Chasing Day Series: Chasing Day & Catching Day (21 page)

“I have my moments.” Amy shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. “But you and Chase are having problems right now. He needs to get his shit together and stop using you as a crutch. And you need to find your own life. One that doesn’t revolve around trying to make him happy, which isn’t working, by the way.” Amy reached across the table to clutch Day’s hand when tears came to her eyes. “You can’t heal him, sweetie. He has to want to do that on his own.”

“But this is different.” Day sniffled. “He’s not just my boyfriend. He’s my
best
friend. No offense.” Day wiped her eyes.

“None taken. I know you have a bond that goes way back. But even best friends go off to live their own lives. And like most true best friends, they’ll more than likely be there when you get back. Just maybe not in a relationship.” Amy advised.

Day sighed heavily. “I just don’t know. But I told Rhys that I’d think about it. And he gave me the application to fill out.”

“You really should. I just want to see you happy. And you haven’t been for a year. Hell, even before that when you were dating Drew. Stop trying to make these guys happy. Focus on you and make yourself happy. You have that right.” Amy added passionately. “Just fill it out and see if you get accepted. Then make your decision afterwards.”

Daylen nodded, deep in thought. She was already making a list of pros and cons in her head. The longer the pros’ list got, the heavier her heart felt. Could she really leave Chase?
That’s the million dollar question
, she thought as she pulled out the application and a pen.

Chapter 24

It was opening night of the college’s production of Les Miz, and Chase could tell that Day was a nervous wreck as she ran around getting ready. He thought she looked gorgeous anyway. She wore a sleeveless, black dress that swept at her heeled feet. Its plunging neckline displayed her lush, creamy breasts. Her jet black hair was pulled back into a messy chignon at the back of her neck. Her bangs fell past her arched brows, drawing attention to her lined, dark eyes. The longer tendrils on either side framed her face and rosy cheeks.

“You look gorgeous, as always,” Chase said deeply.

He leaned against the doorway to the bathroom and they looked at each other through their reflections in the mirror.

“Thanks, Chase.” Day flushed shyly. Something she did that he’d always love, even when they were old and gray. “You look good no matter what you wear, but especially when you wear a suit.”

“Thank you,” Chase said, looking down at his black suit and ice blue tie.

Silence strained between them, and Chase longed for the times when the banter between them was effortless and comfortable. He knew it was all his fault, but he found that owning up to his mistakes and flaws, proved harder than he thought. His pride and his need to forget and to ease his pain through alcohol were easier to hold on to. He was lucky that his team had even decided to keep him, with all of the shit he’d pulled. Though tonight, he was on a mission to be on his best behavior for Day.

“Are you ready?” He asked.

“As I’ll ever be,” she sighed.

Day turned and moved to walk past him. Chase reached out a hand and placed it on her soft tummy, stopping her. He bent his head down and placed his lips against her temple. Chase kissed her softly there.

“I love you, Pretty Day,” He whispered.

Day’s shoulders slumped slightly, as if some of the tension she held there, eased just a bit.

“I love you, too,” She said huskily as if she was on the verge of tears.

As they walked out the condo, Chase swallowed down his guilt at causing her so much pain.

~~~

The senior symphony orchestra sat in the pit of the conservatory. Their backs straight and instruments at the ready. Day took a calming breath and looked to their conductor, waiting for the cue to begin. Rhys stood at his podium, looking dashing in his tuxes and tails. He raised his arms, baton in hand. His dark blue eyes scanned them from left to right, making sure he had their attention. His eyes landed on Day and held her gaze for a few beats, before moving back to the center.

The previous week, Rhys had told Day that she’d been accepted into the Master’s program at the Royal College of Music. She still hadn’t told Chase or even her mother. Just applying had felt like a betrayal to Chase and she felt the guilt weighing her down. She hadn’t even talked to him about it yet. Nor had she decided she was even going, though she knew Rhys was waiting for her verdict.

Day shook her head to clear her mind of all the negativity and doubts and focused her eyes on Rhys once more. His arms were poised, ready to begin the show. Then his arms swept down and out, and they were off.

The actors above and the orchestra below became one for the next two hours and fifty-five minutes. During the intermission, they all wiped at their brows, took a much-needed drink, and flexed and stretched their aching muscles, preparing for the second half. All in all, Day was amazed at how quickly the show went. She was so absorbed in the music, time seemed to disappear. It was literally otherworldly, and by the sounds of the cheering audience, they must have been transported as well.

They all smiled at each other, giddy at their successful first performance. Day looked over at Amy and she cheesed back at her. She then happened a glance at Rhys and his eyes were already on her. Her stomach involuntarily flip-flopped. He inclined his head once, in a sign of approval for her performance. Day smiled back shyly and stood up with everyone else, as they all took a collective bow.

