Finding Chase (Chasing Nikki) (6 page)

Tana slid into the booth first, then Brett. Brittney moved in on the other side and scooted around by Tana, leaving me a place to sit beside her.

We ordered drinks and began looking through the menu. I kept getting distracted by the sports news on one of the many flat screen televisions around the ceiling of the neon-lit restaurant, but I couldn’t help glancing occasionally toward the bar. I didn’t know if I was hoping Brittney would see Matt, or not. I definitely didn’t want her to get hurt, but if he was the cheating idiot I thought he was, then I’d be happy if he got caught, for sure. He may have managed to get a spot on the team too, but I hadn’t liked him since I’d first moved to Silver Creek. I never could figure out how he and Britt had gotten together in the first place.

“What are you getting?” Brittney asked, nudging my elbow.

I returned my gaze to the menu. “Hmm . . . I’m not sure. The Devil Burger sounds good, and it’s their signature dish, so I might try that.”

“It does look good.” Her eyes flicked over the page. “They have southwestern chicken wraps. I might try those. Ugh, there are too many good choices. I always get something and then wish I had something different.”

I chuckled. “Everyone else’s plate looks better than the one you have?”

“Exactly. Then I’m bummed because I wasted my money.”

“Tell you what—you order your chicken wrap, I’ll order the burger, and we can share with each other. I’ll give you half of mine, if you give me half of yours.”

Her eyes widened and she grinned. “You’d do that for me? Really?”

“Of course I would. I can’t let you go home feeling bummed, can I? What kind of friend would I be?”

“You could never be a bad friend, Chase. I don’t think it’s in your chemical makeup.”

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and gave her a brief squeeze. “I’m glad you think so. You wouldn’t have thought that if you’d known me a couple of years ago.”

She looked like she wanted to ask me something, but the waitress brought our drinks, interrupting us. I rested my arm on the seat behind her, slouching as she took our orders. When she left, I leaned my head against the booth too.

“Are you tired?” Brett asked.

“Exhausted. Aren’t you? We worked out hard today. I feel like I could sleep for a year.”

“We should’ve let you guys stay home,” Tana spoke up. “Especially since you have football practice again tomorrow. You need your rest.”

“We’ll be okay,” Bret said. “This is nice, and we needed to eat anyway.”

“And there’s no dishes this way,” I added.

“Please. You both know you wouldn’t have cooked. Brett would’ve ordered a pizza if we hadn’t invited you.” Brittney smiled. “He hates to cook.”

“You’re right.” Brett grinned. “I see a lot of pizza in our future.”

“Well, we didn’t have any groceries to cook with anyway. We still need to go shopping tonight and get some,” I reminded.

“Maybe we can all go after dinner then,” Tana suggested. “Britt and I need some more too.”

“Sounds like a plan. Let’s do it.” I glanced between the twins who both nodded in agreement.

Brittney suddenly stiffened, and I turned to follow her gaze, seeing Matt walk from the bar with his arm draped around the curvy brunette. They were laughing boisterously over something, and his hand slid down to pinch her on the rear.

“Well, now I know what he was working on,” Brittney whispered as she watched him walk through the front door.

“Say the word, Britt, and I’ll go out there and pound his ass.” I was pissed for her. Any guy would have to be blind not to see what a catch she was.

“I’m right there with him,” Brett added as the four of us watched through the window. The two of them were kissing on the sidewalk as they moved toward Matt’s car. We watched them until they were out of view. I ground my teeth together—so much for no public displays of affection. Had he raised his head up for two seconds he’d have seen us gawking at them.

“No. Leave him,” she said, and I stared at her.

“Don’t let him treat you this way, Brittney. He doesn’t deserve you.”

“I’m not letting him treat me this way,” she said, lifting her chin a notch. “We’re through. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

“Please say you’re gonna let me be the one to tell him. I’d really love to punch the guy right now.”

She smiled a bit dejectedly, and patted me gently on the leg. “Thanks, but no. He’s supposed to pick me up for breakfast tomorrow. I’ll tell him when he comes.”

“I’m sorry, Brittney,” Tana said, hugging her best friend. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, and grabbed her purse. “I will be, but I don’t feel much like eating right now. I think I’ll call a cab and go home, if you don’t mind.” She threw some money on the table. “That should cover my dinner.”

“Wait,” I said, grabbing my wallet and throwing some bills down too. “Brett, there’s enough for my meal and some extra to help with groceries. If you and Tana will take care of that, I’ll make sure Brittney gets home okay. I’m beat tonight. Have them box my food, and I’ll eat it tomorrow. I can hardly stay awake.”

“We can come now too. Are you sure?” Tana asked glancing between Brittney and me.

“No, eat your dinner. I’m sorry I ruined everyone’s plans,” Brittney said.

“You didn’t,” I replied, squeezing her shoulders briefly. “I’m going to get the hostess to call us a cab.”

I left her with Brett and Tana while I walked to the hostess station for help. I saw Matt leaning against his car with the girl pinned beneath him as he kissed her. He obviously didn’t care about who saw him. Did he think he was going to get away with it?

My hands clenched into fists, and I wished I could go yank him back by his sandy brown hair and beat his face. He stayed there long enough I worried he’d be there when our cab showed up. How would I get Brittney to the car without causing a big scene? I cast a worried glance in her direction. She was still talking to Brett and Tana. I was glad—she didn’t need to see this. Finally, Matt helped the girl into the car and quickly joined her before they drove away. Not five seconds passed before our cab pulled up.

“Brittney,” I called, signaling to her, and she joined me. I ushered her outside and opened the door, sliding in behind her.

“Desert Breeze Apartments near Southern and Rural Road, please,” I leaned forward and told the driver then settled into my seat. I closed my eyes and sighed deeply.

