The Promise (13 page)

The last thing I need
is to wake up screaming and scare the hell out of both myself and everyone else in the house. I decide to blame my uncertainty on my upcoming interview and agree to let them know.

Before long I’m
fighting to hold my eyes open and decide to call it a night. I walk Chase to the door and thank him for a great night.

“Do you have any plans for tomorrow?” he ask
s.

“I’m not sure really. W
hat about you?”

“I don’t know yet,” he sa
ys with a small shrug, his eyes still trained on mine. “I’d like to see you, if that’s okay?”

“Sure, I’d like that,” I answer honestly.

“Good,” he answers, his smile genuine. “I’ll come by tomorrow with Drake then.”

H
e leans down to kiss me goodnight. It isn’t an intense, crazy, passionate kiss like the ones we’ve shared before, but my head is still spinning when we pull away from one another.

I’m grateful he’
s trying so hard to be easy with me. I say goodnight to him before walking towards my room to change into my pajamas, passing Drake on his way out.

“Goodnight, Sophie. I’ll see you in the morning,” h
e says with a smile.

“Night, Drake. See you,
” I answer and watch as Ana walks him to the door. Right as I’m getting ready to shut my bedroom door, I hear Ana’s voice calling from across the apartment.

“
Hey chick! Not so fast!” I open the door back up and she follows me in into my bedroom, sitting on my bed while I change into my pajamas. “So? How was it?”

“Great. We had dinner, went for a walk, sat in the park
, and talked for a while and he brought me back home.”

“Do you still like him?”
she asks.

“Yes, I like him a lot.
Like,
scary
a lot. I still can’t believe it’s only been one day. I feel like we’ve been dating for a month!” I admit.

“
Yeah but you have spent a lot of time together before you decided to date him. And to be fair, he’s been asking you out since you met,” she said, making us both laugh.

“So why
did you lie about the beach?” she asks.

“Well I didn’t lie. I really might have to work,
but even if I don’t have to, I don’t think it would be a good idea right now. We’ve been on two dates, Ana. Don’t you think that’s way too soon for us to take a trip like that together?” I ask.

“Well Drake has a few guest rooms so
you don’t have to sleep in the same bed,” Ana says, peering at me suspiciously. “What’s the real problem?”

Sometimes I wish she wasn’t so good at reading me.

“I can’t sleep there, Ana. I mean, how is that going to look when I wake up at three in the morning and screaming for Jack? He’ll hear me, I know it,” I start, looking her directly in the eyes. “Just like Drake heard me when he stayed last night, right?” Ana chews nervously on her lip before she answers.

“Okay, yes, he heard you but I swear I didn’t tell him anything and I made him promise not to say a
word to Chase. I believe that he won’t. I told him it isn’t our place to mention anything and he told me that he understands,” she rushes through her words. “I think you need to talk to him soon though. I know you said you were going to wait and I’ll support whatever you decide, but it seems like things might start moving pretty fast with the two of you. I don’t want you to get hurt. Just think about it, okay?”

“You’re right. I was thinking I might have to tell him something, even if I don’t tell him everything. I’ll figure it out but I know you’re righ
t.” I take a deep breath when I realize what this means.

For the first time since Jack,
I would have to open my heart to someone again. That realization is absolutely terrifying.

Sophie

The next morning, Chase and Drake made it to our apartment at around eight and much to my surprise and happiness, Chase brought me my favorite coffee. We spent the day lounging by the pool and enjoying the day much like we had the weekend before.

It
s karaoke night at the bar so after Ana headed to work, Chase and I watched a movie together on the couch before we headed up to join them.

Ana got off a little early again that night so she
was able to join us. Chase asks me if I would sing again but I decline and instead I enjoy watching him, Drake and Ana all sing renditions of their favorites as usual. This time, Chase surprises me by straying from his usual selection of 80’s rap, last time he’d performed Young MC’s ‘Bust a Move’, instead, he treating us to his version of Dobie Gray’s ‘Drift Away’.

It’
s the first time that I’ve actually heard him singing and he’s really,
really
good. Drake on the other hand, isn’t so talented. He and Ana completely butchered ‘Islands in the Stream’ by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers so bad that Chase and I joke about leaving them there just so we won’t have to be seen sitting with them anymore.

At the end of the night,
I realize that I’ve had way too much to drink. Everyone else seem okay but there’s no way I’m going to drive. I didn’t want to leave Jack’s truck at the bar, though, so Chase drove me home and had Drake take him back up to get it after I was back at the apartment.