~~~

Chase and Pat found Daylen in the lobby of the conservatory with the other orchestra members and the cast of the musical. Chase noticed that an older good looking man was talking a little too closely to Day. Instantly, his blood started to boil as they walked up.

“So did you think any more about going?” Chase caught the man say.

“No, but I’ll decide soon.” Day said quietly and Chase furrowed his brow, wondering what that could be about.

Daylen saw Chase and her mom standing there and took a few steps back from the man. She smiled brightly, even though it didn’t reach her eyes. It hadn’t in a long time.

“Hi, mom. Hey, Chase.” Day greeted them.

Pat wrapped Day in a warm hug. “You did a wonderful job. I mean, I couldn’t always hear you specifically, but the entire show was Broadway worthy.” Pat grinned at her.

“Thanks, mom.” Day flushed at the praise.

“Yeah. Ya done good, Pretty Day.” Chase replaced Pat’s warm embrace, though it was stiff. “Who’s this?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. That was rude of me.” Day pulled away and nervously began introductions. “Chase. Mom. This is our guest conductor for the semester, Rhys Spencer-Hamilton. Rhys this is my mom Pat Daniels and my boyfriend, Chase McCoy.”

“It’s pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Rhys said, his accent flowing out warmly.

“Oh, you’re British.” Pat tittered as she shook hands with Rhys. Both Day and Chase stared at her in shock. They both realized at the same time that Pat was a sucker for an accent.

“Nice to meet you, man,” Chase said insincerely as he shook hands with Rhys. “So, what exactly haven’t you decided on?” Chase looked from Day to Rhys, curiously.

“Oh, just if I’m gonna decide to go on and get my masters.” Day said quickly. Too quickly. Chase sensed there was more to it than that, but he didn’t push the subject. “So, there’s an opening night celebratory party going on at an apartment over in Lincoln Park that we’re all going to. Wanna go?” Day asked Chase.

“Yeah, I’ll go,” Chase responded to Day’s question though he looked at Rhys as he said it.

“Well, you young folks have fun. I’m going home to have a glass of wine and get some shut eye.” Pat said, before hugging Day and Chase, and then shaking hands with Rhys one last time.

~~~

Most of the students left their instruments in the now locked conservatory for their matinee performance the next afternoon. Many of them, including Day, Chase, and Rhys, took the L from downtown to Lincoln Park. It was the most uncomfortable and awkward ride Day had ever been on.

Chase suddenly became uber affectionate, like he used to be more than a year ago. He couldn’t stop touching her or kissing her. It was PDA overload. Even Amy was giving them perplexed looks. The most awkward part was that Rhys stood a few feet away from them, holding onto the metal pole as the train rocked him side to side and watched them curiously.

Daylen wasn’t sure, because of her lack of knowledge of the world. But her shyness and wallflower like tendencies, made her a pretty good observer of things and people around her. She was pretty sure that there was some silent male, testosterone driven battle going on between her boyfriend and conductor. She’d felt it the moment she’d introduced them. And now, Chase was putting on a show and Rhys was watching his every move for any evidence of falsehood in his feelings for her. Day assumed Rhys wanted to gather as much proof as he could for why it was okay for her to go halfway around the world to further her education.

Day had been wracking her brain for weeks, on what she should do. If going to London was the best thing for her career, she wanted to do it. Plus, it didn’t help that her relationship and her playing were spiraling downhill, right along with Chase’s behavior and career. She was willing to stay and work on them, together as a couple. But the only problem was, she couldn’t be the only one willing to put in the work.

She was still on the fence, waiting for something to give her the answer. Her answer came only about an hour later.

