Page 26 of Hard Candy Christmas

“I never meant for the pain to be there.”

“Oh, gosh Belinda, I know that. I’m not saying any of this to bring you down. I just wanted you to know. You deserve that much. And something tells me that Chase hasn’t been very forthcoming with that information.”

“No, he hasn’t. We tend not to bring up the past too much.”

“I don’t blame you. If you don’t mind my saying so, I don’t think you had a good go of it either.”

“No, Tori, I sure didn’t get the fairytale I wanted either. What I wanted was him, but I can’t have him.”

“I know you and I have had our differences, and I’m really hoping we can put all the crap in high school behind us and move on. I’m different. In fact, I’m engaged. But can I ask a favor?”

I wasn’t sure I would ever see the day hell freezes over with Tori standing right before me, asking a favor. In high school, she was more likely to trip me than talk to me. But I can be better, like she was seeming to be.

“Sure, Tori, I will do my best.”

“Don’t count Chase out. I don’t think there is a day that’s gone by that the man hasn’t loved you. But when your heart is on theline, it takes a lot to show it.” With that, she gave me a friendly hug and smile, and walked away, leaving me with swirling thoughts.

I thought over all she said, and I wanted to believe her. Wanted to think Chase would come back to me. However, his actions were all louder than his words. He didn’t want anything more than a quick fling and he got that.

I felt this.

I knew this.

Now I needed to fortify my heart into letting him go.

Chapter Fourteen

Chase

“Iwant to take you somewhere.”

Belinda blinked at me from the front door, and I couldn’t help but smile. I’m sure she’s a little confused, with every right to be. I needed to talk to her, but there was something I wanted to do with her first.

“Like a back alley where you’re going to drop my lifeless body or something?”

“No,” I told her, rolling my eyes. Did she always have to make things bad? “I just want to take you somewhere nice. Somewhere we’ve never been and something that I’m almost sure you’ve never done.”

She poked her head a little further outside and sniffed the air. I frowned as I watched her actions, not sure what she was doing.

“Well, it’s too damn cold for sex in the park or in the snow. Not that I would want to do that. Your balls might fall off.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, liking the smile that came to her face.

“God no. Would you just get some warm clothes on and a heavy jacket?”

“Geez, you’re demanding. Come on in while I change.”

“Sure.” I followed her in, taking off my hat as I entered and watched her go back to her room.

“Belinda, who is…oh, Chase, it’s nice to see you here?”

I stepped over and kissed Betty’s cheek.

“Good to see you up. All okay with you?”

“You know, flare up on the hip. It’s been that way for years. Just one of the things the doctors couldn’t fix.”

I tilted my head as I thought over that statement. When had Betty gone to a doctor? Even better yet, when did Betty have any type of surgery? And if she had, who forked over the bill for something like that because I was almost positive no one had the funds for something like that.

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