Chasing Day Series: Chasing Day & Catching Day (33 page)

If only forgiveness were that easy as an adult.
Chase thought to himself as he looked at Day.

~~~

Day watched as Chase and Lyric played at the nearby playground. Just as he’d promised, he pushed her high on the swing and threw her little body so high in the air that Day cringed right before he caught her again. The entire time, Lyric giggled and squealed with joy.

At one point, the two walked hand in hand towards the merry-go-round, their backs to Day. She secretly pulled out her phone and snapped a few pics of the moment. It was a moment that she’d dreamt of for more than four years. The minute she realized that she was pregnant, she’d imagined moments like this.

Day had cried herself to sleep on many a night, at not having Chase in her life as their baby grew inside of her. It had killed her not to tell him, but she honestly didn’t want to stir up trouble between him and his wife. She didn’t know if he even wanted kids, and after the Rhys fiasco. She was too afraid to even ask. And it wasn’t like she couldn’t afford to take care of her daughter. She made well over six figures, working with the Symphony. Her life was good though she’d missed her best friend.

Even now that he was back, she still felt like she couldn’t reach him. She knew it was her own fault, by not telling him about Lyric. But they needed to heal their relationship if they wanted to successfully co-parent.

What the hell are you talking about, Day? Co-parent? Do you really want to co-parent with him? Or do you want to build a real family with him?

She knew the answer. She just didn’t know how to get him to forgive her.

Time. It’s all you can do.

~~~

“Daddy, will you read me a bedtime story?” Lyric asked as Day tucked her in and Chase watched from the doorway.

Both Day and Chase froze. Even though they had told Lyric that Chase was her father earlier, she hadn’t called him Dad yet. This was the first time. And like every time a small step was taken forward, they both got emotional. Day wondered if they’d ever stop becoming weepy every time the kid said or did something sweet.

“Of course I’ll read you a story, munchkin butt,” Chase said the new pet name he’d given her while playing earlier and Lyric giggled hysterically.

Day replaced his spot in the doorway and watched as Chase read
Goodnight Moon
to their daughter. He had to read it a second time before she finally fell asleep. Day turned on her nightlight and shut off her princess chandelier light. Chase walked out and Day closed the door till only a crack was left open.

“She’s afraid of the dark. So don’t be surprised if you find a little person in your bed and their feet in your face come morning.” Day laughed quietly.

“She’s amazing, Day,” Chase said in awe. “So smart and beautiful. Well-mannered and sweet. I might be still hurt by not being a part of her life, but you’ve done a wonderful job.” He admitted.

“Thanks, Chase. That means a lot.” Day said huskily. She never knew if she was doing a good job or not, so the praise from him choked her up a bit.

They stood in the hallway awkwardly. They stared at each other hungrily, but all the baggage between them kept them at a distance.

“Goodnight, Day.”

“Night, Chase.”

Day walked to her bedroom and turned to look across as Chase walked to his door. They both looked at each other again. Day knew that her eyes had to look almost desperate as she gazed at him. Chase turned his head and closed the door. Day left hers cracked open just in case Lyric needed her and she walked to her bed and collapsed in frustration.

“Fantastic. Looks like I’ll have to continue masturbating, like the last five years. Oh, joy!” Day moaned to herself.

She had been too busy being a mom and a career woman, to go out on dates or even have a casual fling. She was as proficient in flicking the bean, as she was playing the cello. Now wouldn’t be any different.

Chase heard the distinct sound of something vibrating and his ears perked up. He crept slowly to the doorway and eased the door open.
Yep. That’s definitely vibrating.
Then the sound of a soft feminine cry of ecstasy reached his ears and he groaned internally.

The woman that he couldn’t get enough of since he was a kid was masturbating right down the hall, and he was over here pouting.
What the hell is wrong with you, Chase?!

He quickly closed the door and flopped down on his bed. His dick was hard as a rock, with no signs of going down anytime soon with visions of Day pleasing herself in his head.
Well, I might as well masturbate too. Like I have for the last five years.

Chase knew that during their five-year long divorce battle, Whitney had more than likely had him followed by a private investigator a few times. She hoped to catch him in the act of cheating, so he’d been on his best behavior for longer than he could remember. His hand was more familiar with his cock than it was with a football. Now, was no different.

Chapter 15

“Mommy said that her and her best friend used to play in there. But I can’t play in there yet because I could get hurt and it’s old.” Lyric pointed to the treehouse as they pulled up to Pat’s house.

“That was me,” Chase said as he turned to look at her.

“You’re Mommy’s best friend?” She asked in astonishment.

“Yep, we’ve known each other a long time.” Chase grinned at her.

He turned back to look at his dad’s house and for the first time ever, Chase was shocked. The roof had been fixed, the once falling gutters replaced, and a new coat of white paint made the house look practically brand new. Chase wondered if his father had died at some point and he just didn’t know about it.

“I saw the workers there a few weeks ago.” Day said, noticing where he was looking. “Maybe he’s turned over a new leaf.” She shrugged.

“That’s one impressive leaf,” Chase said in amazement.

