Page 56 of Mine Forever
Jealousy isn’t a pretty thing and an emotion I need to check at the door when it comes to Chase. But right now I’m epically failing at that.
And here I thought I’d gotten over it when he got married.
But who could blame me?
The man is straight-up gorgeous with all that chocolate-brown hair and those green eyes. He’d had groupies hanging around the dugout, even back in college. I’d trusted him back then because he’d made it clear I was it for him.
But trust is a high-dollar commodity that is easy to lose and hard to win. It was a difficult lesson I’d had to learn.
Great, now I’m all awkward again and feel like I’m about six years old pushing my food around my plate.
I straighten my shoulders and clear my throat. “You said we needed to talk. What did you want to talk about?”
There. Steering the conversation back to more professional topics is just the antidote to my plague.
The wind, rain, and thunder batter the house from the outside. But the way he blows out a breath before meeting my gaze gives me the feeling I’m going to be battered here on the inside.
“I can’t be the speaker for your fundraiser.”
In spite of the fact I’d been expecting this answer, my dinner threatens to make an encore appearance.
He rubs a hand over his stubbled chin, looking a little sick himself.
“I know how much this means to you, Eden. I really do. But I need you to understand why I can’t go back to New York right now.”
I want to kick and scream and cry.
But there’s something in his tone, a shadow that crossesthose green eyes, and the tightening of his jaw that makes me sit up and take notice.
I push aside the panic building in my chest and nod. “Please tell me. Because right now, I gotta be honest. I need something to keep me from spinning out of control.”
Chase pushes his plate aside and leans back in his chair, arms crossing over his chest. The sleeves of his T-shirt pull tight over his biceps, the muscles in his forearms on full display.
For long moments, he sits staring into space, but it isn’t a vacant stare. It’s one of a man reliving a period of time he’d rather forget but knowing he never can.
Once upon a time, I could read the man like a book. Instinctively, I know whatever it is that made him a closed book now has to do with the death of his wife and career.
My gut also tells me there’s more to the story than a tragic car accident that ended with her dead.
“I don’t even know where to start.”
“How about from the beginning?”
He blows out a breath and nods once, looking as though he’s mentally taking a step off a cliff. “You know about the car accident.”
“I think the whole world knows about the car accident. And your subsequent release from your contract.”
A muscle in his cheek tics as he holds my gaze. “Yeah, what they don’t know is the truth.”
FOURTEEN
chase
Eden’s eyeswiden at my statement.
She and I don’t owe each other anything, but I care for Eden—far more than I should—and she deserves to know why I can’t help her with such a big favor.
My hands clench into fists. “Remember when I told you things between Heather and me weren’t good?”
