Chasing Leah (Journey Series) (26 page)

I scroll through the messages
which are all from Missy.

You looked so
fuckin
’ sexy tonight
Chase,
wanna
come over to my place now so we can continue the
party? I need to feel your hands all over my body again.

Again?
His hands were on her in the first place? My pulse begins to quicken as I keep
going through the messages which have now turned into pictures. How classy.

 
The first of her barely
clothed body in a tight red dress that barely covers any of the goods.
Yup definitely a stripper.
I glance over at Chase who is
still passed out before turning my attention to the next one. This one looks to
be sans bra and is a close up of her obviously fake massive boobs with a
message attached:
I know you liked
these the
most
.That bitchy girlfriend you complain about all the time doesn’t even have half
of what I got. We can do a repeat of what we had tonight. Meet me tomorrow when
you said she had to work.
The message is followed by her address and a time
to meet.

My hands tremble as I throw the
phone and panties onto the empty spot next to Chase.
Bitchy
girlfriend that he complains about?
And apparently
something most of happened last night that this girl wants a repeat of.

 
I can feel a lump growing in my throat and
tears begin to spill down my cheeks as I back out of the room and snatch up my
purse. I tiptoe towards
Calebs
door and peek in to see he’s still asleep so I scoop him up in my arms as
carefully as I can without waking him.

I knew Chase had plenty of girls
throwing themselves at him but he never seemed to return any of the feelings
besides brushing them aside. I guess when I wasn’t around that wasn’t the case.
I’m sure the alcohol that he had basically bathed in hadn’t helped the
situation if this girl was basically throwing herself at him but I was
definitely not the type of person to use that excuse on.

I fish my keys out of my purse
and go across the hall, trying to shakily slip my key into the lock.
“Ally?”
I croak out. “In here honey,” she shouts from her
bedroom down the hall. “Hey
whats
wrong?” she asks as
I come in with a sleeping Caleb and lay him down next to her where she’s curled
up in bed.

 
“I don’t want to talk about it right now but
can you watch Caleb please? I don’t want to push him off on you again but I
need some time alone.” She looks back at me with a concerned look before
covering Caleb up with her comforter.
“Of course sweetie pie.
You know I don’t mind.”

I shut and lock my bedroom door
behind me as I throw myself down onto my bed and the sobs begin. This is what I
get for giving my whole heart to someone. I knew this is how it would end but I
let myself get hurt anyways. And worst of all
Calebs
involved in this too. I thought Chase cared about the both of us.

I wake up a couple hours later
with a raw throat and puffy eyes. “Leah,” I hear a soft knock on the door. “Are
you okay doll?”
Allys
muffled voice comes through my
door. “I went over to Chase’s but he was playing dumb about the whole thing and
now he’s camped out in the hallway looking like he got ran over by a
mac
truck. He looks like pure dog shit. What’s going on?”
She
pauses
waiting for my answer but I just lay my
head back down. I’m really not in the mood for talking and getting the third
degree from Ally right now. “I didn’t let him in though. Obviously if you’re in
here, he must have messed up pretty bad.

“Good,” I reply. I hope he’s a
freakin
’ mess. It’s not my fault he apparently can’t
control his actions when he drinks.
“Um ‘
kay
Leah.
Just let me know when you’re ready to talk. Don’t worry about
Caleb,
I think we’re
gonna
go grab
some lunch.”

 
At least I know
Calebs
in good hands as long as he’s not affected by this as much as possible I think
I can make it through this. I know it’ll take awhile to put all of the pieces
of my heart back together after it was shattered apart but I’ll get by for
Calebs
sake. As for men, maybe I would become a nun or
something, who needs ‘
em
anyways?

