Playing Chase (Against The Wall) (6 page)

I reach out my hand to touch hers but then think better of it. “I did not say you sucked. I said you were a little dry. There’s a difference.”

“Yeah, well that reminded me of my old boring teachers and why I wanted to get into this field in the first place.” She takes a swig of her drink. “I had one history teacher who would run all over the room, writing stuff on different white boards, talking rapidly with his hands, and highlighting and circling important things like a crazy man. He woke me up. Made me listen and got me interested.”

“So you wanted to be like him?”

“Exactly. With all my credential classes and all the tedious work they give you, I think I lost sight of what really matters.” She nudges me in the arm. “But you helped me find my way back. Thank you.”

She warms my insides with words. “You’re welcome.”

Tiffany holds up her hand to the bartender. “Shot, please.” She raises two fingers. “Two.”

“What?” I ask.

“Take a shot with me.” She pushes her cocktail aside and waits for the shots to arrive.

I know I shouldn’t but it’s just one drink.

I toss back the tequila and wince as it burns all the way down my throat and into my stomach.

She slams her
shot glass on the bar and shouts, “My friends think you’re cute.”

When I don’t say anything, she takes a sip from her girlie concoction. “They can’t believe I get to spend everyday with you.”

What do I say to that? I’m trying to be good here and she’s not making it easy.

“They’ve been filling me with drinks so I’ll have the liquid courage to ask you out or something,” she rattles on, in between constant sipping, the straw still tucked into her mouth.

“That’s not a good idea.”

The happy, smiley Tiffany deflates and she looks away from me. “Forget I said anything.”

She slides down the stool and turns to walk away, but I stop her. I catch her arm and turn her toward me. “Tiffany, look at me, please.” I tuck my finger under her chin and tilt her face upward so I can see her eyes. “I’m flattered. I really am. The old Chase would have had you home and in my bed already. But, I just can’t be that person anymore. You deserve better than that.”

Her lip quivers and my heart breaks. Damn it. This isn’t how I wanted it to be with us. Things were great until my fucking dad brought me here
. Fuck!

A strand of soft, wavy brown hair falls into her eyes and I brush it out of her face with my fingertips. I can’t help but cup her cheek in my hand while saying, “I’m sorry, Tiff. I really am.”

And then she goes and melts my heart with the press of her full lips to the inside of my palm. “They’re wrong about you, you know? You’re not a bad guy. You just haven’t been given the chance to be good. Until now.”

My heart just about pounds out of my chest as she walks away. Before I can process what just happened, my dad takes this time to slap me in the back and tell me he’s leaving with one of his dolls.

On my way out, I notice Tiffany sitting at the other end of the bar.

Alone.

“Did you hear that?” I hit the mute button on the TV, startling my husband. We’re both still for a second.

“Yeah,” he says, flipping the covers off of him. “It’s the door.”

“It’s almost midnight,” I tell him. “I’m going to kick Mel’s ass. She’s the only one dumb enough to come knocking at this hour.”

Matty shakes his head as I follow him to the door. He looks into the peephole, pulls his head back, and then looks again. “It’s Chase.”

“What?” I push him out of the way and unlock the door myself. “What the hell are you doing here?” I ask before the door is completely open. I’m surprised to see him standing there with his student teacher cradled in his arms. “What the hell is going on?”

“Will you just open the door all the way, and let us in and I’ll tell you?”

Matt pushes
me
out of the way this time, clearing the way for my dumbass ex and Tiffany. “Bring her over here.” Chase follows him into the living room and plops the girl down on our chaise lounge. “What’s going on?” Matty asks him.

“Thanks, man.” Chase grabs a throw blanket from the back of the lounge and covers Tiffany with it. He turns to us and begins talking. “I’m sorry to just show up on your doorstep like this, but I had no idea what else to do. Can she stay here tonight?”

“What happened to her?” Matty asks him. Leave it to my sweet husband to show concern instead of just telling the dipshit to take a hike.

“She got wasted and her friends left her at a bar. I was there and I told her I’d take her home. I guess her parents are staying at her place while their house is being painted and she didn’t want them to see her in this condition. We tried calling her friends, but they wouldn’t answer.”

“What the hell kind of friends does she have?” I question, raising my voice.

Chase shakes his head. “Apparently, they thought it would be fun to get her drunk enough to come on to me, so they won’t answer
, because they’re hoping something will happen between us.”

“Won’t it?” I roll my eyes. It’s not really a question. Like Chase could keep it in his pants.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” he says, his nose flaring a little. He has no room to be pissy after showing up asking me for a favor.

“Fair enough,” I say. Something is weird about him. A squeal comes from down the hall. I look at Matty and he’s on it. He kisses the top of my head and disappears to take care of Noah. “Why did you bring her here?”

“It’s not like I had a lot of options. I can’t go to Dean’s. Mel and Ty are definitely out of the question. You and Matt are the only rational people I know. I knew you’d understand that Tiffany just needs a place to stay for the evening. I knew you wouldn’t take out what you think of me on her. I can come and get her in the morning and take her wherever she needs to go.”

I wave him off. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll sleep out here with her, so when she wakes up she knows where she is. Or in case she throws up.” I scrunch my nose at the thought. “Why didn’t you just take her to your house?”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I just can’t,” he says again.

I roll my eyes at him. “What? Already got another girl there? The one from your date?” I smirk, wagging my brows at him. I expected to get a text this afternoon but we never heard from him. “She was a hot one, huh.”

“If you weren’t helping me out right now, I’d probably tell you off. That girl was foul. I had to go home and shower after meeting her.” He shudders just talking about her.

