Read Chasing Day Series: Chasing Day & Catching Day Online
Authors: Twyla Turner
Chasing Day Series: Chasing Day & Catching Day (22 page)
“That’s because you fucking nag me to death. I’m a grown ass man! I don’t need you mothering me.” Chase growled.
“You don’t act like it.” Day scowled at him. “A grown ass man could drink without getting annihilated every damn day!”
“So what?! I like to drink. It’s no big deal.” Chase argued.
“Chase, you don’t even see the problem. You’re so in denial.” Day reached out her hands, imploring him to hear her.
“Who the fuck said you were so perfect?!” Chase yelled.
“I’m not perfect! But I will not end up like your mother. Miserable and watching you drink yourself to death like your father.” Day had said the words before she realized what she was doing.
“Get the fuck out,” Chase said under his breath, deceptively calm.
“Chase-”
“GET THE FUCK OUT!” He roared.
Day flinched and stepped back as if he’d hit her. Her heart squeezed painfully, her stomach dropped, and her eyes instantly filled with tears. She stepped towards their bedroom to pack her things, but he stepped in her way. His fists were clenched at his sides and the green flecks in his light brown eyes glowed with fire.
“I-I need to get my things.” Day’s voice wobbled with tears.
“Why do you need clothes, when it looks like you’re just gonna be whoring yourself out to your British pimp.” Chase sneered.
Daylen’s hand shot up and slapped his face so hard her palm stung. Chase’s face barely moved and she struck him once more.
“Fuck you, Chase!” Day screamed. “You put me through hell for more than a year. Every fucking time you leave this condo, I think it might be the last time I see you!” She choked on a heart-wrenching sob but continued. “I didn’t know if you’d be found in a ditch somewhere. Or crash that damn sports car into something and kill yourself. I can’t continue to sit by and watch you ruin your life. I’d stay for you. I’d put my career on hold for you. If you even attempted to get better. But you won’t. And I…and I can’t watch the boy I l-love turn into a man I hate. A man
he
would hate.” The dam broke and Day sobbed as Chase blinked back his own tears. “Now let me pass.”
Chase slowly stepped to the side and Day ran into their bedroom. She grabbed some luggage and threw whatever she thought she needed into the suitcases. If she left anything behind, she’d come back to get it later, though she hoped she didn’t have to come back. She wasn’t so sure she could handle seeing him again.
Chase stood in the doorway, silently watching her. She could tell that he wanted to stop her. He wanted to apologize. He wanted to be better. Day knew him well, so through her tears, she also saw his pride forcing his silence. It was the final nail in the coffin of their relationship. If he couldn’t even fight for her, for their relationship. It was clear that he wasn’t going to fight for himself either.
Day zipped up the suitcases and rolled them quickly to the door. She stood there with her eyes squeezed shut, facing the closed door for several beats. Day could feel him only inches behind her. She waited for any clue that he wanted her to stay.
Tell me to stay dammit! Fight for me!
Her lungs burned as she held her breath. She felt his breath on her neck, blowing the fine hairs on her nape. Day felt him move behind her and she opened her eyes to see his thick corded arm reach for the doorknob. Without a word, Chase opened the door and held it open. A painful sob burst from her lips at the cruel gesture.
Tears blinded Day as she ran out the door and down the hall. The sounds of glass crashing reached her ears as she stepped into the elevator. The doors slid closed, ending the agonizing noise coming from the condo and closing the chapter to that part of her life. To her life with Chase. To her childhood.
Adulthood never felt so shitty.
••••
Catching Day
By Twyla Turner
©Copyright by Twyla Turner
Front & Back Cover image: iStock. By Getty Images™
©Copyright by Andrei Vishnyakov
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
To:
Anyone that has been beaten down by life and love, but still hopeful.
