Page 40 of Chase
“No one said you had to stay up here. I’m here celebrating my best friends’ birthdays. I’m staying with them.” Rhys responds with a sort of venom in his voice.
“Fine, your loss.” Ashley abruptly storms off.
“Yo Ralph.” Rhys calls over to the security guard. Ralph stops scanning the party below and looks at us.
“Watch her tonight please. Don’t let her friends up here. Under any circumstances. We don’t need their shit tonight. If she gets too much, book her an Uber and send her home. You still have the address from last time?”
“Done. Enjoy your night. I’ll take care of it,” Ralph says before turning back around again.
“Does that happen often?” I ask.
“More than it should,” Rhys says. “Ashley is vindictive when she drinks. She can’t handle her alcohol. Ralph knows how to handle her, so I don’t have to leave.”
“Why are you with her Rhys?” I ask. Everyone around me gasps. Chase stops rubbing my thigh. The two drinks are giving me a little liquid courage.
“I don’t have a choice.” His voice is harsh and laced with honesty. I believe him.
“What do you mean you don’t have a choice? Everyone has a choice.”
“I don’t. My dad got into some trouble with her dad. Her dad’s a big drug lord. Instead of Dad paying with his life for what he did—which for the record was the right thing. He just ended up on the wrong side of a court case--they agreed that I’d marry Ashley and tie the families together.” I spit my drink across the table in a very un-lady like manner.
“What?” Chase and Arden respond. I look at them both and then over at Ally, who is staring at Rhys with her mouth open. This is news to them.
“Sorry guys, I wasn’t allowed to say anything.” I see the hurt and pain flash in his eyes. “I just don’t know how much longer I can keep up the act. She drives me fucking mental. Ashley and I were to date and then once she graduates high school next year we’ll get married, have kids, live in a house with a white picket fence.” He visibly shudders, and in that moment I feel for him and what he’s going through.
Rhys might be the only person who hasn’t gone out of his way to get to know me. It doesn’t mean I don’t care for him and what he’s going through.
“It’s all planned for us. If I break up with her or refuse, Dad has to pay up,” Rhys explains, picking at the label on his beer bottle.
“What happens if she breaks up with you?”
“She won’t. Her family has too much to lose if this doesn’t work out.”
“That’s bullshit.” Arden says.
“It is. But it’s done. I’m sorry I never told you. I didn’t know how.” He does his best to not look at anyone. Especially Ally. I can see the hurt and anger on her face clear as day. She isn’t trying to hide it at all.
“Why tell us now, what changed?” Chase asks.
“Yasmin asked. You were right, it’s hard to say no to her. None of you actually ever asked why I was with her.” Everyone goes quiet.
“Well shit. Chad, we’re going to need something stronger.” Arden calls out.
I can’t believe no one asked him why he was with her. I’ve known him for two weeks and I knew there was more to the story because there was no way that he and Ashley were the forever type.
Chad brings over a tray that has short tumblers with a dark amber liquid in it.
“Whiskey, the one your dad bought back from Japan last year,” He says handing a glass to each of the boys.
“Thanks Chad,” Arden says before throwing back his drink. Chase and Rhys follow suit.
Ally stays quiet no doubt processing what Rhys just told us.
Some guys that I’ve seen at school come up the stairs along with someone I haven’t seen before. Ralph lets them pass. They come around the table and fist bump the boys, before sitting around the table and joining us. The last guy pulls Arden up for a bro hug and then does the same thing with Chase.
“Yasmin, I don’t think you have met everyone. That’s Chris, Johnny and Michael,” Arden introduces them and they each nod in my direction.
“Nice to finally meet you Yasmin,” Chris says.
