Page 83 of Mayhem

“Wait. You knew about my box of food? Is that where the extra items came from?” I ask in disbelief.

His eyes widened. “Extra items?”

“It wasn’t much, but an extra apple here. A couple of packs of peanut butter crackers there. I honestly thought I was going crazy. It was always something that was already in the box and only a little extra.”

He laughs. “Typical Chase. I can’t say for sure, but if I had to put money on it, I’d say it was him.”

“He cares about me,” I say to myself.

It’s finally sinking in. Chase cares about me.

“We both do. I know we have been dicks to you before, but it’s because we aren’t much on feelings here in the Rockford household,” he says honestly.

“Huh.”

“That’s all you have to say?” He chuckles.

“I’m processing. I’m not much for feelings either.”

“That’s obvious. I thought Chase was a brick wall, but then I met you. You make him look like a walk in the park.”

“He might have been cold and distant at first, but he never came off as closed off. He’s always talked to me.”

“Sure, because it was you. He’s not like that with everyone,” he says, waiting for me to deny it.

“I’m starting to realize that,” I murmur.

“I don’t know what caused this fight, but saying we don’t care? That was a low blow, Willow.”

“I didn’t know.”

“I think you did, but you weren’t ready to accept it. The question is, what are you going to do now that you know?”

“I don’t know,” I mumble.

“Let me know when you figure it out.” Nate leans back onto the couch and reaches for the remote.

He pats the seat next to him as he turns up the volume on whatever’s playing. Wordlessly, I sit next to him and replay everything that’s happened tonight in my head. We sit in silence, both waiting for Chase to get back. After several episodes of some show I wasn’t even watching, I finally speak up.

“I care about you guys too.”

“We know.Heknows that. He’s just upset.”

I want to believe him, but I don’t think he knows. Not after what he saw.

Actions are louder than words.

He won’t take me at my word right now, so I’ll have to show him. An idea pops into my head. It will be hard for me, but it will work.

You can do this, Willow.

Fifteen

When I wake up,the sun is already high up in the sky. I stretch, my neck complaining about the position I slept in. I look around, realizing I’m still in the living room.

Nate turned in to go to bed around three in the morning, but I wanted to wait for Chase.

He probably never came home.

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