New Beginnings:
Vows:
It’s Complicated:
Reunions:
New Beginnings
August 2004
Day stiffly walked off the plane at Heathrow airport in London. The flight was seven and a half hours and she’d only gotten up a few times to go to the bathroom and stretch her legs. She should’ve been exhausted since she only got a few hours of sleep. But her nerves had her hopped up like she was on speed.
It had been an emotional couple of months. Even though she had been a wreck, Day aced her finals and her performance with the symphony orchestra had her passing the ensemble course with flying colors. She’d walked across the stage in black cap and gown, with a sense of accomplishment and crushing heartbreak because her partner in crime wasn’t there to witness it. Although, Day knew it was for the best to end their relationship and advance her career. It still left her with a painful gaping hole in her heart. To end the relationship was to end the friendship. A double stab in the heart.
She worked with Rhys to apply for scholarships and grants, and with his inside knowledge, Day barely had to pay for a thing. Her mother was able to give her some money to get started, and Day would be working with Rhys as a TA for the undergrad program. The little money she’d make from that would help with her extra-curricular activities. With her acceptance letter to the college, she was also able to expedite her passport and received her student visa.
All in all, it was the most exciting time of her life. Though she couldn’t escape the ache in her soul and the worry in the pit of her stomach. She knew she could no longer support the crushing weight of Chase and his issues, but she prayed that he would be okay without her there.
Day headed down the escalator, towards baggage claim when she saw Rhys standing there with a sign that read ‘Ms. Daniels.’ He’d gotten there a few months ahead of her and was now her official welcome wagon. She had come a few weeks before school started to help Rhys prepare for the coming semester. She was nervous to work with the conservative and straight-laced Brit though to look at him know, maybe she was wrong.
It was the most casual she’d ever seen him. Dark-washed jeans with Converse and a charcoal gray, V-neck t-shirt. His normally perfectly combed, wavy hair was slightly messy. Like he’d ran his fingers through the dark locks several times. And even his smile was more relaxed. It was broad and satisfied. As if he was the cat that caught the mouse. Day wasn’t so sure she was ready to be anyone’s mouse, if what Chase said was to be believed. She couldn’t imagine someone like Rhys, being interested in her romantically. But then again, she couldn’t have imagined the star, captain, and quarterback of the high school and college football team would want her either. And that had happened.
“Hello, love. And welcome to England.” Rhys’ smooth accented voice poured over Day as she stepped up to him.
“Hi, Rhys.” She smiled shyly.
“How was your flight?”
“Long. Boring,” she answered as they made their way to the baggage carousel.
Day pointed to her suitcases and Rhys grabbed her bags. They headed to the parking garage, to his charmingly foreign little car. Rhys put her luggage in the trunk or what he called the ‘boot.’ Day walked over to the passenger side of the car and chuckled softly when she realized that she was on the driver’s side.
“This is gonna take some getting used to.” Day commented as she walked around to the left side of the car.
“Yes, it’ll be a bit of an adjustment. But I think you’ll eventually love it and be happy that you came.” Rhys assured her as he started the car and pulled out of the parking space.
“I hope so.” Day said quietly.
“Moving anywhere different, especially another country, you’ll be hit with a bit of culture shock. And then, maybe a little homesickness. But if you see it through, it’ll become home soon enough.” Rhys advised.
“Thanks, Rhys. For everything,” Day said appreciatively.
“You’re welcome,” he smiled over at her as he headed towards the motorway. “So, I was thinking that we could drop off your things at the residence hall. Then we could go grab an early dinner. Unless you’re too knackered and you’d rather unpack and rest.” Rhys suggested.
“Knackered?” Day raised her eyebrows.
“Tired, exhausted, or the like. Sorry, I’ve resorted to my normal way of speaking, since I’ve been back. I’ll try to tone it down a bit.” Rhys grinned rakishly.
“No, I like it.” Day smiled back at him. “Well, I am feeling a little grimy, but I’m starving. And I wouldn’t know the first thing about where I’m at and where to get food. So, yes. Food, please.” Day decided.
