Page 77 of Mayhem

“Three.”

In the next second, the door is busted in.

I shriek as Chase comes through the door.

He walks right up to me as I back away, stopping when I hit the opposite wall. When I do, he moves in closer, his nose touching mine before tracing back to my ear, making my breath hitch.

“Do. Not. Test. Me.” Chase growls.

“I wasn’t—” I start, but he interrupts me.

“You were. Now, tell me what’s wrong.” He pulls back to look me in the eye.

“Nothing. I’m fine,” I tell him, looking down to avoid eye contact.

His hand gently grabs my chin, pulling my face back up.

“Bullshit. You ran in here as soon as you saw what we did. What’s wrong? Don’t make me ask again.”

I let out a sigh. “Why did you do it?”

“This day means a lot to you. Maybe not your birthday, but your eighteenth birthday. It symbolizes freedom for you. We wanted the celebration to reflect its meaning.”

“How did you even know it was my birthday?” I ask, tentatively placing my hand on his forearm.

“I know everything. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”

“Really? You know everything?” I taunt him.

“When it comes to you? Yes. I told you that once you turned eighteen, you would be mine. Did you really think I wouldn’t figure out when your birthday was so I could have you?”

“I guess I never thought about it.” I think back to all the times he mentioned my birthday.

“Now are you okay to go back out there? Nate was bummed that you didn’t seem to like it. He wasn’t even bickering with Hailee,” he asks, kneading my hips.

“Really? I didn’t know that was possible. I thought that was their only setting.”

He shrugs. “Humans are complex beings. Who knows why they do the things they do.” He stops for a moment. “Are you really okay?”

I tilt my chin up and look him in the eye. “I’m not, but I don’t want to talk about it right now. I love the surprise. It just took me, well, by surprise. I’m fine now. I swear.”

“Okay.” He grabs my hand, leading me from the bathroom. As we pass through the door, he laughs. “You owe me a door.”

“I don’t owe you shit. You didn’t have to kick it down. You just liked showing off.”

“You know. You’re eighteen now. I can think of some much better ways to show you how these muscles work.”

I swallow hard as my body heats. I’m saved from answering when Hailee rushes over.

“Thank goodness. Are you okay?” She hugs me, whispering in my ear, “Please don’t leave me alone with that prick again.”

“I’m fine,” I tell her, looking at Nate. “Be nice to my friend.”

“I was being nice. I was just telling her how she could cheer me up.”

“Her mouth and your junk are probably never going to meet. You might want to accept that now,” I tell him somberly.

He laughs. “Messaged received. Now, what do you think? It took us forever, but it looks great, right?” He ducks his chin into his chest.

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