~~~

“You can’t tell me that Mozart is better than Beethoven!”

“The only reason Beethoven has been more revered than Mozart, is because he composed many of his most famous pieces when he was deaf. So that automatically made him the golden child of classical music. But Mozart composed over six hundred works…”

Day had found herself the mediator of a heated debate over who was the better composer when she heard cheering coming from the kitchen of the loft apartment. She quickly excused herself from the argument before it came to blows and headed towards the sound. The sight that greeted her filled her heart with disappointment.

Chase was in the middle a keg stand. The party, though probably boring to him, had been mellow and pretty adult for a bunch of college seniors. But the older graduate, who was supposed to be more mature, had turned the celebration into a frat party.

Two guys that played the tuba and used carrying around the heavy instruments brought Chase’s legs down when he was finished breaking a new record. Chase’s large muscled body wobbled a bit, once he was on his feet. He clumsily high-fived the two guys and then went to fill up more beer in his plastic cup.

“I bet you stuffy band dudes haven’t seen that before.” Chase slurred slightly.

Day was humiliated. She couldn’t believe that Chase would ruin her night by getting wasted at their opening night after party. She knew it would be only a matter of a drink or two more and she’d have to get help to carry him out to a cab. It was obvious that it was time to go.

Someone came to stand beside her and pulled her eyes from the trainwreck that was her boyfriend and long-time best friend, who was now a stranger. Day looked up to see Rhys standing next to her. A dark eyebrow was quirked up and a telling smile pulled at his firm lips.

“Looks like he’s having a great time,” Rhys observed.

“Yes!” Day blurted out though it was obvious that she wasn’t responding to what he’d just said.

Rhys looked down at her. The look said, “Go on.”

“Yes, I want to go to London.” Day informed him, firmly.

“Done. Let’s work on getting you ready.” Rhys grinned broadly.

“First things first.” Day looked over at Chase, chugging the rest of his beer.

First, I have an unpleasant discussion ahead of me.

~~~

They walked into their apartment forty-five minutes later. Well, Chase stumbled into the apartment. Day looked around at the space that didn’t feel like hers. It never did. It didn’t even feel like Chase’s. The condo was for someone else. For the person Chase thought he was. For what he thought Daylen wanted.

Chase flopped down on the couch and reached for the remote for the huge flat screen television. Day took a deep breath, before broaching the subject.

“Chase wait. I need to talk to you about something important.” Day said nervously.

“What’s up?” He looked up at her groggily, letting his hand with the remote flop onto his lap.

“I-I was accepted into the Master’s program at the Royal College of Music.” Day started.

“That’s awesome, babe. Congrats.” Chase smiled and then turned back to the remote.

“Wait. There’s more.” Day wrung her hands, anxiously. “See the school is in L-London. A-And I’ve said y-yes,” she stuttered out.

“Wait…what?” Chase sat forward on the couch, finally giving Day his undivided attention. The fog of alcohol cleared slightly.

“I’m going to London to get my masters. It’s a two-year program.” Day clarified her stomach in knots.

“So you mean to tell me, that you applied and decided to go to a school thousands of miles away, and you didn’t even talk to me about it?” Chase asked incredulously.

“Y-Yes. It’s the chance of a lifetime.” Day began her argument.

“And who the hell gave you this idea? That British dude you introduced me to. What was his name, Sir Nigel McFancy-Pants Billingsworth or some shit like that?” Chase pushed off the couch quickly and ran a hand over his buzzed hair, and then down his gorgeous face.

“He said, he’d mentor me.” Daylen defended.

“Fuck, Day! Of course he said he’d mentor you, he wants to get close to you. He was eying you up like fucking tea and crumpets!” Chase shouted and glowered at her snort of nervous laughter. “It’s not fucking funny, Day! I stayed in this godforsaken state for you! With all its shitty memories. I could’ve tried to go with another team, but I wanted to be close to you. And now you’ve decided to go to the other side of the world? You didn’t even talk to me about it. You went behind my fucking back!”

“I didn’t know what to say! And you’re never around to talk to me anyway. Always afraid that I’m going to get on your case.” Day railed right back.