“You really are tired, aren’t you?” she asked after a couple of minutes. “You weren’t saying that as an excuse to come with me.”

“I’m beat,” I said with a soft chuckle. “They’ve been running us hard.” I gave her a heavily lidded stare and grinned. “Don’t think I’m a wimp now, okay?”

“Whatever. I’d be surprised if you weren’t tired. You helped us carry in all those boxes, bags, and furniture items we bought today too.”

“Brett seems to be fine.”

“He didn’t carry half of what you did. Plus, he stopped and made out with Tana every time he brought something in.”

“Disgusting,” I said with a scrunched up face.

“Pitiful, indeed,” she added, and we both laughed, the golden glow of the streetlights brushing back and forth across us. I watched her for a few moments as the driver sped down the road, weaving through the evening traffic.

“Aren’t we a couple of sourpuss losers?”

“Yeah, but better a loser than having to be the one making out with Brett or Tana if you ask me.”

“Here, here,” I replied, enjoying our banter at the expense of our friends. “That would be wrong for both of us on so many levels.” I pretended to shudder, and she laughed harder.

The cab stopped outside our complex, I paid the driver and we got out.

“Here’s some money for my share of the cab,” she said, handing me a few dollars.

“Don’t worry about it. It’ll be my treat. It was totally worth the chance to hit my pillow earlier than expected.”

She smiled, but didn’t argue as we walked up the stairs together. “Do you have your key?” she asked.

“Yes, I do,” I replied, dangling them to show her.

“Okay, good. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Sounds like a plan. Get some rest.”

She gave me a quick embrace, and both of us entered our apartments. I went straight to my room and sat down long enough to remove my shoes and hat before flopping onto my pillow. I stared at Nikki’s picture for a minute in the dim light and slowly let my eyes drift shut to her image.

The air conditioning unit clicked off, and the house got really quiet. I could hear something strange, though, and I strained my ears trying to figure it out. I listen for several minutes to the random sounds before I finally realized what it was. Brittney’s bedroom shared a wall with mine. She was crying in her room—sobbing from the sounds of it.

I groaned and rubbed my forehead. Damn that Matt. How could he do this to her? I was glad she was dumping him, yes, but I didn’t want to see her hurting either. I knew what it was like to lay in bed and ache for the person you wanted to be with.

Without considering anything, I got out of bed and went next door. I tried the knob and it was open, so I walked in. I was going to have to talk to her about that. We didn’t live in the country anymore. I went to her room and knocked.

“You decent, Britt?”

“Yeah,” came the hiccupped reply.

I stepped inside. The light was off, but I could see her form curled up in the corner of the bed under the far wall’s window.

“I could hear you crying,” I explained, not knowing what else to say.

“Sorry.” She didn’t move.

I went over and crawled next to her, leaning against the headboard. “Come here.”

She snuggled into my arms immediately, still crying, and I stroked her hair, trying to soothe her somehow. My eyelids grew heavier with each passing minute, and I tried to fight the exhaustion, but I couldn’t hold it back. I decided to rest my eyes for a few seconds.

Chapter Eight

Nikki and I were in the meadow by the creek sitting against a tree. She was wrapped in my arms, and it felt good to have her there.

“I’ve missed you,” I said, kissing her brown hair softly as I stroked my hand over her short white sundress. We were both barefoot, and I was wearing a white button-up shirt that hung open along with a pair of kaki colored pants rolled at the cuff. I couldn’t remember where I’d gotten them—they weren’t my normal style.

She tilted her head so she could stare at me, her brown eyes sparkling brightly. “I’ve missed you too.” Her voice was like music to my ears, a sound I could get lost in over and over again.

“Say something else to me,” I ordered and she laughed.

“Like what?”

I sighed. “That was perfect. Don’t stop talking or laughing. I love the sound of your voice.” I squeezed her tighter, trying to get closer.

“I enjoy yours too.” She slid her fingers up, tracing my lips, and I kissed them, my heart feeling like it was overflowing with joy. I’d never been as content as I was in this moment.

“You seem happy, but your eyes look sad and guarded.” Her fingers moved their way to my brow. “Why?”

I stilled, wondering why she would see that. “Probably because you left me. I’ve been searching for you frantically. I never thought I’d see you again.”

She nodded, and the sparkle in her own eyes dimmed. “I know. What happened to us wasn’t very fair, was it?” She turned away slightly focusing in the direction of the creek. “Torn apart as our lives were barely beginning. I’m sorry it had to be that way.”

“
Why
did it have to be that way?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. It just did.”

“Well, I don’t like it. It’s been horrible without you.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.” She scooted up, brushing her lips across mine, and I slid my hand behind her neck in an attempt to keep her there and kiss her deeper. She smiled against my mouth and relented, allowing me the access I desperately sought.

My tongue slipped inside, touching hers, and the same old sparks exploded within me. I groaned as she moved, straddling my lap, so she was slightly above me now. Her hair fell in a dark curtain, surrounding both our faces in a little cocoon all to ourselves. It was longer than I remembered it, and I loved it.

I slid both my hands up the sides of her face, holding her lovely cheeks while the tips of my fingers tangled near the roots of her glorious locks. She tasted incredibly sweet, and I knew she was a treat I’d never get my fill of.

Releasing her, I trailed my fingers to her waist, rolling her over and pinning her on the ground beneath me. She laughed as I kissed my way down her neck, and I could feel her fingertips dancing down the skin of my back, underneath my unbuttoned shirt. It felt wonderful to have her touch me that way again.

“Why’d you wait so long to come to me?” I whispered against her skin, unable to pull my lips away.

“I’ve always been with you, Chase. You were too caught up in your own grief to notice I never left.”

I lifted my head, pausing so I could search her eyes. “My heart has been breaking. There were days I didn’t know if I’d be able to go on.”