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“Oh, about three hours” Chase chimed in,
moving about the kitchen easily and freely.

“Yeah, I got home from the beach and you were
out to the world while poor Chase was getting his nipples scared
straight by Michael Myers.” She winked at him knowing her
inappropriateness was appreciated by us.

“Where’s Mila?” I asked, knowing full well
what the answer to that question was.

Chelsea gave the did-you-really-have-to ask
look and I knew that her and Ryan were still out and about;
frolicking like young people in love.

“Well Cara, I’m getting frustrated for you.
It’s been a week and you still haven’t heard from Jason. Maybe you
should contact Jacob, just to make sure that all is well with
Jason.”

“I would never do that. I don’t understand
the level of hatred so I’ll just stay back here on the
sidelines.”

Both Chelsea and Chase gave me a wild look of
amazement, and then started eating the surprisingly edible meal
that Chelsea Peters had laid out for us.

<>

Monday morning came much too soon. Chase
offered to take me to dinner after classes tonight, and I happily
accepted, because truthfully, I was enjoying my time with him. It
felt like it was getting easier being without Jason, and the
uncomplicated Chase made for a welcome distraction.

I made my way through morning workouts,
killing it again. The best pick me up for a sluggish Monday morning
is a good session in the gym. My morning class had been cancelled
so Chelsea, Mila, and I decided to go to a small pancake house to
have a filling breakfast. Mila seemed to be glowing, so we decided,
for once, that she should be on the inquisitor’s block.

“Alright, spill it; why are you so damn
happy?” Chelsea asked, grinning at her as if she already knew the
answer.

Mila, never one to succumb to shyness,
blurted out, “because, Ryan told me he wants to be exclusive… and
this is just what I’ve been wanting.”

An uneasy rumble rippled across my stomach. I
wasn’t sure why, because I had mentally told myself that I was okay
with them. I looked at Mila and gave her a half smile, which she
noticed and took offense to.

“What Pinks?”

“Nothing.”

“No, it’s something, what is it?” I didn’t
want to go into the reasoning behind my smile, but since she was
being so persistent, I felt like the opportunity to lay it all out
was there for the taking.

“Well, you had Grant. And all of a sudden,
you have Ryan…” I paused desperately wanting to say the right thing
to clear my mind and not offend Mila at the same time.

“Yes, I did have Grant, but he was not what I
was looking for. Your brother and I have always had a thing for
each other, just never in a position to make it happen.”

“Well, technically, you still weren’t.” And,
with that statement, she ran her tongue over her top teeth, and
then took a sip of her orange juice.

“Cara, what’s the problem? Why are you so
uneasy about them?” Chelsea prodded, trying to play mediator in
this situation.

“No offense Mila and I love you dearly, but
you get bored with guys easily, and you were kind of exclusive with
Grant, then you dropped him. Is he even aware?”

She puckered her lips, threw her long,
luscious hair behind her shoulders, and looked deep into my eyes
with a look that shot daggers.

“First of all, I was not exclusive with
Grant. He has commitment issues, but I don’t spill every tiny
detail of my relationships to you. Secondly, yes he knows, and he
said he was happy for me, because he was not ready for that, and he
knew I was. So your concern about me getting bored stems from guys
not moving in the direction that I am. Are you okay with that?” The
sarcasm coming off her tongue was thick, almost to the point that I
was fighting back tears. Chelsea glanced over to me and saw my eyes
on the verge of exploding.

“Time out you two. Mila, I highly doubt Cara
was trying to insult you, and Cara, it just came across the wrong
way.” Mila was still glaring at me, lips pursed together, and
breathing hard. “Plus,” she let out a laugh, “if this works out,
you two will be sisters -- get along damn it.”

I looked at Mila; she was not relenting, so I
figured I had to take the first step in righting this wrong. My
dad’s words crept back into my head, and like he had said, I should
have just let it go, and let adults be adults. “Mila, I’m sorry.
I’m happy for you and Ryan, but I was a little concerned. I
completely understand now.”

“Not that it was any of your business, but I
do accept your apology.” Her voice was still laced with anger.

“Well you two, Hunter comes in tonight, so I
will not be home. Don’t miss me too much.” She chuckled, steering
the conversation away the hostility.

