Page 50 of Chance
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When Reid picked Evy up for their date, I noticed a shadow by the front door, but I didn’t question it.My future brother-in-law was overprotective and probably had one of his MC buddies watching out for me until my friends arrived.Abi and Sammy were coming over to watch movies all night so Reid wouldn’t worry about me.He still felt bad about setting off my panic attack the week before.I wasn’t sure he’d ever really recover from that night.
I started making popcorn, setting out other snacks for our movie marathon.Sammy showed up with Daisy in tow.All the noise in my head melted away at the sight of the kitten.Closing the door was easier to face when Daisy was cuddled on my lap.It was also a necessity because Daisy got adventurous if the door was open for too long.
Curling up on the couch, we were already cueing up the first movie when Abi walked in with a gym bag slung over her shoulder.“Are we ignoring the fact that Chance is drunk outside your door?”
“He is?”I squeaked, jumping up to look out the window.
“I saw him out there when I came in,” Sammy said nonchalantly.“I just thought Evie was pretending he didn’t exist.”
I wanted to argue, but she wasn’t wrong.But I would have done something if I’d known it was him out there.Chance was sitting on the ground, empty beer bottles beside him, another in his hand.What the heck?Opening the door, I crouched down before he could even lift his head.“Chance?”
His eyes focused and unfocused on me before blinking a few times.“Peaches?”
“Hi.”I took the beer from him, earning me a scowl that would have been scary if I didn’t already know that this man would never use physical violence with me.
“That’s mine.”
“What number is this?”I asked, looking at the collection of empties beside him.
“Eight….No, nine.”He kept blinking, slow and lazy like he couldn’t keep his eyes open for long.He looked exhausted, like he hadn’t slept in a week.Heart squeezing, I wondered if that was my fault.“Peaches?”
“He doesn’t get drunk on just beer,” Sammy commented, appearing beside me.“Chance could drink a distillery dry and still be steady.Hey, buddy.Whatcha been doing today?”
He didn’t answer, his head dropping back, mouth falling open a little.She snapped her fingers in his face, causing him to blink at her slowly and swat at her hand.“Leave me ’lone, Sammy.Head hurts.”
“No doubt,” she said sympathetically.Grabbing his chin, she made him hold his head still, eyes narrowed on his face.“What else did you drink, Chance?”
“Nothin’,” he slurred.
“Mm-kay,” Sammy said skeptically then glanced at me.“He’s not drunk.Are we bringing him in or leaving him to rot?”
“I’m not leaving him here.”His arm was heavy when I lifted it to wrap over my shoulder.“Help me get him inside.”
It took a lot of work to get him into the apartment.He wasn’t a small man, and he weighed a freaking ton.He was completely out of it, not making any sense when he mumbled.We got as far as the couch, and then he flopped down.Out of breath, I stood over him, wiping sweat out of my eyes.“If he’s not drunk, then what’s wrong with him?Even I know that’s not normal.”
“There’s no way he’s sober.That was a lot of beer,” Abi reasoned.
“Yeah, but Chance has a high tolerance.”Sammy was on her phone, texting someone.“Elias said that Chance didn’t work today.There was an issue in one of the apartments, and he was the one on call last night.The tenant let them know around one this morning, and it took all day to fix.”
“He was coming out of number three’s apartment when I got back,” I confirmed, remembering the conversation I’d overheard.“He told her he would check on her again after he got some sleep.I thought…”
My friends made a noise, telling me they knew and understood exactly what I’d thought.Sammy tapped Chance on the cheek.“Did you eat anything today?”
“You’re not peaches,” he grumbled, pushing her away.“No touching.”
“Don’t worry, big guy.I don’t want to be touching you any more than you want me to.I’m trying to help you.We’re worried.Have you been sick?Did you take any cold meds?”She was persistent, tapping him on the cheek repeatedly when he didn’t answer her.“Chance.Chance Reid!I need you to answer me, buddy.”
Worry tossed in my stomach.His skin was gray, sweat dotting his brow and beneath his scruff.“Should we call for help?”
“The neighbor is a nurse, right?”Abi was just as anxious as me.“Maybe we should?—”
“I don’t trust that bitch,” Sammy cut her off.“I’ve known this guy my whole life, and I have never seen him like this.His pupils are pinpoints, and he’s got cotton mouth.I bet that’s why he was drinking so much beer.He’s not drunk—he’s been drugged.”
“What?”I cried, dropping to my knees beside him.“Chance, open your eyes.Hey, look at me.Please look at me.”
Groaning, he lifted his lashes with effort.“Baby?”
