Finding Chase (Chasing Nikki) (3 page)

“Who let these two terrors in here?” I questioned as they giggled, trying to hang on. “I’m pretty sure I didn’t invite them.”

“Aunt Tori did!” Clara squealed, calling my mom by the pet name they’d given her.

I grinned at their mom, Justine. “I don’t think I gave Aunt Tori permission to do that.” I wiggled my fingers against their sides, tickling them, and they screamed as I swung them around.

“Stop!” Timmy laughed. “It tickles!”

“That’s the whole point isn’t it?” I carefully let them slide to their feet before squatting to give them each a hug. “Thanks for coming to see me,” I said, ruffling their hair.

Clara’s smile slid from her face. “I don’t want you to move away.” She threw her arms around my neck.

I held her tight. “I’ll come visit as often as I can.”

She let go and stared skeptically. “Pinky promise?” She held her little finger out.

“Pinky promise,” I replied, wrapping mine around hers. I winked and released her.

My gaze swept around the table at everyone else, and I gave a wave to Brett’s sister, Brittney, and also to my good friends Chad and Wes. “Thanks for coming.”

“Wouldn’t miss it, man,” Chad replied.

“He’s not here for you,” Wes added. “He’s here for your grandma’s cooking.”

I grinned. “I don’t blame him. Grandma’s the best cook around.”

“I agree! Let’s eat!” Grandpa said, and I found a seat at the table as everyone began passing the food around.

“Personally, I think you should move with us to the valley, Mrs. Johnson,” Brett said. “You can cook for Chase and me every day. It would help a lot.”

Grandma laughed. “You don’t need an old lady like me hanging around cramping your style.”

“You could never cramp anyone’s style,” I said as I took a bite of the pasta she’d made.

She beamed. “And that kind of sucking up is exactly what’s going to get you fresh cookies in the morning.”

“Right on!” I grinned and looked at Brett, Tana, and Brittney. “I don’t know about you, but I’ll be having a party in my pickup on the way to Tempe.”

“I think I’ll ride with Chase,” Brittney said with a laugh.

“That’s not fair,” Brett complained, elbowing his sister. “If Tana and I have to go without cookies, so do you.”

“It’s totally fair,” I replied. “Why should she have to watch the two of you mauling each other, when she can ride with me
and
have cookies? It’s a no brainer.” I glanced at Brittney and winked. “Stick with me, Britt. I got your back.”

She laughed and poked her tongue at Brett. “I win!”

Tana smiled. “Or did you? We now have the car to ourselves.”

“Ah, to be young and headed off to college again,” Justine spoke up. “I miss those days.”

“I know, right?” my mom said. “I’d give anything to have the energy I had back then.”

“Those days!” Grandpa broke in. “Quit talking like that. You’re going to make me feel like I’m an old man.”

“You’ll never be old, Daddy.” Mom reached over and squeezed his hand.

“I can attest to that,” my grandma added, waggling her eyebrows.

I groaned loudly. “This conversation just got scary. New subject, please, before we’re all scarred for life.”

Everyone laughed.

“When’s your first practice?” Greg asked me, and I was relieved. Football should be a safe conversation.

“The day after tomorrow, but it’s more of a meet and greet, go through the rules, get our gear kind of thing. I don’t know if we will actually start any of our training until the next day.”

“Well, work hard. Hopefully someone will recognize you’ve got talent.”

“I’ll do my best,” I replied. I knew I had a lot to prove when I got there, though. Things wouldn’t come nearly as easy as they did for me here.

I parked outside Brett’s house early in the morning. I’d kept the goodbyes this morning as brief as possible. There was no sense in having a bunch of sadness at parting when I’d be returning often.

Nikki’s mom and the kids had actually been the hardest. Clara cried and Timmy clung to me like he was never going to see me again. I had to keep reassuring them I’d come home as much as possible.

Justine held me for several long moments. “Please be careful,” she whispered. “You know you’re like my own child now.”

“I’ll be careful,” I promised. She looked so much like Nikki, especially now she’d grown her hair out a bit. For one brief second I tried to imagine it was really Nikki in my arms instead. Sometimes it was still hard for me to look at her.

A knock on my window brought me out of my musings. Brett was standing there, and I popped the door open.