“The gratification I get from hearing this probably makes me evil, but I’m okay with that.” I tell him, and he counters with a sneer. “So, another woman then?”

“No. I haven’t seen anyone in almost a year.”

I know I’m pissing him off, but I just can’t help pushing. “Then why not take her back to your place?”

“Because my dad is there, Shel!”

Oh. Oh shit. “Why?” I reach my hand out to comfort him, but think better of it. He doesn’t deserve it, but I wouldn’t wish his dad on my worst enemy. And I guess that would be Chase.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice. It’s just…well, you know how it is.” He shuts his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. “He’s staying with me for awhile.”

I can see his frustration and I’m almost sympathetic. “How long has he been there?”

“About a month.” He scrubs his hands over his face.

“When was the last time you saw him before now?” His dad hasn’t always been there for Chase, and when he has, he’s been a total dick. And that’s probably an understatement.

“It’s been a little over a year.”

“And before that?” I ask.

“The same.”

“And now he’s back and he’s been here for a month?” I question and he nods. “How long is he staying?”

“Not long, I hope. If he doesn’t move soon, I just might.” He steps toward Tiffany and places his hand on her leg for a split second. “I’ve gotta go. Please call me in the morning. Thank Matt for me. Shel, thank you so much for doing this. I know I don’t deserve your help, but I truly appreciate it.”

Tiffany finally awakes at eight in the morning. She stretches out like a newborn, her hands above her head, her toes pointed. She yawns opening her mouth wide before her eyes flutter open.

She sits up immediately, pulling the blanket to her chin. A flash of fear and confusion crosses over face
, and it’s only then that I realize she must be a little freaked out.

I would be if I were waking up to three women staring at me like a chimpanzee exhibit at the zoo. Before I went to bed, I sent Mel and Summer a text to get here bright and early for coffee and chitchat with the newbie teacher
, who was placed on my sofa in the middle of the night. I’m tempted to call her Cinderella since she showed up just before midnight. Her prince charming has called twice already to check on her.

“Well, hello there,” I say, a smile plastered to my face.

Mel holds out a mug to her. “Coffee?”

“Ibuprofen?” Summer reveals four little tablets in her hand.

She gives us a weak smile before taking our offerings.

“How ya feeling?” I ask.

Tiffany takes a slow sip of her coffee. “A little confused. My head is starting to pound.” She tosses the meds in her mouth and takes another drink. “Why am I here?”

“Chase brought you to me last night.” I go on to explain his reasoning, leaving out the part about his dad. If he wants to share those gory details with her, that’s his deal. I’m not about to get into it.

“Oh my god. I feel like such an idiot, like a schoolgirl who gave into peer pressure. I never drink. Now, I know why.”

Mel gasps. “You don’t drink?”

The thought is horrifying to the three of us, I’m sure. Wait until she’s been teaching for five years, that’ll change her mind. She’ll be crying for an IV drip of tequila by October.

“Not usually
, or not enough to have any kind of tolerance anyway.”

We sit in silence, each of us sipping from our mugs and glancing back and forth at each other.

“So what happened to being professional?” Summer’s voice rings through the air.

“I don’t know,” Tiffany says softly. “My friends got one good look at Chase and were all over me to seduce my boss. I can’t believe I went along with it.” Her cheeks are flushed pink and she’s waving her right hand in the air as she goes on. “I guess I thought we made a connection. We’ve been getting to know each other pretty well since we spend so much time together.
Sometimes I catch him looking at me when he doesn’t think I notice. Maybe they were just sisterly looks, because he shut me down so quickly last night, it was pathetic. I was pathetic.”

“As you know, we’re definitely not members of the Chase Marino fan club or anything, but don’t lose sleep over him turning you down. Think of it as a blessing. You don’t want to be the next member of the Chase Marino hate club, do you?” Mel asks.

“Although, I hear the company is pretty cool, if I do say so myself.” Summer blows some air on her fingernails and dusts them off on her top.

“Yeah, but you don’t have to screw the guy
, and get dumped, to hang out with us,” I joke with her. “We’ll take you under our wings without you having to jump on the Chase train. Those tickets never sell out, let me tell ya.”

Tiffany doesn’t seem amused by our teasing.

“Can I tell you guys a story?” she asks.

The girls and I look at each other, and then back at her. “Let me get us a refill first,” I say. I jog into the kitchen and take the pot of coffee into the living room. Playing hostess with the mostess, I give everyone a refill before putting the pot back on the warmer. Then, I stand on tiptoes to reach the good stuff above the refrigerator. “Bailey’s anyone?”

Both Summer and Mel raise their mugs and I pour a splash into their coffee. Tiffany rolls her eyes and then says, “Fine. Just a little though.”

Grinning like a Cheshire cat, I set the bottle on the coffee table and sit to listen to Tiff’s story. “Carry on,” I tell her.

“A few weeks ago, I started teaching Chase’s classes. I really sucked at first. I was so nervous and the kids were comatose. I felt like such an idiot. I had always wanted to be a teacher and then when I finally got my shot, I blew it.”

“We all have our bad days,” Summer says, placing a hand on Tiffany’s knee. “It will get better.”

“Oh, it has. Chase gave me some pointers. Mostly, just telling me to relax and not be so uptight.” She lets out a few laughs.

“What?” I ask, scrunching my brows. “He told you that you’re uptight?”

“Well, she kind of is,” Mel says, and then covers her mouth like she can’t believe she said it aloud.

“It’s okay,” Tiffany says, waving her off. “You’re both right. I am a little uptight when I first meet people. The point is, he was honest with me and I trusted him with his suggestions
, and it made me a better teacher.”