Page 20 of Chance Happenings
“When I said Dane said I was obsessed, it was not an obsession to make you miserable it was an obsession with YOU. Like I said, I was a stupid boy just trying to work through a pile of messed up emotions. I want us to try to work together not just at work but in a relationship.”
Alex
As Chance makes his confession, my heart warms as I allow myself to hope that maybe this is real, and that Chance is telling me the truth. At that thought, I think about the night before and all the things that Chance and I did, and all the things we didn’t do that I would like to try. Just that quick my thoughts go south again as I think of Chance’s sexual prowess and the instances that I’ve witnessed or heard between him and his several love interests.
“Talk to me.” Chance says, noticing my slight change in demeanor.
“I can’t do that with you. You know I won’t be another one of your bed warmers. I’ve heard the variety of company that you keep.”
“Bed warmer? Did you not hear anything I just said?” He asks, exasperated.
“I know that you’ve at least been with three different women since I’ve moved in next to you, and it's not because I was trying to hear, believe me. I don’t want to be added to that list. Let’s also not forget that there is someone else that’s clearly so taken by you they thought it completely reasonable to attack me.” Even as I'm making these arguments to Chance, my heart is growing, working its way through every crevice of my body, trying to wear my mind down. I need to hurry up and shut this conversation down before I give in any more than I already have.
“When was the last time you saw or heard a woman at my house?” Chance counters and I dig back through my mind, thinking that maybe it was before we went to New York, but I can’t be sure. “You can’t remember? Or you don’t want to answer? Don’t you get it. I don’t let women randomly sleep in my bed. I haven’t even had sex in my own bedroom with anyone else but you. I’m not trying to put you on a list of women that warm my bed, as you call it. I’m trying to make YOU the list. Only you. I promise just give me a chance…” He’s now pleading and for some ungodly reason I can’t bring up a plausible argument. I’m at a loss and extremely agitated that I find myself crying again in front of this man. Chance takes this moment of weakness to pounce. Reaching for my face, gently wiping away the unwanted tears before moving in closer to me. I try to get my brain back online with my earlier mindset, but I am lost once again when he places a soft kiss on my now moist cheek. “Be with me Lex.”
My head seems to get it together and is screaming no but out of nowhere I hear the word yes leave my lips and I could swear it seems like the damn things are forming a smile. I’m freaking out because my heart has officially hijacked the rest of my body. You would think that this internal freak out would be evident somewhere in my posture or face, but apparently not, because Chance looks like a heavy weight has been lifted off his shoulders. I haven’t seen him look this happy since... ever. All at once he’s lifting me and taking me to his desk, kissing me while working his way into my blazer, trying to take it off. Then he moves his hand under my shirt.
Thank God for this mock turtleneck I have on because somewhere between losing my blazer and him trying to work this top off, I regain what little composure I have left and stop him before it gets too far. I muster all the strength I have and pull away from his lips, resting my forehead on his and closing my eyes to be sure not to be taken in by the look in his eyes. It’s already bad enough that I have to smell the hint of bergamot coming off him that’s driving me crazy.
“We can’t do this.” Before I can even finish, Chance is countering.
“Don’t do this. You said you would give me a chance.”
Shaking my head and pecking him on his lips. “You’ll still get your shot, but I’m not about to have sex in your office,” I tell him.
Relieved that I’m saying no to the office sex and not the relationship, he straightens up, giving me space. As I fix my clothes, I take more time and attention than necessary trying to figure out what’s next. I’m waiting for Chance to take the lead, but realize he’s probably more out of practice than I am. After the entire time goes by in silence, I make my way to my belongings with false confidence and add, “You don’t have to wait for me this afternoon. Cacey and I are going to dinner.” Which for the moment is a total lie, but I needed more than a moment to think about my current situation. In my office I call Cacey to make sure that she’s free for dinner...
Alexa
The factthat Chance didn’t say a word about my dinner plans should've been my first indication that something about the whole situation was amiss. As I get in the car with Cacey, I notice one of the guys that has been hovering around the office trying to be my low-key security get into a black SUV and follow us. If Cacey notices, she doesn’t let on that she does. And who am I kidding, she knows who this guy is, since she is apparently intimately involved with Dane. At least that's what I gathered from the little bit I saw the night I got assaulted. I tried to make small talk with Chance about it, and he changed the subject.
“So, you want to tell me about the elusive Cameron Dane?” I ask.
“Sure, as soon as you tell me about you and my brother. But glaze over the specifics I don’t want risk traumatizing my brain knowing any more than I already do about his sex life.” Cacey says, throwing me for a loop. I thought I had the upper hand in this conversation, but now this has gotten turned around on me when I know that the only way she could have that information is if….
“I didn’t take your brother for a gossip.” I say, irritated. This little get together was supposed to take my mind off things. Give me a little breathing room while I talk about Cacey and her love life, not bring mine right back to the forefront. Before I can come up with a decent segue back to her and Dane Cacey’s laugh gets my attention as she is shaking her head.
“My brother does happen to gossip like a girl to Dane sometimes, but he didn’t tell me anything about you and him. I just made an educated guess and you just basically told on yourself with your reaction.”
“Whatever. Since we're glossing over details, I should just skip right over the whole thing and back to you and Dane.”
“Eeeee!” Cacey squeals out as she’s clapping and doing some sort of dance in the driver's seat. “I’m so happy right now. I’ve never been so happy to have my brother get laid in all my life.”
“Can you put your hands back on the wheel and calm down, try to focus on those details about you and Dane and don’t gloss over anything. I'm good with the details.”
That comment sobers her up somewhat. She gives me the short version of the evolution of her and Dane's relationship with a devilish smile on her face. She leaves nothing to the imagination when she describes his… level of skill. I now know way more about Cameron Dane than I’ve ever wanted to. Well, everything except what he actually does for a living. Because over the last couple of days I’ve figured out that it’s definitely not solely in finance or the gym he owns.
Closer to the end of the story we’re in the restaurant and Cacey exaggerates every movement or thing that she says while I get that familiar feeling of eyes on me. When I discreetly look around for any potential stalkers, I find Chance and Dane across the room, taking a seat. Dane seems to be engrossed in his phone while Chance makes eye contact with me. He has a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. “So, are you going to tell me about you and my brother, or have me try to figure it out by deciphering the longing looks you give each other across the room?” Cacey asks, breaking up the silent conversation Chance and I are having.
“What do you want to know? Believe it or not there’s nothing really to tell.” She screws her face up real quick at that statement.
“What do you take me for, a fool? I know my brother too well and you… I know you are probably going to play it real cool. So cool, it’s more like exactly the opposite of what happened. You didn’t call me all frazzled for a dinner date to hear about me and Dane.”
“Well, if you must know me and Chance are seeing each other officially.”
“I know I said gloss over the details because he’s my brother and all, but you’re gonna have to give me more than that. Is that officially as in the relationship has been consummated?” She asks cheerfully, which causes my face to get warm. I’m sure I’m blushing like crazy now.
“Consummated? We’re seeing each other not getting married.”