“Food, it is.”
~~~
Day sat across from Rhys at a quaint little pub not far from her dormitory. It had only taken about forty-five minutes to get from the airport to the residence hall. Day had stayed quiet and Rhys let her, as she took in the scenery that they passed. Centuries old architecture, mixed in with modern. Double-decker red buses, cars that she’d only seen in movies, driving on the opposite side of the road, and all walks of life, strolling down the road. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the end of the unusually bright and sunny day.
Her dorm room had been a nice surprise. It was more like a studio apartment in an older building. It was charming with a kitchenette, small bathroom, wood floors, and white crown molding. It was small, but Day could see decorating it and making it her own.
After they’d dropped off her bags, she’d called her mom to let her know she’d made it. Then Rhys made sure he drove the route she’d take on the bus to the school, on the way to dinner. Day’s mouth dropped open in awe of the historical main building. It was five stories of red brick and two towers on either side, with gray roofs that came to a point at the top. It was exactly all she would’ve imagined it to be.
Now they were a few blocks away from the school, at the pub. Rhys had asked Day what she wanted to eat. When she’d responded with authentic fish-n-chips, he’d brought her to the old-fashioned little pub.
“They have one of the best fish-n-chip dinners in the city. You’ll love it.” Rhys said after the waitress had walked away.
“Thanks for picking me up and showing me around a little.” Day said gratefully.
“It’s no bother at all. It was me that convinced you to come. I couldn’t very well leave you to figure it out on your own. I know I can be a complete todger at times, but I’m really a decent bloke.”
Day gave him a perplexed look and he immediately chuckled and clarified.
“I can be a dick at times, but I swear I’m a decent guy.” Rhys translated.
“I got the bloke part. I’ve seen movies, you know. I just wasn’t sure about the todger part. I figured it was something bad. Just not how bad.” Day smiled, marveling at how two countries spoke the same language, but their slang was completely foreign.
“So…how are you feeling? You never did tell me how your boyfriend took the news. You seemed really sad towards the end of school.” Rhys asked curiously.
Day looked down at the table, fiddling with the cardboard coaster. “He didn’t take it well at all. We broke up, actually.” Day fought the tremble the crept up in her voice.
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.” Rhys said and reached a hand across the table to clasp hers comfortingly.
“It’s okay. It probably would’ve happened whether I came to London or not.” Day confessed. “Chase has a lot of issues he needs to work through on his own. I just hope he does.”
“I’m sure he will,” Rhys reassured her as the waitress came back with their food and mugs of beer.
They ate in silence for a little while. Daylen was deep in thought and they were not in a happy place. She looked up at Rhys and found his dark blue eyes on her. The gaze was intense and direct, which made her shiver. It wasn’t fear, but more like extreme awareness.
“You realize we haven’t had a toast, to celebrate your arrival,” Rhys commented.
“True.” Day smiled slightly.
They both lifted their mugs in the air.
“To new beginnings,” Rhys said.
“To new beginnings.” Day repeated and they clinked their glasses together.
“So, tomorrow is Saturday. How about I take you on a tour of the city? Maybe show you around the school too, so that you know where you’re going. Monday starts lesson planning and faculty meetings and I’ll be too busy then.” Rhys suggested.
“I’d like that.” Day said shyly.
“Perfect.”
Day looked at Rhys curiously. He had yet to say anything about his personal life. She honestly didn’t have a clue as to who he was, other than a wonderful conductor.
“So…what about you? Did you have someone waiting for you when you came back?” Day asked.
“Oh no,” Rhys said, shaking his head. “I’ve been too busy touring back and forth as a guest conductor at different schools. Though, now that I’m back here for the foreseeable future, I’m looking to change that.” Rhys remarked, his confident stare unnerving her.
“Uh, well…I’m sure you’ll meet someone great.” Day replied self-consciously.
“I’m sure I will.”