Chase

What the fuck did I do last
night? I keep trying to remember but only get small flashbacks here and there.
The guys got me totally smashed after I told them about my new job and insisted
we needed to celebrate. Everyone started calling me Mr. O’Neil for the rest of
the night and of course Teddy had to ride me about what an old fuck I’m getting
to be with a real job and a wife and kid. Pretty sure he’s just jealous of
all that,
he knows he won’t be able to do the whole rock
band scene for the rest of his life and he wishes Leah was his. Really anyone
would be crazy not to have that wish.

First thing I noticed after I
was able to peel my eyes open was the pounding in my head, I don’t think I’ve
ever been that wasted in my life and I can normally hold my liquor pretty well.
Second thing I noticed was that my bed felt strangely empty when I realized
Leah wasn’t next to me. I figured she was up with the little dude but after a
quick search of the small apartment, I quickly got my answer.

 
No familiar sounds of cartoons coming from the
living room TV or the squeals from Caleb that I loved to hear. Maybe they went
out, I did kind of sleep in pretty late. I needed to find my phone though, no
clue where it was or if I still even had it. Before I got very far I heard a
pounding coming from the front door. Shit I need some aspirin.

 
The pounding continued till I got there. Maybe
Leah forgot her keys. I open up the door but not to what I expected. Instead I
had one pissed off looking blonde standing at my door with her hands on her
hips. As soon as the door was open an inch she plows her way in like she’s on a
mission and I was not getting in the way of that.

“Nice to see
you too Al.
Can I help you with something?
Leahs
not here.”
I scrub a
hand over my face. I really need a shower and a change of clothes.

“Gee you think Chase? She’s over
at her own apartment. And that’s where she’s staying too.”
O-
kkk
.
Obviously something is wrong here and I need to
figure it out pretty quickly.

“Uh Al.
You think you could explain to me exactly why Leah and Caleb aren’t here?” She
abruptly stops what’s she’s doing and gets in my face. “Really Chase don’t play
stupid. You need to tell me what’s going on
cause
Leah
certainly isn’t.” She jabs her pointer finger into my chest like she’s trying
to prod the information out of me.

“Trust me Ally I wish I knew. I
have no
clue,
I had a ton to drink last night.”

 
She huffs out a breath at me and stomps
angrily back to the door.
“Whatever Chase.
I never saw
you as one to play the too drunk off my ass to remember cards and you know
that’s
not
gonna
fly with Leah.” I
try to follow her across the hall and squeeze my way through the door. I’m sure
if I can just talk to Leah the whole situation would be cleared up quickly but
Ally is not having it.

 
“Don’t Chase seriously! She doesn’t want to
see you right now.” I plop myself down in the hallway. Guess I’ll get
comfortable here then until Leah decides to talk to me and clue me in on what
the problem is exactly. “I’ll be right here when she’s ready then.” The only
answer I get is a slamming of the door.

It felt like I sat there for
hours before the door opened again. I glanced down at my watch.
Nope only about 30 minutes but still.
My
freakin
’
head was pounding, my breath smelled like ass, and I seriously needed a change
of clothes. Of course it wasn’t Leah though.
Just Ally and
Caleb.

 
“You’re still out here Chase? You’re really
going to be waiting awhile.” I ignore her and squat down to
Calebs
level. “Hey little buddy, what’s up?” I run my
hand through his brown curls that remind me so much of
Leahs
.
I really need to get him in for a haircut before Leah turns him into a girl.
First nail polish, now long hair, not
gonna
happen.
I’m sure my input probably wouldn’t matter right now.

“Nothing, Mommy’s in a bad mood.
Auntie Ally’s taking me to get
sketti
, you
wanna
come?” I look over
Calebs
shoulder and get the death glare from Ally who’s shaking her head fiercely at
me. Does she think I’m stupid? First of all I’m not
gonna
miss a chance Leah happens to come out of , second of all Leah would be
seriously pissed if she found out I went anywhere with Caleb right now. I know
how protective of him she is and he doesn’t need to get involved in our mess.

“Nope I’m a little busy bud
maybe next time.”