They got out the car and Chase opened the back door to get Lyric. She clutched Melody in her arms, both dressed in their matching yellow and pink dresses. Though, Lyric had on white tights and a coat over hers, for the chilly weather. Her curls were tamed and confined, up in a bun on top of her head.

Chase lifted her up into his arms and planted kisses all over her face, making her crack up with laughter. It had only been a day and a half, and he couldn’t seem to stop carrying her around everywhere they went. He knew if he wasn’t careful, he’d make her rotten. But he couldn’t help himself. He was still in awe that she was his.

“You know, maybe this spring I can rebuild the treehouse for you. Make it into your very own princess palace. Would you like that?” Chase suggested.

Lyric’s mouth fell open and she clapped both hands on either side of his face, smooshing his cheeks. “A princess house in a tree?!” She asked with excitement.

“Exactly.”

Her little legs began to beat against his stomach happily. Her little lips smacked his and tiny arms wrapped around his neck as she placed her head against his neck.

“I love you!” She sighed.

Chase’s heart squeezed and it took a few moments to speak again. “I love you too, Lyric. Though you shouldn’t love me just because I’m building you a princess house in a tree.” He informed her.

“Oh, I do love you, Daddy. Now I just love you more,” she said as she squeezed him tighter.

Chase blinked back the same tears that had plagued him since the minute he knew she existed. He looked up at her mom and she looked just as emotional as he did.

“Let’s go inside before Nana starts wondering where we’re at.” Day proposed.

As they walked up the front steps, Pat opened the door to meet them. Her eyes were glassy as she took them all in.

“This is the most beautiful sight I’ve seen in my whole life,” she said sappily.

They all gave her hugs as they stepped inside.

~~~

Chase helped Pat clean the kitchen while Day laid Lyric down for a nap. When Pat started to talk, he knew she’d been waiting for the right opportunity.

“I know you’re still a little bent with Daylen,” she began. “But Chase, sweetie…you gotta let that mess go.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” Chase grumbled.

“Don’t be a stubborn fool,” she scolded. “Do you love her? Wait!” She held up a hand to stop him from speaking. “Aside from how angry you are that she didn’t tell you about Lyric, do you still love her? Isn’t that why you actually came in the first place to see her performance?”

“Maybe.”

“That’s a yes.” Pat ignored him. “Do you even notice that for the first time in both your lives, the timing is right?” She asked and Chase remained silent. “You’re both in the same place. Neither of you are dating or married to anyone else. Both of you are happy and healthy and not fighting off inner demons. Your careers aren’t taking you away from each other. Everything is perfect if you’d just open your eyes and see. Don’t let pride get in the way of your happiness,” she finished wisely.

Chase didn’t respond because he knew that she was absolutely right. They’d never had a real fighting chance before. At every turn, they’d run into what seemed like insurmountable obstacles. Now there was nothing stopping them from having a great life together, except for his hurt pride and past baggage.

Later that night, after they returned home and watched
The Princess and the Frog
with Lyric. They put her to bed and were both walking out into the hallway when Lyric’s sleepy voice reached them.

“Kiss goodnight,” she said sleepily. “Mommies and daddies kiss like Tiana and Naveen.”

Chase looked at Day and her chocolate brown eyes looked at him with hope. He knew it was his opportunity to move forward and stop being an ass. But for some stupid reason, probably pride, Chase felt like he had every right to hold onto his anger for a little longer than a few day, so he leaned forward and kissed her softly on the cheek.

“Goodnight, Day,” he said and then turned away from the disappointment in her eyes.

“Goodnight, Chase.”

~~~

And so it went for the next couple of weeks. Chase spent the day with Lyric while Day went to rehearse for the Symphony’s next concert. He took Lyric to the park by their house every day. He also took her to the Lincoln Park Zoo, to the aquarium, and anywhere else that was fun for kids. He learned all the songs to her favorite cartoon movies and decided to record them singing them on his phone. He even asked Day if they could start a YouTube channel. She’d said yes, with a shake of her head. They’d named the channel Chase’s Lyric, a play on the 90s movie. He uploaded the videos and because he was still considered one of the best quarterbacks the pro-league had had, his popularity made their little duo go viral within days.

