Chase (Resisting Love #1)(39)

Interesting. I was learning more from this conversation with Derek, then all the prying in the world from those three brothers.

“Why did they even want a roommate? They certainly don’t need the money.” I’m trying to dig for information.

“Kade and James go away a lot, travelling. During summer holidays they go to Europe. So they wanted someone in the house. Chase isn’t hardly there, he just comes and goes. They don’t need to share a house; they just like each other’s company.” Hmm. That makes sense.

“So what about you, I heard you’re a bit of a playboy yourself. Shame on you for trying to make me your target!”

He chuckles. “I’m playing the field. I’m young. Don’t worry Layla, you have officially been put in the friend zone.”

I raise my eyebrow at that. “I’m pretty sure I friend zoned you first, Derek.” We both laugh.

The food is delicious, and I offer Derek a bite. I cut a piece of the chicken, and slather it in sauce, then lean over the table and shove it in his mouth. There was nothing sexual about it. But it probably did look bad when Chase stormed in at that very moment.

He walks over and takes the seat right next to me. His eyes on Derek, he doesn’t even glance my way.

“Layla, you didn’t tell me you had a lunch date.” The words lunch date are sneered. His eyes are still on Derek’s. “Derek, I thought you had more common sense than to f*ck with me, but I guess not.” Derek looks calm, but I can see his throat move as he swallows nervously.

“I’m not on a date, Chase, I’m just having lunch with my friend.”

He finally looks my way. “Friend? Are you honestly that naive to think he wants friendship? For f*ck sake Layla..”

I cut off his rant mid-sentence. “I enjoyed lunch Derek, I’ll text you later.”

“The f*ck you will,” Chase mutters as he stares daggers at Derek. Chase pulls out his wallet and leaves enough money for both our meals and a heavy tip. His eyes dare Derek to object. This is his way of taking control of this situation, of making a claim, in his own Neanderthal way. No other man is going to take care of me, his gesture says. Which is stupid, because I was going to actually pay for my own damn meal.

“Drive home with me; I’ll get someone to drop off your car.” He demands.

“Seriously what is the point in that? I’ll just follow you home, no need to inconvenience your minions.”

“I pay them to inconvenience them, now get in my car, Layla.”

“No I’m not going to be..”

“Layla, please.”

That one word spoken from him, and I feel myself soften. I get into his car without any more tantrums.

“Did you track my phone?”

He ignores me. “I suggest you never see Derek again, or he’s going to regret it.”

“Are you seriously threatening one of the very few friends I have? What the hell Chase!”

“He doesn’t want to be your f*cking friend, Layla. He wants what’s mine. But he’s not gonna get it.” He slams his hand down on his steering wheel.

“We are just friends.”

“Men and women can’t be just friends, Layla, especially with a woman like you.”

“What about you and Aubrey? You two are supposedly ‘just friends.’

Chase glances at me and then his eyes open wide in realisation. “That is what this is about.” He looks like he had an epiphany.

“No, it’s not! Yes, I am pointing out the double standard, but I like Derek, as a friend. He’s a nice guy Chase.”

“He’s a f*cking man whore!”

“Coming from you, that’s rich! It sounded like he looks up to you, because you’re the biggest womanizer of all!”

“What did that little shit say to you? I think I’m gonna pay him a visit, teach his ass a lesson!” he growls every word.

“You will not. He didn’t say anything. He just didn’t believe when I said I was seeing you.”

“Yeah, well. I don’t really date.”

“You dated Aubrey for a year!” I exclaim.

“Aubrey and I had a different sort of relationship. We were nothing like how I and you are, and stop bringing her up in every conversation. She doesn’t mean anything to me.”

“You mean, nothing like how we were.” He makes a grunted noise, and I look over and his knuckles have turned white. “What does that even mean? A different sort of relationship? I’d like a real answer for once, Chase! I’m getting so tired of your cryptic answers and evasive tactics!”

Chase sighs and runs his hand through his hair in frustration.

“No running, right?” he asks me in a solemn voice.

I nod, “No running.”

“Fuck, Layla, the reason I keep shit from you is because I know you are looking for any damn excuse not to be with me. And I have the kind of past where you will find a lot of reasons. I hate looking into your gorgeous brown eyes and seeing the hurt and disappointment, it f*cking kills me Layla.”

“I just want the truth, Chase.” He makes a small groaning noise. “We aren’t together right now anyway, you may as well just tell me,” I say, scoring a direct hit. I look at him, and notice a muscle ticking in his jaw, and I can feel the air in the room turning deadly. Maybe I should just shut up now.