“You gonna sit there all day, or are we gonna get this thing loaded up? Let’s get out of here.” He grinned.

“Let’s do it. Do you have Tana and Brittney’s things packed already?” I asked surveying the items I could see stacked on the porch.

“Yeah. My dad helped me load my truck with their stuff last night. All that’s left is my bed and a few boxes to go in yours.”

“Oh, before I forget. My grandma sent these for you. They’re fresh from the oven.”

His grin widened as I handed him the giant plastic bag full of chocolate chip cookies. “I knew she wouldn’t be that mean. No way can your car be the only one with goodies in it.”

“Yeah, she’s too kind hearted.”

“Morning, Chase,” Brittney’s voice interrupted as she came down the steps.

“Hey. How are you today?” I left my pickup and gave her a hug.

“Look, Britt,” Brett said, holding up the treats. “His grandma sent cookies for our car too. What’s your excuse for not riding with Tana and me now?”

“She doesn’t need an excuse,” I interjected. “Everyone knows I’m way cooler than you. That should be reason enough.”

Brett elbowed me, and Brittney laughed. “Whatever,” he said. “Twin brother trumps football stud every time, right Brittney?”

She appeared to ponder this carefully, glancing between us.

“I have two different kinds of cookies in my truck,” I added.

“Sorry, bro. I’m going with the football stud,” she replied quickly, and I laughed as Brett shook his head in defeat.

“She just wants you for your cookies, man.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Is that true?”

She gave me a wide, innocent look. “Of course not. You’re one of
my
best friends too. Why should Brett get to do everything with you by himself? Today is my turn.” She poked her tongue at him.

“She does have a point there.” I glanced at Brett with a sly smile. “You do hog me.”

He grabbed me around the shoulders with one arm. “That’s because I loooove you, bro.” He made grossly distorted kissing lips angling toward my cheek, and I shoved him away, laughing.

“You’re sick, dude. Let’s get your stuff, so we can get going. Is Tana meeting us here?” I really hoped so. I hated driving to her place and passing the spot of Nikki’s accident.

“Yeah, her mom is bringing her by right now.”

We headed toward the house, and I noticed Brittney wasn’t with us. I glanced around and found her leaning into my truck, digging a cookie from the bag. Brett paused to see what I was looking at and shook his head.

“I warned you.”

Brittney glanced up and caught us staring. “What?” she asked, as she took a bite and sighed.

“Nothing,” I replied, smiling. “I know the lure of Grandma’s baking.”

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway alerted us to Tana’s arrival, and Brett left to greet her. I grabbed a box, stacked it on top of another one and started hauling his things to my truck. A small smile slipped across my lips. I was glad we were doing this together. It would be fun for Brett and me to be neighbors with the girls in our new apartment complex. A momentary stab of sadness followed. These girls were Nikki’s two best friends. She would’ve been my neighbor too.

Chapter Four

“You gonna save me any of those?” I asked Brittney. “What is that now? Four?”

She rolled her eyes as she licked her fingers. “It’s not like you don’t have two dozen on the seat next to you. Are you really going to miss four?”

I grinned. “No. I just like messing with you.”

“Why?” She looked truly puzzled.

“Because you make it so easy. You know Brett and I sit around and think of ways we can torment you, don’t you?”

“I do. That’s why I try to ignore most things the two of you say.” She took another cookie from the bag. “I was done, but I’m going to eat one more to spite you.”

Laughing, I reached for another myself. “Go right ahead. I’m not the one who’ll be in the gym complaining about it later.”

She stared at her dessert. “You’re right. Do you want this?”

“I was kidding.” I shook my head. “You couldn’t get fat if you tried.”

“That’s what you think.” She frowned a little. “Matt’s always telling me how fat I am.”

“Then you should definitely eat the cookie because Matt’s a douche. I never could figure out how you ended up with such a jerk. Why do you stay with him?”

“He’s not that bad.” She stared out the window but didn’t defend him anymore.

“If he’s so wonderful, why isn’t he here helping you move today?”

She shrugged. “I guess he figured you and Brett had it covered.”

“Have you seen him since he moved down there?”

She shook her head. “No. He said he was too busy to make the trip home. He calls almost every day, though.”

