Page 17 of Chance Happenings
“Thanks for telling me now, bro. I read all those romance books for nothing and found out he wasn’t into Cacey pretty quickly after he stayed to help clean up after one of the meetups I hosted.”
After Dane’s book club confession, we part ways. He heads home, and I’m left with my thoughts on all that’s happened in the last 24 hours. No matter how badly I want to go up to my room and curl up with Alexa, I resist. I go about checking the locks and head back to my office to set myself up on the couch. I also set my alarm to make sure that I’m up before Alexa…
Chance
Feelinga jolt of pain in my neck from sleeping on this too small couch, I stretch out all the kinks before I notice a set of legs that are perched up on my desk.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” A raspy feminine voice says, drawing my attention up to her face. I tried to avoid this, but of course Alexa had woken up before me and found her way downstairs to my office. “So, what’s the plan?” she ask trying to look unaffected and aggravated at the same time. I know that she’s scared out of her mind, otherwise there’s no way that she would be here right now asking me what she should do.
“Food first, then we’ll discuss our plan of action.” Since she’s already dressed, I just have to throw on some clothes and grab my keys. I know between the both of us, cooking isn’t an option. Because I can’t cook for shit, and she’s never been interested.
By the time I make it back downstairs, Alexa’s in the kitchen looking bewildered, but sexy as hell. She’s leaning against my countertop, lost in thought. Usually that look on anyone else would just annoy me, but apparently I’m obsessed. It makes me think back to what Dane said this morning about me being in love. I can’t believe he’s been watching me that hard or that he’s been withholding the information about Alyssa that he’s clearly known for years. I guess there’s no point in fighting what I’ve already come to terms with, anyway.
After I coax Alexa out of the house and into my truck, we head out for a late lunch at some little local spot I eat at now and then. The food is good as usual, but I should have ordered in. Alexa’s trying to put on a brave face, but every time someone comes through the door she looks uneasy, clearly spooked by her little visitor last night.
Because we can’t talk about the sensitive nature of our relationship or the events of last night in such a public place, I decide to make small talk. “So, how’s the Rutherford account coming along?”
“As expected, but you already know this. You’ve been in the office and I’ve been the one working from home, remember.” She responds, letting me know that she’s not up for small talk. So, I take that as my queue. We eat our food in silence and pack up the leftovers to take home.
Alex
I look over at Chance, wondering what he’s playing at. He’s trying to not make it awkward between us, but I don't see how it can be anything but. He seduced me, gave me the best orgasm of my life, and then ran away. Only to have to come back after one of hisex-loversattacked me. Then once I woke up heading to what I thought was his bedroom, I find out the room that shares the wall with my bedroom is nice but less impressive than the one I slept in last night. That tells me two things, Chance is one of those never have sex in his own bed type of guysand that he for some reason had me to sleep in his room while he slept in his office on the couch. Instead of unloading all of that information with questions on him in the diner, I decide to save it for later when I want to really hit a nerve.
I’m still mad at him for ditching me last night, even though I almost forgot about it, having to remind myself when I woke up. It was too easy for me to forget his transgressions as I slept in his bed, surrounded by his scent.
“Can we go now?” I ask, ready to figure out the solution to my new set of problems, as if I needed any more. This chick is obviously a threat, but I also had Pearce to worry about and ultimately deal with, too. Chance must be able to tell that I’m in a mood because he doesn’t even question me. He just has the rest of our food packed up, pays for the order and ushers me out… holding open the door to the entrance as I pass. When we get back to his house, I notice a familiar black sedan parked on the street and for once that recognition is not met with anxiety. Chance also notices the car because I hear him sigh heavily before getting out of the car.
Instead of waiting for his father, he just continues into the house and I blindly follow behind him. “Alexa, is everything ok? I would’ve made it out earlier if Chance or my daughter would’ve taken the time to call me.” Mr. Sullivan says. He’s already inside Chance’s house, waiting for us as he gets up out of a chair.
“What do you need, Dad?” Chance cuts in before I can even respond. The last thing I need today is to land smack dab in the middle of a face off between Chance and his father. There’s not enough time in the day for this, and Chance always gets in a shitty mood after dealing with him.
“Came to check on Alexa for myself, since none of you will actually tell me the truth about what's going on. And I came to offer her a place back at the house. She’ll be safer there and can work out of my office until we handle the situation.”
“That's not necessary, Dad. She’ll be staying here. We have some additional security measures in place, so she’ll be good here with me.”
“Bullshit!!! Chance, this girl has been attacked twice under your watch. Are you trying to see her killed? I know you hold grudges but let this one with her go once and for all.” I’m looking back and forth between the two of them and Mr. Sullivan has seemed to hit a nerve with his last statement. Chance looks like he’s ready to blow.
“Hey! Hey! Hey!” I have to cut in as Chance makes his way towards his father. “Mr. Sullivan, you know I love you. You’ve done so much for me already. I appreciate that. I really do, but I’m ok. I’m going to stay here with Chance and take measures to be more careful at home and work. But I can’t go into hiding or let this affect anything I’m working on in the company. I already feel bad about all the time we wasted in pursuing that New York project.” That seemed to relieve some of the tension in the room. I can't see Chance's face because he’s behind me, but Mr. Sullivan seems to be calmer and has a familiar look on his face that he always gives Chance like he’s laid down some type of silent challenge.
“Well, what is this I hear about the suspect from last night being some woman previously involved with my son? Y’all don’t see this living arrangement posing a problem, if this assumption is true?”
“Dad, I don’t know what you think you know… but we have it under control.”
“Are you sure you have it under control? From where I’m sitting this is a big fucking mess.” Chance doesn’t respond. He just looks as agitated as he always gets when his father is around. I intercede again.
“Yes, Mr. Sullivan we’re good. Between Chance, Dane and Cacey we’ll manage now that we know that there’s a threat to look for.”
“You sure you don’t want to come back with me? I know that you and my son have a rather... complicated relationship.”
“Yep,” I say, trying to get him gone as soon as I can. He shouldn’t have to be bothered with this. Not after everything he’s done for me. I guide him out the door before he starts up another argument to set Chance off.
As soon as he leaves, I turn to Chance. “So now do you want to talk about the plan?”
“Well, first we have to identify where the threat is coming from.”
Unbelievable. I laugh. “Are you really telling me the list is so long that between you and Dane, who definitely doesn’t work for the bank like I thought, haven't figured out who it is that attacked me last night?”
“No. For your information the two ladies that the list was narrowed down to were ruled out as possibilities.”
