Chase (Resisting Love #1)(32)

”Look Chase. You may not have lied but you omitted. A hell of a lot. And there is no way in hell I am okay with your ex sleeping in your bed. I don’t think I’m even okay with you being close friends, or her coming over when you knew I wasn’t going to be there. You never told me about the strip club. Makes me think maybe there is more you’re hiding from me!”

“Layla, there is nothing going on between us! This whole insecure act you’re pulling, isn’t f*cking cute!”

“Don’t put this shit on me!” I croak.

“Fuck. Come on, let’s go home, we can talk more on the way.” He starts grabbing my things and packing them in my bag.

“I’m not going anywhere with you!” I yell.

“Yes, you f*cking are. I will carry you to the car if I have to.” His tone tells me he means it.

“Go to hell, Chase!” I say bitterly.

“Are you going to be a coward then? Afraid of going to your own house?” he raises his eyebrow in challenge.

I go silent, thinking through my options. I’m devising a plan, when I’m lifted off my feet and thrown over his shoulder.

“Don’t squirm or I will make a scene.” That shuts me up. My mother instilled in me to be a lady, unfortunately, public spectacles weren’t something I wanted to be a part of.

When we get into the hotel foyer, he gently puts me down. He checks out for me, and charges the bill to his card. He tells me to leave my car here; he will get an employee to drive it home. Probably a stripper. As soon as we get in the car I start questioning him.

“Why was she in your bed?” My voice is hoarse.

“We were all partying together. She was tired and drunk, so she asked if she could crash. I was going to sleep on the couch.” He sounds like he actually thinks he did nothing wrong.

“So if an ex-boyfriend of mine came over and I told him to sleep in my bed, that’s okay? You went psycho over me massaging your brother! You can’t have double standards!” His hands tighten on the steering wheel as I mention another man in my bed. Hypocrite much.

“That’s entirely different, Layla. No man will ever be in your bed except me, so no point talking hypothetically.”

Argh! Unbelievable. “This double standard crap is not fair, Chase! How is it okay for another woman to be in your bed, but not for another man to be in mine? Imagine how I feel right now!” I take a deep breath.

“You’re right. I f*cked up Layla,” he admits.

“You had a woman sitting in your freaking lap! Is that the standard you are setting for our relationship? So I’m allowed to go sitting in other men’s laps?” I hiss.

“Don’t play games with me, Layla. A woman sat in my lap yes, but I moved her off it!” he growls.

“Yeah, after like, half an hour!” Okay it was more like thirty seconds, but whatever!

“Layla, now you’re just looking for reasons to get angry,” he hisses.

“I’m done, Chase. You hurt me. I’m not going to blindly just give you that power again.”

“Then I will earn it. You’re mine baby. And I’m yours. I can’t even explain it. We just... fit. I knew it then, and I know it now.”

The rest of the ride is silent, there is nothing I can say, that he won’t have an answer too. The man should have become a damn lawyer. I think about the whole thing with Ryder. It explains why Chase wanted me so much instantly, because he’s been interested since the first time he saw me. I mentally chastise myself for thinking that it is romantic. He carries my bag inside and puts it in my room. I walk into the lounge room to find James and Kade watching Supernatural. Awesome! They both look happy to see me. I squeeze onto the couch in between each of them and eat some of James’s popcorn. Chase walks in, frowns, starts to open his mouth but thinks better of it, so he sits on the chair by himself. I can feel his eyes on me and not the television. He is sulking, in his own manly way. Any other time I would have laughed.

My phone starts to ring, and I know instantly it’s Ryder by the ring tone, which is ‘Lightning Crashes’, one of his favorite songs.

“Hey Ry.” I greet. I can feel three pairs of eyes on me, and the air in the room getting a little heavier.

“Hey, baby girl. Is everything okay? If you don’t want to stay there you can always come stay with me, okay,” he says, his words rushed.

“I’m okay, Ryder,” I say softly.

“How long have you and Chase been together?”

I sigh. “A few months, I guess.”

I hear him mutter “That f*cking bastard,” and I can’t help my lip twitching a little.

“I appreciate you looking out for me, Ryder, but I’m not a little girl anymore, I can handle myself. I know you feel protective of me over what happened with Kyle, but you can’t go around punching everyone who hurts me.” I had totally forgotten about my audience when I let that line slip. I can see Chase’s fists curled in tight balls, and I avoid any eye contact with him.

“I know, I know,” he grumbles, “Just, call me if you need anything, okay? Anything. I wanted to come over, but the band is coming over to practice.”

“Okay Ry. I love you,” I say in a tender tone.

“Alright Layla.”

We hang up. I’ve only just clicked the button when all three of them pounce.