Page 79 of Chase

“Of course, I am. Mum asked me before she offered. Mum started doing nights when I was old enough to be on my own. If I’d asked her, she would’ve stopped. But I had GW and these guys, so I was okay,” Chase says nodding towards our friends. “Mum knows your dad has a lot of work to do, but she doesn’t think forcing him and Millie together is in the best interest for everyone. Including you. Your dad’s agreed to regular dinners to start with, and he’ll work his way up from there. He knows he screwed up,” Chase finishes.

“I’m okay with this if it’s what you really want to do?” I tell Millie. Nat is right. Forcing Dad and Millie together won’t end well. Millie will likely rebel and Dad will fall back into old habits.

I’d feel better leaving knowing that Millie was safe.

“It is. I thought about it and I’d like to try. Being at Nat’s feels like home. It has to be baby steps with Dad,” Millie tells me confidently. “Plus, it means that you won’t worry so much about me and can enjoy being a teenager at University,” she says excitedly. Millie gets up and comes to stand behind me.

Wrapping her arms around my shoulders, she leans down and whispers in my ear, “I love you.”

“I love you too Mills.”

Arden clears his throat, bringing the attention back to him.

“Okay, so it’s obvious we all forgive you and we really appreciate you telling us what happened. It means we can be there for you in the future. BUT….”

“But what?” I ask dubiously. I’m glad they aren’t dwelling on what I told them. I’ll answer all of their questions, but I feel like if they have any, they’ll ask me when we’re alone.

“We need to make the most of our fabulous outfits,” he says throwing a new pair of PJs’ at me and a pair at Millie.

“Suit up. We’ve got beers to drink, and I think The Little Mermaid should be the first movie on the agenda tonight,” Arden says as he starts grabbing bowls and heading towards the living room.

Rhys groans and Ally laughs but they follow his lead.

“Wait,” I say stopping them in their tracks.

I turn to Chase.

“Did you get the apprenticeship?” I ask him. I hadn’t forgotten. I just really needed to tell them about what happened before I could truly move forward.

“Shit, I completely forgot to ask,” Arden says from the doorway. Everyone turns to Chase waiting for his answer.

“Yep.” He nods. “I start late January.”

A collective woo and cheer from everyone in the room, each of us congratulating him at once.

Arden piles the stuff in his hands-on top of what Rhys is already carrying and walks out of the room.

“Where the hell are you going?” Rhys yells confuses.

“BRB. I’m going to get the good stuff to celebrate,” he yells back just before we hear the front door close.

“Typical fucking Arden,” Rhys mutters, leaving the room to offload all the snacks onto the coffee table. Ally and Millie follow him, leaving Chase and I alone.

I turn in my chair so we’re facing each other.

I lean forward and kiss him quick and soft.

“I’m so proud of you.” I tell him.

I kiss him again.

“I knew you could do it.”

Another kiss.

“I love you.”

I pull away before Chase can deepen the kiss.

---