“
Almost
every day?” I snorted. “Dump him, Britt. He’s not worth your time. Any guy who doesn’t try to get in touch with you every day isn’t as into you as he should be.”

She bit her lip and looked at me, tiny lines creasing between her brows. “He calls everyday when we’re in the same town.”

I was skeptical. “And what kinds of things does he say to you? Is there a romantic under the idiot?” I’d never been quiet about my opinion of Matt.

“No, not really. He usually wants to know what I’m wearing.”

“Excuse me? What you’re wearing? Oh, wait. This isn’t about some sexy booty call, is it? If so, I don’t want to hear anymore.”

She shrugged, and started examining one of her hands. “It’s not anything like that. Sometimes he doesn’t like the clothes I choose.”

I was dumbfounded for a moment as I tried to process this. “Are you saying he
calls
you and tells you what to
wear
?”

She didn’t answer.

“Come on! You’ve got to be kidding me! Please don’t tell me you actually listen to this jerk.” I paused, and when she didn’t say anything I continued on, my eyes widening as I stared at her incredulously. “You’ve actually changed your clothes for him?”

“He
is
my boyfriend. I should look nice for him. If it means I have to change a few times to please him . . . never mind. You don’t understand,” she responded quietly.

“You’re right. I don’t. And I’m betting you don’t either. Have you looked at yourself in a mirror, Britt? You’re gorgeous—stunning even. Any guy you’re dating should feel like the luckiest person in the world to have you on his arm. I don’t care if you’re walking around wearing a paper bag.”

She half laughed, half snorted. “Whatever, Chase.”

“I’m totally serious. I’ve always thought you were one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen. Don’t let some jerk bully you around and make you feel less than you are. I’m not saying this to be mean, or because I don’t like him.” I glanced back to the road. “But I am a guy, and I know what I’m talking about. When I was with Nikki . . . ,” I trailed off, realizing what I’d said.

“You two were perfect for each other,” she replied softly. “I’ll never forget how crazy she was about you. She spoke of you nonstop.”

“Really?” My interest was piqued as she successfully diverted my focus. I craved hearing more. “What did she say?”

“You know, the usual . . . how much she loved you, how amazing you are, did we see your arms in the shirt you wore . . that kind of stuff.”

I chuckled. “My arms?”

“She had a serious thing for your biceps. She said they were so strong, and she loved the feel of them when you held her.”

“Hmmm . . . interesting. I never knew she noticed. What else did she tell you?” I wanted to hear everything she could tell me.

“Well, there was this one day . . . oh, never mind. I can’t tell you about it.”

Worry shot through me. Was there something about Nikki I didn’t know?

“Why can’t you?” I asked, determined to find out what it was.

“She swore Tana and me to secrecy. She said she’d die . . . .” she paused uncomfortably, “said she’d die if you found out. I’m sorry. That was a poor choice of words.”

“Don’t feel bad. Tell me what it was,” I encouraged.

“Chase, I’m feeling like this might not be the best thing to talk about right now. I know you’ve struggled, and I don’t want to say anything that would hurt your feelings.”

I glanced over. “Now you’re scaring me. I have these horrible things running through my mind now. Pull off the Band-aid fast, and tell me.”

“She went and bought a bunch of bridal magazines and made us look at dresses with her while she planned her dream wedding, with you as the groom, of course.”

“Honestly? She talked about marrying me?” I couldn’t help my initial grin, but it was quickly followed by the realization it was a wedding that would never happen.

She laid her hand on my shoulder and squeezed slightly. “I’m sorry. Now you know why I didn’t want to tell you.”

“No, it’s okay, really.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “I have to say, it’s nice to hear some new things about her. Everyone is super sensitive about the subject around me—not that I make it easy—but I find myself missing being able to talk to people about her. I’m tired of hearing everyone is sorry she’s dead. I keep getting these sympathetic looks and condolences. Lying in a casket six feet under isn’t the way I want to remember her. I want to remember her
alive
and
vibrant
. That was
my
Nikki—so extremely full of life.
Those
are the stories I want to hear. I miss her.”

Brittney dropped her hand from my shoulder and was silent for a moment. “I’m sorry, Chase. I had no idea you felt that way. We’ve been trying not to talk about her because we didn’t want to hurt you.”