Page 84 of Committed to You

I’ve lined up five penthouses for Chase to view. We have a little over an hour until the first showing, so we stop in a small cafe for lunch.

“I need to call Jamison, is it okay if I step outside for a quick minute?” he asks.

“Sure.”

He kisses me on the lips then says, “Will you order for me?”

“What do you want?”

“I like it when you surprise me, so you pick.” He grins and bends to give me another kiss.

We’re lip-locked when I hear, “Chase?”

The hairs on my neck stand up. I remember that voice.

Chase freezes then spins. “Meredith. What are you doing in Chicago?”

“My mom died. Remember?”

“You’re from Chicago?”

She glares at him. “Yes. You should know that.”

Chase shifts, and his face flushes. “I’m sorry. I forgot. I’m sorry again to hear about your mom.”

“What are you doing here in Chicago?” she asks.

I think what she means is what are Chase and I doing together in Chicago, but she directs it at me, so I answer her. “I live here.”

She turns her attention to Chase. “Why are you here?”

“Several different reasons,” he says, and my heart sinks a bit, but I remind myself he’s trying to break this to her gently.

She puts her hand on his forearm. “I’ll be back in New York next week. I was going to call you for that drink you wanted to have.”

“Right. Umm, Meredith, do you have a few minutes? I’d like to talk to you.”

“Right now?” She rubs his arm, and I almost roll my eyes.

“Yes, please, if you’re free.”

“Sure.”

Chase addresses me. “Can you excuse me?”

“No problem.”

He motions for Meredith to walk. Looking back at me, he mouths, “I’m sorry,” and I mouth back, “It’s okay.”

Meredith and Chase sit in a booth on the other side of the restaurant. I face away.

I feel bad for Meredith. I know she harbors feelings for Chase, and she’s going to be upset. She doesn’t like me, and I understand why, but something about her feels off. I tell myself it’s because I don’t enjoy thinking of her with Chase.

The waitress asks if I’m ready, and I order two glasses of water but ask her for more time on the food. I’m not sure how long Chase is going to be with Meredith.

The menu is several pages long, and I try to concentrate on the choices and what I should order for us, but it’s difficult. I keep sneaking glances at Chase and Meredith.

She keeps touching him: his arm, his hand, his leg under the table. Every time, he frees himself from her grasp, but I can’t help but feel gross watching her touch him.

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