Game (Gentry Boys, #3)(36)

“Oh my god,” she squealed, grabbing our arms in disbelief. “Is this what I think it is?”

Chase stood behind me and possessively crossed his arms over my chest. “Yeah, I’m her bitch now.”

Truly still looked flabbergasted. “Steph?”

I had no idea what the hell to say. Chase poked me. “Go on, tell her, honey.”

“He’s my bitch,” I said, feeling ridiculous.

Truly just stared at us. “What happened to your hand?”

I’d forgotten all about my slightly sprained wrist. Chase decided to make a joke out of that too.

“She injured herself trying to whip me into shape.” He stretched and groaned. “Hurt me more than it did her.”

Truly just rolled her eyes. She knew when Chase shouldn’t be taken seriously. I remembered what she had told me about not knowing where Chase’s head was at, and about how it might be wise to stay away from him.

Impulsively I tore out of Chase’s grip and leaned over to whisper in her ear. “I couldn’t help it, Truly.”

She whispered back. “I understand, sugar.” Then she shot Chase a look. “You be good.”

He grinned. “I don’t know how else to be. Vouch for me, Steph.”

I elbowed him. He suddenly took my face in his hands and kissed me hard. In the background I heard Creedence wrapping up, thanking the crowd for coming out. When Chase and I stopped kissing I looked at the stage. Creed was looking back at me. The expression on his face was not a happy one.

Chase and I chatted with Truly over the din of the bar crowd as we waited for Creed to join us. She had recovered nicely from the shock of seeing us together and as she watched the way Chase kept his arm around me I could tell she was pleased.

Creed finally showed up with his guitar. He smiled when Truly hugged and kissed him. Then he stopped smiling when he looked at me and Chase.

“What’s this?” he asked with a slight undercurrent of hostility.

“It’s midnight mass,” Chase joked, then started to pull me and Truly toward the exit. “Let’s get out of here. I’m feeling claustrophobic.”

“So what are you guys up to now?” Truly asked when we got outside.

Chase seemed to be thinking. “I don’t know. What does one do on a proper date?”

Truly glanced at Creed. “Well I think we’re going out for a late bite to eat if you’d like to join us.”

Creed was quiet. That wasn’t unusual for him but it came off as an unfriendly kind of quiet. Maybe he’d rather just be alone with Truly.

“You guys go ahead,” I told her. “We just ate.”

Chase snapped his fingers. “How about a stroll through the park? We can inhale the stench of the stagnant reservoir water and slap away the mosquitos.”

“Sounds romantic,” Truly said, and nudged Creed, trying to lead him away. “Have fun.”

Creed glanced back at us when he was halfway down the street. He didn’t say goodbye.

Chase watched the two of them walk away and then he turned to me, running his hand down my arm. “You’re cold.”

The temperature had dropped sharply, as it often did at night in the desert. Chase walked briskly, leading me back to where he’d parked the Chevy. He rooted around in the cab for a minute then removed a messy old flannel shirt. He draped it carefully around my shoulders.

“Fair warning; it hasn’t been washed this calendar year, but it’ll keep you warm.”

“Thank you,” I said quietly, and took his arm again as we walked to the park.

There were a few people out walking. As we got closer to the railing overlooking the water a small flock of birds flew overhead. Their high-pitched chirps echoed through the night.

“Bats,” Chase said, pointing.

“No way. Are you sure?”

“Positive. You know there’s this cave up by the Biltmore where you can watch them by the thousands. They swarm and then scatter in the night to hunt, to mate, to do bat things. A fitting backdrop a few weeks before Halloween.”

He had circled his arm around me absently as he spoke. Then he turned and stared at my face. He stared for a long time.

“Stop it,” I muttered, feeling disconcerted.

He grinned. “No.”

I crossed my arms and tipped my head down. A second later I felt his hand underneath my chin. His voice was gentle.

“Why do you do that, Steph? You shrink back into yourself every time someone looks at you. How many times do I have to tell you how goddamn beautiful you are? No, don’t make a face at me. You know I’m not bullshitting, not about this.”

“Chase,” I said, and wished he would reach for me, bring me closer, but he only sighed.

“I wish we’d done this first,” he said with a crooked grin.

A loud noise startled me and I looked up in time to see a pair of skateboarders careening past. I didn’t know what he meant. “What?”

Chase shoved his hands in his pockets and watched the skateboarders disappear. “I wish I’d taken you out before I took you to bed.”

“Oh,” I blushed. “Actually I think you tried. I think I told you the obscene equivalent of ‘no thanks’.”

He mulled that over. “You’re right,” he said in an incredulous voice. “I will feel bad no longer. It is entirely your fault that we f*cked before we ate a meal together.”