Chasing Leah (Journey #1)

Plus I had other things to deal with like the strange behavior from Ally. She and Skylar were no longer attached at the hips like Siamese twins anymore and I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen him. She always seemed to dance around the topic whenever I brought it up and insisted she just wanted some time with me and Caleb. I couldn’t blame her for that though. I loved having her around and so did Caleb. He loved being spoiled by the both of us.

Of course my espionage all came to a screeching halt almost a month after seeing Chase for the last time. I knew it was bound to happen since we lived right across the hall from each other but I didn’t have myself prepared for it. I forgot one of my papers that was due that day and rushed home to get it before my class started and bam, I ran into a solid wall of muscle. Without looking up I knew it was Chases familiar body and I tried to shove past him quickly but it was a loss effort.

“Whoa Leah, stop please.” He dug his fingers slightly into my shoulders as I pushed all my weight against him and of course he didn’t move a freakin’ inch. “Chase I really can’t do this right now, just move.”

He placed two fingers under my chin, forcing me to look up into his glowing green eyes. That was the one thing I was trying most to avoid, those eyes still managed to melt the ice on my insides and I quickly found an interesting spot on the wall behind him. He sighed in defeat when I still refused to look at him and dropped his hands to his sides.

“Fine go ahead Leah, just keep running and avoiding me, it’s what you do best.”

“Excuse me? I’m pretty sure I have a right to avoid you,” I jab a finger into his chest as I feel the anger rise up in my chest, I’ve been keeping it in for the past month and he’s causing it to bubble over.

“Its not my fault you messed something perfectly good up. I love you so much,” I stop myself after I realize what words just came out of my mouth. I don’t want to give him any hope in rekindling our relationship and I’m pretty sure I just saw one of those hopeful looks just flutter across his stupid perfect face.

“Loved you so much,” I correct myself. “You fucked that up Chase with that slut. I’m sure you’ll be real happy with her. Just make sure to schedule a doctor’s appointment, stat. I’m sure she gave you a few special presents.”

“Leah, please just let me explain. It’s not like that at all. We still have something here. You’re the only one that I love, the only one for me. No other girls matter please, especially not that one. Just give me five minutes.”

“Fine Chase,” I unlock the apartment door and hold it open for him to follow me in. He just stands there looking at me from the hallway with a hurt look still plastered on his face.

“C’mon times a ticking, you now have about four minutes left. Just promise you’ll leave me alone after this.”

He finally follows in while shutting the door behind himself and trails behind me as I go towards my room to find the missing paper. “Can you at least look at me well I try to explain myself,” he whispers to me.

“’Kay I’m all ears Chase.” I flop down on my bed and he kneels next to me as I see his throat working with a thick swallow. “I never touched her Leah. Ever. I wouldn’t…I couldn’t do that to you.”

“Really Chase. I’m pretty sure after all the alcohol you consumed that night you were really thinking clearly and don’t even try to use that as an excuse.”

“I admit I drank a lot that night. I was celebrating the job that I landed,” he takes another swallow before continuing on, “but Teddy was with me all night and he can back up my story. I know you don’t think he’s a very reliable source but he’s never lied to you before, right? And besides he’s practically been waiting outside your door ever since we started dating waiting for me to screw up so he can swoop in.”

I slowly shake my head even though I regret agreeing with him. “That girl. Missy. She’s a regular groupie, she’s always around at every performance and constantly throwing herself at me. You’ve probably even seen her before if you think about it.”

Well since all I have to remember her by is a pair of very fake boobs I probably wouldn’t recognize her very quickly unless she’s walking around topless. I guess that could be a possibility. “So how exactly did her underwear end up in your pocket Chase? I’d love to hear your excuse for that.”

He rubs his hands roughly over his face at my question. “I truthfully don’t know the answer to that question Leah. She probably slipped them in when she was trying to grind up on me. Teddy said before he pulled me outta there she wrapped her whole body around me. She knows about you, I’m sure she’s seen you before so she was probably trying to make me look guilty. But I’m not really Leah, please. Teddy saw how much I drank so we left and he took me out for some coffee before driving me and the truck home. A buddy of his followed us back and gave Teddy a ride after dropping me off that night. Listen I know I had a lot to drink that night but I was still in control. Nothing happened.” He looks back at me with his pleading green eyes.