Taking Chances (Taking Chances #1)(31)

“We're getting in the pool, you want to join?”

I looked to Bree for her answer and turned to press my lips to his again, “Sure, let me change back into my suit. I'll be out there in a second.”

He shrugged out of his shirt as he walked out the back door, Bree hit me with a dish towel to get me to stop watching him.

“What? I'm allowed to look, he's mine.”

She laughed and put the rest of the food in the fridge, “Well why don't you get back in that suit so he can look too?”

I smiled and rushed back to Brandon's room. I had just grabbed my suit when Brandon's phone chimed, I glanced at his desk where it sat and continued to take my shirt off. After the top was securely in place it went off again twice. Looking at the door to see if he was coming through, I stepped towards the desk and sucked in a shocked gasp. I barely managed to fall into his chair as I stared at the offensive little screen before it went black. Going through his phone was probably too much an invasion of privacy, but he's my boyfriend, and what I had caught a glimpse of was definitely my business. Bringing the screen back to life I saw he had five texts from someone named Amanda. Sliding to unlock his phone, it instantly brought up the texts and my jaw dropped. It was the girl that had been in the group with Brandon on Monday outside of class. The one Breanna had said kept flirting with him the week before. I immediately saw the picture of her face and bare breasts, as well as the one I'd originally seen of her...um...nether regions. My heart clenched as I read the three other texts,

Amanda - 'I miss you already, can barely wait ‘til tomorrow'

Amanda - 'I can't wait to feel your lips all over me again'

Amanda - 'I'm ready for you'

I dropped the phone and choked on a sob. This couldn't be happening. I felt like someone punched me in the stomach and ripped out my heart. I took deep breaths to calm my stomach so I wouldn't throw up and shakily walked over to where I'd discarded my shirt. Throwing everything else back into my bag, I ran through the house and out the front door, tears streaming down my face for the first time in years. This is exactly why I wouldn't ever give Chase and me a chance. This is how his life is, but at least he doesn't hide it like Brandon seems to be doing. A sob racked through my chest as I thought about him and I had to lean up against someone's car before I continued my way down the driveway. I hadn't expected something like this from him. I was a few blocks from the house when I heard a car slow down.

“Harper?”

Groaning, I kept my head down and continued my trek.

A door shut and footsteps quickly approached me, “Harper what are you – are you crying? What's wrong?”

I angrily wiped the tears away and stepped around him, “Please leave me alone.”

“What happened?” He wrapped his hands gently around my arms and bent down to try to look in my eyes.

“Nothing happened Chase, just let me go.”

“Like hell, you’re crying and walking through a dark neighborhood. Talk to me.”

“Why are you even out here?”

“I'm going in to work, now tell me what he did.”

I breathed a miserable sounding laugh, “Don't act like you don't know. You tried to warn me, you knew he would do this.” My phone rang and after a quick glance to confirm it was Brandon, I ignored the call and shoved it back in my pocket.

“Princess, I promise you I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'll kill him for hurting you. Please tell me what happened.” He wrapped one arm around me, and tilted my chin up with his other hand, anger and worry etched in his face.

Another cry escaped my mouth and I crumpled into his arms. He held me and whispered soothing words into my ears until my phone rang again, I ignored it. “Can you take me to the dorms, please?”

“You sure you want to go there?”

I nodded into his chest and wiped at my cheeks again.

“Kay, get in the truck Princess.” He helped me in before running to the driver's side. “Is that him calling again?”

“Yep.”

“Are you going to answer it this time?”

“Nope.” I hit ignore for the third time.

He let go of the seat belt and scooted toward me. Cupping my face, he wiped away the remaining tears with the pads of his thumbs. “Tell me what happened.”

I opened my mouth to speak but my phone rang again, “What Brandon?!”

“What the hell Harper, what's wrong?”

“Seriously? You're really going to play that game with me?” I puffed and dropped my head into my other hand.

“Sweetheart, what are you talking about? Where did you go? And where's all your stuff?”

“I left.”

“I got that, but where are you going?”

Tears started streaming down my face again, “Please stop calling me Brandon.”

“Wha– Harper, why?”

“Why don't you ask Amanda?” I sneered, “I'm sure she'd be more than happy to show you why I left.”

He cursed away from the phone, “Harper, I swear –'

I hung up and turned my phone off.

After a few silent minutes, Chase grabbed my hand in his and spoke softly, “Who's Amanda?”

“Apparently she's some girl he's sleeping with. Bree and I saw her on Monday with him and a group of guys.” I wanted to smack myself. I thought he was incredible for trying to keep my innocence intact, but instead he'd just been holding off because he was sleeping with other women.