He hadn’t spent much time looking for another place to live. He tried not to look too closely at why he wanted to stay in Day’s home. Everything was perfect, except for the fact that he kept Day at arm’s length. He knew she was getting frustrated with him, but he still wasn’t ready.

~~~

“He still won’t touch you and he’s been living there for how long?” Amy asked after rehearsal.

“Three weeks,” Day growled. “Do you know how hard it is to be in a house with a man that looks like Chase, who you know can fuck like a porn star, and
not
get any?!” Day ended on an angry huff.

“No, actually I don’t,” Amy said honestly.

“You wouldn’t. You’ve been with Jake for a bazillion years.” Day rolled her eyes. “The bad part is, he’s not even that mad at me anymore. He’s just doing it now to punish me. I’ve seen him staring at me. I’ve even seen him try to hide his hard-ons. He’s not fooling me. Do you think it’s illegal to tie a man up while he’s sleeping, force feed him dick pills, and the jump on and try not to get bucked off?” Day asked half seriously.

“Uh…I’m pretty sure that’s rape.” Amy cringed.

“Crap! Never mind.” Day pouted.

“How about this? The holiday party is coming up this Saturday. And you know how Dan has been dying to take you out?” Amy said leaning in conspiratorially.

“Yeah?” Day leaned in too.

“Well, why not ask him to take you to the party? Have him pick you up at home, where Chase will see. And you could be dressed to kill. It’ll kill him and I bet he’ll make a move after that.” Amy grinned deviously.

“I don’t know. I don’t wanna string Dan along. He’s a nice guy.” Day frowned, thinking about the sweet tuba player.

“Well make sure you tell him that it’s only as friends, but that you need a DD. He’ll totally do it and he’ll know not to expect anything. And Chase will still be jealous no matter what. What he doesn’t know, won’t kill him.” Amy plotted.

“That is kinda brilliant.” Day said, honestly considering the evil plan.

“I know, right?!” Amy grinned and nodded proudly.

“Fuck it! Let’s do it. Mama needs some D!”

~~~

Day walked down the stairs on Saturday night and Chase almost swallowed his tongue. She wore a dress in the color he loved her in most.
Red.
The dress had thick straps that laid to the sides, leaving most of her smooth and creamy shoulders bare. It had a crisscrossing and plunging neckline that showed off a decadent amount of cleavage. The bodice fit snugly, conforming to her lush breasts and thick waist. Then it flared out at the hips, to swirl around her knees flirtatiously. The flowing skirt had two see-through mesh stripes near the hem. And she paired the dress with killer red heels. Her black cap of coiling curls framed her stunning face. The whole look was classy and sexy, which made Chase want to strangle any man that got the opportunity to look at her.

“Are you sure, you’re okay with staying with Lyric this evening?” Day asked as she put on a pair of silver chandelier earrings.

“It’s fine,” Chase practically snapped.

“Thank you so much.” Day smiled sweetly. “Oh, Lyric is upstairs playing. She’ll need a bath before bed.”

“Got it,” Chase said shortly.

The doorbell rang and Day walked over to answer it. She swung the door open to let in some scrawny dude with glasses.

“Hi, Dan!” Day greeted him brightly.

“Hey, Daylen. Wow! You look amazing!” Dan breathed as he looked her up and down.

Chase gritted his teeth as he stood up from where he was sitting on the couch.

“Thanks, Dan. Give me just a sec, while I grab my purse.” She said as she walked away swishing her hips.

Chase took that moment to walk up to Day’s date for the night. Dan looked up at Chase and his eyes widened with trepidation. Chase reached out a hand to shake Dan’s. His hand squeezed a little too firmly as a warning.

“Hey, Dan. I’m Chase. Her baby’s daddy.” He said going all
Maury
on the smaller man.

“Oh…nice to meet you, Chase.” Dan fidgeted nervously.

“Make sure you get her home at a decent hour. And keep your hands to yourself,” he finished with a threat.

“O-Of course.” Dan stammered.

“Good,” Chase said before walking back over to the couch and plopping down.

“Alright, I’m ready.” Day said as she walked back to the entryway.

Chase watched as Dan helped Day slide on her coat. His jaw ticked spasmodically in frustrated anger. With a taunting wiggle of her fingers goodbye, Day and her date exited through the door and closed it behind them. Chase wanted to throw something at the door in anger, but a little voice stopped him from doing anything stupid.

“Daddy?” Lyric said from the top of the stairs.

“Yes, Munchkin Butt.” He grinned up at her.

“I made a tea party. Can you come have tea with me and Melody?” She asked sweetly.

“Of course! I love tea!” Chase got up and headed up the stairs, glad for the distraction.

The distraction only lasted so long before Lyric was bathed and out for the night. Chase came back downstairs and watched some TV while he waited up for Day. He knew he should just go to bed. That she was a big girl and could take care of herself. But he just couldn’t.

A few hours later, Chase heard noise at the front door. He shut off the TV and quickly got up to stride over to the front door. He grasped the doorknob and jerked the door open. On the other side, Dan was kissing Day on the lips. Chase saw red.

Dan walked Day to her front door, considerately. Especially since she was a little more than tipsy. The Symphony’s holiday parties were always a blast. Day and Amy and Jake had danced and drank like it was going out of style at a nice club downtown.

Dan hadn’t danced much, but he made sure he had a drink ready for Day every time she made her way off the dance floor. He was such a sweet guy, Day felt bad for leading him on.

“I had a great time,” Dan said to Day as she worked at getting the key in the keyhole.

“Yeah, me too. The holiday parties are always the best.” Day said as the key finally went in. “Thank Y-”

Day turned her head right as Dan leaned in to kiss her cheek. His lips landed smack dab on hers. She flinched in surprise and Dan moaned in the back of his throat. Just then the door was flung open from the other side and they jumped apart.

Chase stood on the other side like an angry sentinel.

“Say goodnight, Day,” he instructed her.

The look on his face told her not push his buttons any further and she followed his order. “Goodnight, Dan. See ya at rehearsal.” Day said as Chase pulled her inside.

“Bye,” he said as Chase closed the door in his face.