Page 158 of Make Me Trust Again
“I don’t think that’s what she meant, Tillie.”
“Well, that’s what you should be thinking about! I bet if he kisses her like that, he’s even better in bed. The quiet types usually are.”
Yup, I’ll just die now.
Rebecca makes a gagging noise. “Can we not talk about my brother’s sex life? There are some things a girl really doesn’t need to know.”
The two older women exchange a look. “The youngsters these days.”
Thankfully, Rebecca slides their coffees over to them, and after paying, and another pat on my shoulder, the two of them leave the café.
Sighing, I rejoin Rebecca behind the counter. I glance at her, trying to read her reaction, but her back is turned to me as she places the dirty glasses into the dishwasher. “Are you angry with me?”
Rebecca pulls her brows together. “Angry? Why would I be angry?”
“He’s your brother, and you’re my boss, and considering everything that’s happened…”
“Oh, please.” Rebecca waves me off. “Chase has been different lately. I’ve seen it, even on the Fourth of July, when we were at the lake.
“When he came back, I…” She shakes her head, her smile falling. “He wasn’t the same. And let’s be real, none of us are the people we were in high school, but this was different. Chase came back from war a broken man. And as time progressed, I didn’t think I’d ever get my brother back. I can see glimpses of him now, though. Glimpses of the boy he was, and the man I knew he could be. You two are good for him, Rose.” She gives me a knowing look. “And maybe he’s good for you, too.”
“He’s a good man.”
“He is.” Rebecca nods. “There is nothing he wouldn’t do for the people he loves.”
People he loves.
A knot forms in my throat, making it hard to breathe as her words echo in my mind.
People he loves.
Rebecca places her hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Then again, I think you two are the same in that regard.”
With one last look, she lets her hand drop and goes back to the kitchen, but her words don’t leave my mind for a long time.
Does he love me?
God knows I’m in love with him.
Every broken and scarred part of him.
I don’t know how or when it happened. Was it that first time when he stopped to help me fix my tire? Or maybe it was when he offered me a place to live. Or when I saw how kind he was to Kyle. Or when he took care of me when I was sick.
It’s probably all of those things together. Somewhere along the way, over the last few months, I’ve fallen in love with Chase. Slowly and steadily, he’s helped me pick up the pieces of the woman I was and build this new, stronger version of myself. A woman who has started to learn how to love herself and fight for the things she wants in life.
Was it the same for him? Or was it just wishful thinking on my part? Do I dare to ask? And what would happen if I do, and he’s not feeling the same?
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHASE
“Today we have not one, not two, butthreevery special guests with us.” The chirpy voice of Kyle’s teacher, Mrs. Elliott, has me shifting my weight from one foot to another. I brush my palm over the side of my leg, forcing my lungs to open, and suck in so much-needed air.
It’s just a group of kids,I chastise myself.
Shadow glances up at me, her body brushing against my leg in silent comfort. I run my fingers through her fur, letting the motion soothe me. Teddy, on the other hand, hasn’t stopped wagging his tail and sniffing around. He’s clearly overstimulated, but before I get a chance to reconsider my actions, Mrs. Elliott glances at me.
“Let’s give a warm welcome to Lieutenant Chase Williams, his partner, Shadow, and their newest recruit, who’s training to be a service dog, Teddy.”