While I wait
for Chase to come back, I decide to take a shower. I switch the radio on and hop in the shower, happily singing along without restraint since I’m alone for the first time all day.

I shut the water off and dry off so I can
slip into my pajamas before Chase gets back. Just as I’m about done, I shut off the radio and am walking out of the bathroom when I hear movement in my bedroom.

Please let that be Ana
,
I pray silently, but when I make my way out to my room, Chase is sitting on the edge of my bed and smiling at me.

“Hey” he greets me
.

“Hey,” I answer
nervously. “How long have you been waiting?”

“Not long. Only about five or ten minutes,” he says.

Fuck
.

He definitely heard me singing then.

As though he’d read my thoughts, Chase adds, “Sophie, you have a beautiful voice. I can’t imagine why you’d ever be shy about it.”

“Thanks,” I say
shakily. “Um, I think I want another drink. Can I get you anything?”

“No thank
s. Are you okay?” he says while walking over to me and placing his hand on my waist, pulling me closer.

“Yeah, I just need a drink. Be right back
,” I say twisting out of his embrace before retreating to the kitchen. I mix my rum with pineapple juice, a little heavier on the rum than normal. Mid-pour, Ana walks in and sees me.

“Shit, Sop
hie! Get enough rum in there?” she jokes.

“He heard me singing in the shower and now I’m freaking out,” s
he laughs at my panicked response before telling me to calm down. I realize I may be overreacting so after a few deep breaths, I walk back into my room to find Chase sitting on the bed again. This time, he’s flipping through the channels on my small TV.

“I hope you don’t mind that I turned this on. Did you want me to go so you can sleep?
” he asks.

“I’m going to stay u
p a little while longer,” I tell him. “You’re welcome to stay awhile if you’d like?”

“Okay,” he says
leaning back against my headboard, extending his arm for me to rest against. I climb up next to him and after consuming about half of my drink, rest against his chest comfortably. The last thing I can remember before falling asleep is Chase laughing quietly at something on TV while he gently rubs circles on my back.

***

When I wake up the next morning, my head is still on Chase’s chest and it’s quiet.

I
remember having dreamt of Jack, as always, but this time it was different.

This time, Jack and I were in his room back
and Camden. We were listening to music and singing together while he played his guitar. I think there was more to the dream, but it wasn’t anything bad this time. The last time I’d slept through the night without waking up through my screaming, Jack was still alive.

I remain where I
am, relishing the fact that I’ve been able to sleep and have a good dream. After a couple of minutes, I feel Chase give me a quick kiss the top of my head and I look up to see him looking down at me.

“Good morning
, Baby,” he says quietly. He gives me a small smile but I notice it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Good morning,
” I answer with a yawn and a smile. “Sorry I fell asleep on you. Did you sleep at all?”

“Yeah, a little,” h
e answers, still quiet.

“Did I keep you awake? I’m sorry. I can’t believe I drank so much last night.”

“Do you feel okay?” he asks.

“I think so
,” I answer, my tone matching his. “I want coffee though. Do you want some?”

“Sure.” I quickly go into the bathroom and as
I walk out, Chase seems to be thinking about something very intently. His gaze is planted firmly on a spot the floor in front of him and it seems like something is really bothering him.

“Are you okay?” I ask,
my voice breaking him from his thoughts. He looks at me and nods but doesn’t say anything else. “Okay, I’m gonna grab us some coffee. Be right back.”

He nods again but still says nothing. Something i
s definitely wrong. I decide maybe he’s just waking up still but when I walk back into my room, Chase has made the bed and is sitting on the foot of it, his head in his hands. I set his coffee down and sit next to him on the bed.

“W
hat’s the matter?”

He
stays lost in his thoughts for a minute before finally turning his gaze towards me, “Sophie, I need to ask you something.”

“Okay.”

“It’s extremely important that you’re honest okay?” I nod as I watch him take a deep breath. “Are you seeing someone else right now?”

“No why?” I ask.

“Sophie, I know I don’t have a right to be upset because we never discussed being exclusive or anything like that. If you’re seeing someone else though, I want you to be upfront and tell me,” he said.

This i
s really confusing me. Why would he think I’m dating someone else?

“Chase
, I’m not dating anyone but you, I promise. If I were, I would have told you before I ever agreed to go out with you.”

I ha
ve no idea what is going on right now but I really wish that I did.

His gaze me
ets mine and I see the sadness there. The coward in me changes my mind about wanting to know what this is all about.

“
Sophie. Who is Jack?”

The next noise I hear is my coffee cup shattering into
pieces across my bedroom floor.