“Where are you two off to?” I muttered,
wanting to move on from the awkward altercation with Mila.

“I really don’t know we might just lie in bed
and have sex all night. I’ve been without him for a week.”

I immediately burst into tears. Mila softened
and rubbed my hands across the table, and I looked up to two sad
faces, looking hopelessly at me.

“I’m so sorry Cara. I know it’s been a week,
and I wasn’t even thinking when I said that.”

I tried to put on a smile, “Don’t worry about
it Chels, I thought I was getting over it, I don’t know what to
think.”

“But, I thought you were kind of seeing
Chase…” she stopped, looking puzzled.

“I’m hanging out with him. I don’t know if
I’m ready to be with someone.”

“Well, you know he likes you, and always has.
I was a little confused because I didn’t know you would see him in
that light, you know…” and, my look stopped her in her tracks.

“Chase is just a friend, and with Jason out
of the picture, it’s nice to have someone to just hang out
with.”

The girls didn’t seem convinced, but were
pacified by my failed attempt to suppress their thoughts and
feelings. We finished breakfast on a much better note.

<>

The rest of my day was pretty relaxed. There
was still no correspondence from Jason, and I had resolved myself
to just chalk this one up to a loss. So many thoughts had run
through my head that it was spinning. Luckily, Chase was taking me
out to dinner at a cool little spot – Buddy’s Burgers. Buddy’s was
a cool little college hangout, and the atmosphere was perfect for
the mood that I needed to be in. We strolled in and grabbed a
table, ordered food and a couple of beers, and just got lost in the
act of having a good time. I consciously made note of the time,
because I do not want to stay out too late. It was seven forty-five
when we took our seats, and I was pretty sure we would be out no
later than nine thirty.

“Hear anything from Jason?” Chase asked, and
the queasy look on his face told me he was asking the question
before really thinking.

I sighed, “No. But, I’m okay with that. He’s
quickly becoming an afterthought.”

“Seems a bit strange though. He wooed you,
then dropped you…” he paused; sure that he had stuck his foot in
his mouth.

“Don’t worry about it,” I smiled, “I feel the
same way.”

“Well, his loss. You know I would love to be
that person for you, but I’m sure you want to take your time.”
Chase was being so forthcoming, which was very unlike him, and I
wasn’t exactly sure how to respond to him without hurting his
feelings, so I chugged my beer in the most unladylike manner, and
quickly order another.

“I’m definitely not ready,” I lowered my
head, not wanting to witness his disappointment.

Chase ordered another round of beers, and we
just engaged ourselves in carefree, light hearted conversation. It
was nice to just talk, and laugh. There was no more mention of
Jason, or Chase’s feelings for me, and I was deeply relieved,
because both topics felt like boulders on my shoulders. I ordered
another beer and Chase decided on water, since he drove. He started
asking about Mila and Chelsea and the alcohol acted as armor for
me, so I started spilling everything inside of me.

“Chels still going strong with Hunter I see?
Do you think they’ll get married?”

“Someday. At times I think Hunter is too
reserved to keep up with her, but they say opposites attract.”

“And what about Mila?”

“Don’t get me started there?”

“Uh oh? Trouble brewing?”

“She’s dating my brother.”

“Whoa! Really? And, I take it you aren’t
happy about it.”

“I’m conflicted.”

“Why?”

“Um, let’s see… she is a serial dater, and
it’s my brother now.”

“Well, I know I’m not your brother’s favorite
person, but I do think he is capable of sniffing out a bad one. If
he likes her, let it be.”

“Same damn advice I keep hearing,” I
murmured, “I’m trying. I just don’t want things to go badly and
then I’m left in the middle of it all.”

“Let the chips fall where they may.”

After a few more beers, Chase looked at his
watch and realized it was ten thirty so we paid our tab and left. I
was buzzing pretty badly, but Chase was good to go; having only had
two beers in the almost three hours that we had been there. Why did
I drink so much? I let the windows down in his truck and allowed
the crisp, fresh air to slam against my face. My phone buzzed and I
looked down to a text message.

from Mila

*Where are you? I came home to grab clothes… leaving
now! Hope you are okay!*

I looked at the message, and placed my phone
back into my purse. I was fine, on my way back home, and even
though we apologized and made nice, I was still a little ticked at
Mila. I turned up the radio in Chase’s truck and belted out an old
classic rock song. We spent the rest of the car ride engaging in
car karaoke; it was one of the best car rides I had ever had.

