Page 16 of Battered Moves

Liv

A sudden knock on my door jolts me awake from my slumber. I groggily rub my eyes and squint at my phone to check the time. It’s only seven-thirty in the morning. I let out a groan.

Gunner spent the night over at my place after we watched movies together. He woke me up from a nightmare and comforted me until I fell back asleep. At five am, he left to get ready at his apartment because he had to be at work by six. Since it’s Friday, I have no classes and wanted to sleep in a bit. I hope he’ll check in with me during the day, so I know he’s okay.

Another knock interrupts my thoughts, and I drag myself out of bed.Maybe he forgot something?I open the door just an inch and peek outside, finding Chase standing there.

“You look adorable in the morning,” he says with a chuckle.

I groan again and open the door wider, letting him in. He leans down to kiss me, but I put a hand over my mouth.

“Morning breath,” I say, but he pulls my hand away.

“Like I give a fuck,” he whispers before swooping in for a kiss.

I hum happily against his lips. He breaks the kiss and pulls playfully on my messy bun, which is already falling to the side of my head.

“Did you sleep okay, gorgeous?” he asks, and I yawn.

“I did, but somebody disturbed me,” I say with a frown. “Why did you wake me up?”

“I feel like we haven’t had the opportunity to talk after everything went down, and I wanted to take you out for breakfast before we head to the studio,” he says, taking my pinky finger and hooking it with his. I smile at him.

“Chase, it really is okay. I believe that she came at you and that you didn’t do anything to hurt me. We’re good, honestly,” I say, and he nods.

“I’m happy to hear that, but I meant what happened on the dance floor the night before,” he says, and my brows rise.

“You mean the sex?” I ask, and he chuckles.

“Yes, I mean the mind-blowing, life-changing sex we had before you dropped me like a hot potato.”

“I didn’t drop you,” I say, biting my lip.

“No, you just rocked my world and disappeared directly afterwards. Maybe that’s the karma I deserve, but I still didn’t like it,” he says, and I laugh.

“You did not just reference your being a player right after talking about us having sex? Chase, I thought you had game,” I tease, and he winces.

“I’m sorry, that was dumb,” he says. “You make me nervous, Liv. I’m never like this, but I want to give this relationship my best and make you happy, make sure I can keep you.”

My heart swells at his words. He’s usually so confident, but it’s good to see a vulnerable side of him too. I reach up and play with one of the curls falling out of his man bun, smiling at him.

“Chase Miller just confirmed he’s in a relationship out of his own free will. Wow,” I tease, and he pulls me to him, messing up my hair even more.

“You little brat,” he says playfully, and I laugh, getting out of his hold.

“You don’t have to be nervous, Chase,” I say, seriously. “You have me. I’m not going anywhere.”

He pecks my lips and looks down at me, still smiling. I’m wearing his hoodie, my koi T-shirt, and sleep shorts, but the hoodie is so long, it looks like I have nothing underneath, showing off my bare legs. Chase is dressed in grey sweatpants and a tight black Tanner Fitness T-shirt.

“That’s my favorite hoodie you know,” Chase says in a husky voice.

“I have to wash it and give it back to you,” I say. He looks confused, so I continue, “It almost doesn’t smell like you anymore.” I pout. “I need a new one, or you have to wear this one for a day before giving it back to me.”

“If you want to have my scent all around you, you should sleep in my bed tonight,” he suggests with a chuckle, stepping closer to me.

“Tempting,” I reply, smiling, “but I need time to catch up with my classes.”

“Fair enough,” he says with a nod and tugs on my wrist. “Come on, let’s get some breakfast.”

---