Page 63 of Hard To Leave

Chapter 21

Jack

An hourand a half passed and Chloe and I returned with Tanner in tow. There were no questions about our absence when we got back.

We spent the afternoon drinking, talking, and playing can jam on the beach.

Chase lit the grill and then set his beer down on the ledge of the railing. “Tanner is a cute kid.”

My heart squeezed with pride. “He’s awesome.”

He held his hand out over the flame to check the temperature. “I gotta admit, it’s pretty fucking weird seeing you this worked up over a girl,” he said, closing the cover and giving it a few more minutes to heat up.

Twisting the cap off my bottle, I looked over his shoulder at Chloe and Emily laughing in the kitchen while dicing up vegetables at my kitchen counter. “When did you realize Emily was different from all the others?”

Chase sucked in a breath as if he remembered that exact moment. “The second I laid eyes her.”

“So, it was love at first sight, huh?”

His mouth lifted into a grin. “Not sure I would call it that, but I knew right from the second I met her that I was drawn to her in a way that freaked me the fuck out.” His face warmed as he continued. “Then as time went on, I realized that she was so much more than I was expecting. I knew there was no way I could ever shake her. I knew very early on that she was the one for me.”

I took in a gulp of air, allowing that familiar feeling to sink in. Chase studied my face before smiling. “But as you know, it wasn’t always smooth sailing for us in the beginning. I made a lot of stupid decisions that almost cost me the woman I love.” He ran his hands down his face and then reached for his beer. “Thank fuck, we were able to work it out. I would hate to think of where I would be if things turned out differently. I can’t imagine a life without the two of them.”

I took a sip of my beer. “Is that your way of telling me not to fuck it up?” I asked, trying to make light of the situation.

He leaned his back up against the railing and folded his arms across his chest. “I see the way you look at her. It’s the same way I look at my wife. Just be careful.”

“Why would I need to be careful?”

“Because when you love that hard, you’ve got to be ready to hold on. Relationships take work, and the more invested you become in a person, the more you have to lose.”

The thought of losing her sent a sinking feeling right down to my bones. I couldn’t imagine a life without her and Tanner. The life I lived before was work, booze, and girls. Wash, rinse, and repeat.

I couldn’t imagine going back to that life. I didn’t want to. I needed to find a way to make this permanent with both of them.

After dinner, us boys went down to the beach to toss a football around while Emily took care of Mason, and Chloe finished up with the kitchen.

“So, I hear you’re trying out for a pitching position tomorrow,” Chase said to Tanner right before he threw the football with a little more force than necessary in my direction.

“Yep.” Tanner laughed as the football smacked me loudly in the chest.

Asshole.

My eyes shot to Chase. He was such a fucking showboat. I threw the ball carefully in Tanner’s direction, making sure it was an easy catch for him.

“You know…” Chase wiped his hand across his eyebrow. “I played baseball in college. If you want, I would be happy to practice with you.”

Tanner glanced over at me. We had plans to practice together tomorrow morning before tryouts. He’s been pumped up all week, calling me sometimes up to six times a day to talk about baseball.

He was growing more attached to me every day, and if I was honest, the feeling was mutual.

“Thanks, but Jack and I already have plans.”

Chase smirked. “Jack, huh?” He lifted an eyebrow in my direction. “I don’t recall you playing baseball, Jack. As a matter of fact, I remember you telling me that the only sports you played in school were lacrosse and hockey.”

I used my middle finger to itch my cheek, discretely giving Chase the finger.

Tanner threw the football to Chase, laughing. “I saw that, Jack.”

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