Page 54 of Regaining Integrity

The other four are the ones I’m concerned about.

“You have nothing to worry about from me, Chase.” Vanessa stands.

“Same with us.” Elena, Jan, and Sunny stand with her—all four a strong,marriedfront. “We’re happily married, and as much as you hurt each of us in the past, we’re glad to see you’ve finally found the one you’re willing to change for.”

“Thank you, ladies.” Each of them comes to me and gives me a quick hug. “Thanks for stopping by, no matter how briefly it was.” I feel sheepish. I didn’t really need to bring them but thought it might be for the best.

“No problem, Chase.” Sunny cups my chin. “It looks good on you.”

“What does?”

“Being in love.” She hugs me again and exits with the others, leaving behind the difficult ones.

Love? Am I already in love with Angelica?

It’s far too soon for any talk of that right now. I need to get this shit figured out first.

“Love?” Cera snorts. Ry, Ferrah, and Tricia all are starting to look remorseful and even a little guilty. None of them will speak up like Cera is gearing up for. “You toyed with thatgirl’sheart in high school, and you’re doing it again now. I know what you see when you look at me.”

Was she really this insane in high school? Why didn’t I notice it until now?

Taking a deep breath, I force a chilled smile to the last three still here. “I take it you three understand why I called y’all here?” They nod, comprehension filling their eyes. “And you got my message? To leave me and Angie alone?”

“Yes.” They answer in unison.

“Good, you three are welcome to leave as well.” My smile drops, and I turn my full attention to Cera. She’s going to be the true problem.

“See, what did I say?” The smile growing on her face is filled with triumph.

“You’ve said enough.” My words cut the chilled air. “There’s nothing between us, not back then and definitely not now.”

“Chasie—”

“That’s enough, Cera.” My voice rises. I should be mindful that Ridge is asleep upstairs, and my parents are in the living room trying not to listen in. “Cut the shit.”

“Who thefuckinghell do you think you are?” she screams. Yes, fucking screams at the top of her lungs like I’m one of her parents telling her she can’t go to the dance with a ten-thousand-dollar dress. “I gave you everything.”

“You gave me an easy lay with opened legs.” I snarl at her. Valerie is now at my side, holding me back. “You tried to change me and make my life what you wanted, not what I did.”

“Because it was for the bes—”

“For you!” I will continue to cut her off until she finally gets the motherfucking picture. “Never what I wanted. I was a dumbass teenager who thought the world of myself and had no plans for the future that included you, and I was okay with that. I have a future I want set with Angie. Not. You.”

She gapes at me, losing herself for a moment before glaring daggers at me, and then she marches up into my face. “You’ll regret this.”

“The only thing I regret is ever getting a piece from you when I could have had perfection all along. Fuck off, Cera. Stay the hell away from Angie and learn how to pronounce your name correctly.”

Chapter Thirty

Angelica

With my mom, grandma, and Lorelei’s help, I managed to pull myself together to clean my apartment, do laundry for the week, cook up some dinners for the next few nights, and check over lesson plans for each of my classes by Sunday night. It has to be a record and a triumph in one for doing all of it half drunk.

The feeling of coming back to myself started after the small interventions by the three lovely ladies who have been with me through thick and thin, and it was just what I needed. Sunday was indeed a day of rest. I felt more myself after the love they poured over me with every glass of wine.

There was just one small piece missing … a person. Chase had yet to get ahold of me yesterday. Every time I glanced over at my phone, I held my breath in the hope he would call or at least send me a text to make sure I was okay.

It stung far more than I really wanted to give him the power to. My ladies wouldn’t allow me to let the thoughts filling my mind with doubt about Chase to take full root. They know me better than I know myself most days, so it was easy for them to stop the thoughts from happening.

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