<>

We pulled up to my apartment and Chase
insisted on walking me in. I allowed him, and on the way up the
stairs, I noticed Mila’s car was still in its parking space. I
guess Ryan came to get her. And, suddenly, I felt very guilty about
not texting back because he could have been the one who asked her
to send that text. I frantically searched for my phone and pulled
it out, hoping I hadn’t missed any calls or texts from my brother.
To my surprise, there were none.

Chase took my keys and opened the door,
leading us into the foyer. I could see that the TV had been left
on, and I assumed that maybe Mila was still home. I called out for
her and got no response. Chase told me to stay put while he
searched the apartment. I didn’t know why but a certain level of
panic invaded my body, and I found it rather difficult to stay put.
I slowly inched back toward the bedrooms, and just as I made my way
past Chelsea’s room, I heard Chase in a very authoritative tone
yell out, “What the fuck?” I ran into my room to see Jason lying on
my bed, eyes full of fury.

Chapter 8

“What the fuck is this shit stain doing here
Cara?” Jason asked, and besides the beet red slowly inhabiting his
face, the thickness of his Southern drawl gave away his anger. At
this point, he was beyond angry, he was actually seething.

“I guess I could ask the same thing,” Chase
snidely retorted.

I looked at the two of them, staring each
other down like they were in a Wild West showdown, and started to
panic. I had never been in this situation before, and I had no clue
what to do.

Jason walked over to me and pulled me back
over to him by my hand. I looked back at Chase, who looked
disgusted, to say the least. Jason kissed my forehead, and I
instantly flinched, making him look at me in a state of confusion.
Did he seriously think everything was okay? This guy left me for a
week, not answering to any of my desperate attempts to get in
contact with him.

“I think you can leave now Chase,” Jason
barked out, in an oh-so-arrogant manner.

Chase looked at Jason in utter amazement and
contempt at the same time. “Did you need permission to leave, when
you left her for a week?” Chase was stern faced with his question
and Jason let go of my hand and briskly walked over and got in his
face. Amazingly, Chase didn’t back down. He didn’t flinch, tighten
up – nothing. He was normally not a fighter, and I hoped and prayed
that he wouldn’t make this his opportunity to start.

“You better watch your fuckin mouth boy.”
Jason said, looking the opposite of a very calm Chase.

“Well, when she can’t stop crying, and her
friends have to help soothe her – boy; I think I have room to
speak.”

Jason looked stunned that Chase was actually
going toe to toe with him. “Bet that’s not all you were hoping to
soothe, now is it?”

I immediately jumped in, “Jason, knock it
off,” and he held up his hand to quiet me down.

“Where the hell have you been? Do you really
think it’s okay to just…” and the anger brewing inside of Chase
caused him to lose his ability to speak so eloquently, “fuckin
disappear?”

Jason lowered his eyes, looking at Chase as
if at any second he would break his neck. My skin was tingling, and
I felt like I was suffocating. The tension in the room could easily
be cut by – a butter knife. These two guys were literally seconds
away from an all-out brawl, and while I could see Jason throwing a
punch, I was pleasantly surprised that Chase was holding his
ground. I didn’t enjoy the toxicity in the air, created by the
presence of Jason, but Chase was showing that he was a real friend,
and I could appreciate that.

“Cara, just say the word and I will get this
punk out of here,” Chase said through gritted teeth.

“Would love to see you try asshole,” and the
arrogant smirk was blasted all over Jason’s face once more.

I felt a sudden twinge in my stomach, and I
knew I couldn’t take much more of this. Jason looked over at me and
smiled, and it sent me on the borderline of rage. I hated that he
had discarded me like a waste of time, and now, was trying to
intimidate one of my good friends. On the other hand, it was good
to see his beautiful face, and hear that heavenly southern drawl,
even if it was laced with jealously and malice.