He lets out a little giggle
before grabbing a hold of Ally’s hand again. “
Your
silly. All
your
doing is sitting in the hall. And you
smell funny.” He scrunches up his little nose and backs up from me.

 
“Thanks dude, I appreciate it.” Ally scowls at
me again over
Calebs
head and I swear her blue eyes
are trying to shoot ice straight through my head. I’m pretty sure I don’t like
this side of Ally at all.
Where’s
my peace, love, and
all that shit girl at right now? Usually she’s my biggest
cheerleader,
obviously I messed up pretty bad.

I try knocking a few times while
their gone but don’t get a response and when I put my ear up to the door I hear
nothing but silence. Okay I need to think up a new plan. This is
freakin
’ killing me not knowing what’s going on as I pace
up and down the hallway, getting strange looks from my neighbors who come and
go down the hallway.

“Chase your still here? You want
some of my
sketti
, I got a doggie box. I told the
lady we don’t have a doggie but she said I could still have it.” Caleb walks up
pulling a still pissed off Ally behind him. Yup I hate that the thoughts
creeping into my head but
heres
my in and I’m not
gonna
pass it up.

 
“Sure buddy, I’ll come over to your place. I
need to talk to your Mommy first though if that’s okay.” If looks could kill I
would have been dead about five minutes ago. Ha Ally, I’m sure I’ll get my ass
chewed out about this later. Oh well.

Caleb plops down onto the couch
while Ally turns a cartoon on for him and then tries to block my way protesting
the whole way but I just brush her aside. “Sorry Ally but I need to talk to
her. She’s not
gonna
push me away.”

“No, I don’t think that’s a good
idea….just stop….please just
give
her some time…NO.”

I can hear the water running in
the bathroom attached to
Leahs
bedroom and I guess I should seize the opportunity. She doesn’t have anywhere
to run. “I’m sorry Leah, I tried to stop him,” Ally says over my shoulder when
Leah opens up the shower curtain to see who interrupted her.

“It’s okay. Just keep Caleb
occupied for a little bit please,” she calls out to her and Ally leaves the
room, shutting the door behind her. And we’re alone. I have no idea what to say
to her but the hurt look crossing her face and the pain that’s evident in her
wide gray eyes tears my heart apart and puts a heavy weight on my chest. “What
do you want Chase,” she spits out in an icy tone that I’ve never heard directed
at me before.

“Leah,” I manage to choke out
through my tightened throat and I step into the shower fully clothed, trying to
wrap my arms around her small body, brushing her wet hair out of her face.
“Stop Chase.”
She squirms away from my reach and stands as
far away from me as possible in the small containment of the shower.

“What’s wrong Leah, what did I
do,” I ask pleadingly, hoping she can fill me in on how I caused her so much
hurt so I can fix it.

“Really Chase. You even need to
ask? I think I left enough evidence on your bed for you to clear anything up.
Now please. GET OUT.” I clench my eyes shut tight and rub the bridge of my
nose, maybe if I concentrate real hard I can remember.

“What evidence? I still don’t
know what your upset about Leah but I’ll just give you a little bit of space
for now. But please don’t cry Leah,” I reach over and try to swipe at a stray
tear with my thumb. Even crying she’s so beautiful with her eyelashes all
clumped together into spiked black clumps. She flinches at my touch and I pull
back at her rejection, clenching both of my hands into fists to resist from the
overpowering need to comfort her. “I don’t need any space right now Chase.
We’re done. End of story.”

“Leah
don’t
say that, whatever I did or whatever you
think
I did we’ll get past it.
I promise.”

 
She doesn’t even answer me with a reply, just
turns her back to me and I know I’ve been dismissed. “I love you,” I rasp into
her ear before pulling my weighted down body out of the shower. Now I needed to
pull it together. Caleb was already going to be wondering why I was
wet,
he doesn’t need to be involved. I love that little guy
like he was my own.