***

For a few seconds, I can’t breathe. My eyes are moist with unshed tears and I’m standing in the middle of my room, completely covered in coffee.

“Are you okay?
Did you burn yourself?” he asks me quietly.

“Why did you just ask me that, Chase?” I finally manage.

“You just spilled your coffee, Sophie …”

I cut him off, “No.
Why did you just ask me about Jack? Where did you hear that name, Chase?” I watch his features fall.

“You said his name in your sleep last
night. Who is he, Sophie?” I’m starting to hyperventilate.

This
cannot be happening right now
.

Chase t
akes a deep breath while pinching the bridge of his nose. He walks past me to grab a towel from my bathroom and starts picking up the pieces of the broken glass while mopping up coffee.

Once I
manage to catch my breath, I bend down to help. “If you’re seeing someone else, I just want you to tell me before we get serious. I need to know where we stand, Sophie. I know I’m not your boyfriend so I can’t get mad about this but I think I deserve your honesty.”

It ta
kes a minute but finally I’m able to answer him. “I was seeing Jack but …” I can’t do this. Not yet. “It was before I met you. We aren’t seeing each other anymore.”

“
Does he live in Rockport?”

“No
,” I manage to choke out.

“Is he the reason you want to take things slow?” he ask
s.

“Yes.”

“Were things serious between the two of you?”

“Yes.”

He takes a deep breath and grabs my hand, forcing me to look at him. “Sophie can you please give me more than a one word answer on something? Anything?” He isn’t mad, I can tell that much, but he’s frustrated and looks hurt.

I just stare at him, sile
ntly begging for him to stop.

“Do you still have feelings for him?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“Sophie,” he starts
before taking another deep breath. “Do you love this guy?”

And that’
s all I can take. The tears fall down my cheeks as I look up at him again. I don’t want to hurt him but he’s right. He deserves my honesty.

“Yes,” I admit quietly
.

He stan
ds up and looks straight out into… nothing. He’s quiet for a minute before he finally speaks and when he does, his voice breaks.

“I need to go, Sop
hie. I need time to think. I need to …” he pauses and rakes his hands through his hair and looks down at me, “I’m sorry, Sophie. I … I have to go.”

He
picks up his keys and phone without another word, pausing briefly at my bedroom door. Before I can even process what’s happened, he’s gone.

***

Drake

I wa
ke up with Analise straddling me, which I have to admit, is now my favorite way to wake up. I must have slept a lot sounder than usual because as my eyes finally open, my hands are tied to the headboard and she’s giving me the best blow job of my life.

Once she
finishes and unties me, I return the favor and she walks into the kitchen to get us both a cup of coffee.

I c
an’t believe things are going so well with her. I mean, normally right after I sleep with a woman, my first instinct is to get the hell out of her house. I never stick around for coffee or anything else for that matter, but with Analise, things were different.

When we
’re apart, I crave her. I can think of nothing else and it isn’t all about the sex with her. Honestly, although the sex is amazing, it has nothing to do with why I stick around. For the first time in my life, I’m truly falling for someone. Although it’s scary as shit, I’m definitely not stupid enough to let her go.

I look
at the clock next to the bed and wonder about her. She’s been gone for about half an hour ago and she still isn’t back.

I thr
ow on my jeans and a t-shirt and walk into the living room to check on her. She’s not in here.

Sophie’s door i
s open and I can see it’s empty as well and so is the kitchen. I see three coffee mugs sitting next to the full pot and as I walked back towards Analise’s room, I hear her voice traveling in from the balcony.

“
Soph, everything will be okay, Honey. I promise. It will work out you just have to talk to him,” I hear her say gently.

“I know but I can’t tell him everything. I’m j
ust not ready yet, Ana.” I back away from the balcony as quickly as I can. This sounds like far too personal a conversation for me to be hearing and I don’t want to intrude. It’s obvious that Sophie has been crying and I now understand what has kept Analise from coming back into the room.

I walk
back into the kitchen and decide to make our coffee. I walk towards the balcony and knock loudly on the door before I go out to join them.

“Sorr
y to interrupt, I’m not staying but the coffee was ready and I thought you could both use a cup,” I say placing the cups down on the small table in front of them. I kiss Analise on the cheek and walk back towards the door.

“Drake, have you heard from
Chase this morning?” Sophie asks me.

Fuck
.

I really do
n’t want to get in the middle of their business but it’s obvious by her puffy eyes that she’s upset so I can’t very well tell her that. I turn back to answer her and feel awful when I see her face. She isn’t just upset, she seems utterly distraught.