Page 9 of Hard To Love

As luck would have it, Chase was leaning up against the wall right outside the bathroom, with his hands shoved in his pockets.

He looked up as I started to walk by. “Emily?” His voice caused me to stop in my tracks. I had to force my body to turn around and look at him.

I leaned back and let out a slow breath. “Yes,” I said, meeting his eyes, which I realized instantly, was a big mistake. The attraction was undeniable.

“I’m sorry about earlier tonight. I didn’t realize you had a boyfriend.” He looked away, like he was deep in thought. I could see the disappointment written all over his face.

I looked at him slightly confused when it dawned on me that he thought that Jack was my boyfriend. Finally, here was the ‘out’ I had been looking for all night!

“I’m sorry I lied to you about my name,” I told him, not correcting him about Jack being my boyfriend.

“Don’t worry. It’s all good.” He slowly walked towards me and gently caressed my cheek, letting his thumb linger. And of course, my traitorous body instinctively leaned into his touch. “Well, it’s clear he is a very lucky man. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening,” he said as the breath, I didn’t know I was holding, escaped from my chest.

With each step he took away from me, I felt more and more regret building inside me.This is what I wanted, right?I was so confused and I tried to convince myself that there must have been something in my drink. My head shook back and forth on my way back to the table, and I wondered why getting what I wanted turned out to be so disappointing?

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