I found shelter
I haven’t thrown up after seeing Chase
Deep down, I knew Chase wouldn’t turn me away. Of all the things I’d been wrong about in my life, that was one thing I knew I could count on.
Knowing I couldn’t hide in the bathroom forever, I stripped out of my wet clothes and pulled on the ones Chase had left for me. They definitely weren’t Chase’s; the sizes were much too small. The sweatpants were plain gray and a little short on me, but they were soft. The sweatshirt bore the high school logo on it, and as I pushed up the long sleeves, I wondered if he’d chosen it deliberately—if he’d meant for me to remember a time that felt so terribly long ago.
I frowned at my reflection in the mirror. Maybe it was the dim light that made me look so grim, but more likely, it was the depth of regrets pressing on me, especially now that I’d sought refuge with my long-ago boyfriend. Who now apparently had a girlfriend, if the clothes were a clue.
Guess I’ll add her to the list of people to apologize to.
Back in the living room, Jack was curled up with a contented snore on a blanket in front of the fire. Chase was nowhere in sight.
Feeling like the intruder I was, I crossed the room quietly, afraid of causing any more disturbance. I squatted in front of Jack, who opened one eye and gave a small tail wag along with a lick of my hand before he went back to sleep.
At least one of us is happy and relaxed.
I continued to pet him, the strokes better than any worry beads.
“I gave him a small bowl of the dog food I keep on hand for Em’s and Bristol’s dogs,” a voice said over my shoulder. “Hope that was okay. He gobbled it up pretty fast.”
Startled, I stumbled to my feet, almost tripping in the process. “That was thoughtful. I really appreciate it, Chase. If you’d slammed the door in my face, I wouldn’t have blamed you.”
He appeared to jerk at my words. “Why would I do that?”
Take your choice: because I ran off and got married shortly after you left for college.Because my own parents did. Because you have a girlfriend.
Ironically, it was the last thought that gave me the most heartburn.
Outwardly, I only shrugged. Someday soon, we’d talk. Tonight, I was too weary to dive into it.
As if he agreed tonight wasn’t the right time to catch up, he put down a tray I hadn’t even noticed he was holding. “I thought if he was that hungry, you might be, too.”
As if on cue, my stomach gurgled, and now that I was warm and dry and knew I wouldn’t have to sleep in my car with only Jack to keep me warm, I realized how hungry I was. I hadn’t eaten since I scarfed down half a bagel this morning back in Nashville.
Chase’s lip quirked upward, and I felt my shoulders relax with his gesture. “It’s not much, but it’s the best I could do on short notice with no electricity.”
“It’s perfect,” I said around a mouthful of cheddar and cracker crumbs while I shamelessly reached for another.
“Make yourself comfortable.” He gestured to the couch behind me while he sat in a chair diagonally from it.
I sat on the edge of the cushion as I looked around. “You’ve gotten new furniture.”
“Things change. It was time.”
I squirmed under his scrutiny, certain he was referring to more than just the old furniture. “It looks nice. Marta must be happy. She was always after Uncle James to update everything.” I wondered what his housekeeper would think when she saw me in the morning.
“Marta isn’t here anymore.”
“Oh.” I wanted to ask why, but it wasn’t my business anymore.
