Page 29 of Chase

“Julia talks to you?” Arden responds shocked.

“Yeah, why does she not speak to people?” Millie asks confused.

“No, she doesn’t. Julia doesn’t make friends. She has always struggled. She’s quiet and prefers to be on her own. Her health problems make it hard for her to fit in. She stays at home with our housekeeper Martha. I tried for years to get her to let me in and help, but she made it clear she didn’t want my help. She just locked herself away. Martha keeps me in the loop.” Hearing Arden talk about his sister hurts. It’s clear he loves her. But I know what it is like to be sick and to try to protect those you love from seeing it.

Millie walks over to him.

“She loves you, she talks about you all the time. She just never told me your name. I’m sorry she pushed you away.” Millie talks to Arden quietly. Chase relaxes and reaches over to hold my hand now that I have finished eating.

“What is it with you and your sister? You both have the ability to knock through people’s walls. I miss Julia. We tried to include her; she just never said yes.” Arden looks sad. Millie closes the gap, steps between his legs and hugs him.

“Do you mind if I ask her if she wants to come over?” Millie asks him.

“You can try Mills, just don’t hold your breath.”

Millie hugs Arden for a few minutes before she lets go and heads back over to help Mumma Nat.

Rhys and Ally walk in the front door arguing.

“You didn’t have to be such an ass. I told you I’d be ready at a certain time for a reason. I WAS BUSY! It’s not my fault you showed up early and let yourself in.” Ally screeches as she comes stomping into the kitchen.

“Woah! What’s going on?” I ask Ally. I glance at Chase and he just shrugs.

“Rhys just went all caveman and literally threw Justin with his pants down out of my house.” Ally huffs. “You had no right to barge in.” She stomps over to him and pokes him in the chest as she speaks.

“He’s using you Ally.” Rhys responds stepping around her to put the bags of drinks on the table.

“Did you stop to think I was using him? He’s just a penis. It’s not like I’m in love with him. A GIRL HAS NEEDS. I had an itch. He scratched it. Don’t take your shitty sex life out on me.”

Rhys doesn’t respond. He grabs a beer from the bag, walks into the kitchen, gives Mumma Nat a kiss on the cheek, ruffles Millie’s hair and walks out the back door.

Woah. I really need to get Ally alone to find out what else is going on there.

“Well that’s two of my kids that have told me more than I need to know about their sex life. Chase, want to make it three and tell me why it took over an hour for Yasmin to shower?” Mumma Nat says from the kitchen. My cheeks flush. Arden and Ally laugh.

“Sorry Mumma Nat.” They say together.

Luckily, Chase is on the ball.

“And that’s our cue to leave.” Chase says as he grabs the drinks off the table and leads me out the back. Arden and Ally follow behind us.

“What did I miss? Did you two bone?” Ally asks, taking a seat as far away from Rhys as she can. Neither Chase nor I say anything.

“They did something.” Arden says opening his beer and leaning back in his chair. Chase hands me a drink and sits beside me dragging his chair as close as he can. We are sitting on his back deck. The afternoon sun is nice. There’s a light breeze, making it a perfect spring afternoon.

“Nothing happened.” I say taking a sip of the ice-cold amber liquid. I’ve missed having a drink with Smalls.

“You ain’t fooling anyone Shorty.”

“So, who was your early morning booty call?” I ask Arden, changing the subject.

Arden starts to tell us all about Kandi with a ‘k’ and an ‘i’, and how flexible she is. I quickly regret asking, but am happy that we are no longer the topic of conversation.

Chase squeezes my hand getting my attention. I turn to look at him. He smirks at me before removing his hand from mine and moving it to my exposed thigh. He starts rubbing small circles with his thumb, slowly driving me insane.

Millie and Mumma Nat come out to join us. They place platters of snacks on the table. Millie stops to wrap her arms around Arden’s neck and whispers something in his ear. His expression goes from shock to appreciation as he takes in what Millie is saying, she squeezes him tight before taking her seat.

Everyone falls into easy conversations. Ally and Rhys are still staring daggers at each other when they think no one is looking, but they quickly advert their gazes. Something is definitely going on with these two.

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