“Sounds great. I'll get our drinks.”

The hostess seats Hailey, and I head to the bar, tipping the bartender before I join her.

“I'm happy you showed up.”

“Me, too. Sorry I was late—I ran into traffic,” she apologizes.

“It's okay. You're here, and you look amazing.”

“Thanks,” she says, blushing as she sips her wine and looks around. She seems nervous.

“Are you okay?”

“I'm great.”

“Awesome.” I grab her hand and place mine over hers. “I'm very attracted to you. I think you know that by now.”

“I figured that after your kiss,” she says, smiling.

“No. I mean I really am attracted to you. How would you react if I told you what I would like to do with your body?”

CHAPTER 29

Chase

THIS DAY HAS BEEN a bunch of shit. My plane was wildly delayed when I got to Chicago for my layover. There was a storm, so no planes could fly out until it cleared up.

I called Megan to let her know about the delay and she was understanding. She said she had a few things to talk to me about, as well. I'm so unsure about Megan—I don't trust her, but we need to meet so we can have this talk.

I can't get Hailey out of my mind. I thought about some things on my flight to Chicago. I also spoke with P when I was stuck in the airport. He said that he has a date with Hailey tonight. Even though he's my best friend, it doesn't sit well with me. I feel like he's just trying to get in her pants. She's a conquest for him, since she wouldn't give him the time of day. I also think he's using Megan against me as a distraction to move in on Hailey.

I need to talk to her. She will tell me the truth. I know I should just move on and not care about anything, but I do care about Hailey. I always have. It has been almost two months since the reunion, and this is not what I pictured for us. It’s funny what you start to see when you actually open your eyes.

I knock on the door. Megan opens up and tears start to fall.

“I want answers, Meg,” I say, looking her dead in the face.

“Come on in,” she says, opening the door wider.

“Start talking. Don’t leave anything out.”

“Have a seat. You're going to need it.”

CHAPTER 30

Hailey

I THINK MY MOUTH is hanging open. Why is he talking about my body? I don't want to hear this. I mean we're supposed to be having dinner, and he asks how I would react if he told me what he would do to my body... I'm stunned.

“I think maybe we should change the subject,” I say.

“You just look so hot, you have me acting crazy.”

“Why don't you just think about what you want to eat?”

“Not helping,” he says with a smirk on his face.

“Perv,” I mumble.

“I'm sorry,” he says.

There's silence between us. The waitress comes over to take our order. I ask for grilled chicken and a side salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Parker orders a steak. When the waitress leaves, I try to change the subject.

“What is it that you do for a living?”

“I own a bar.”

“Oh, that's nice.” I guess that's where he gets his pick of women.

“Yeah, it's a lot of work, but I have managers who run it. I also own an ice cream shop.”

“That’ interesting… You don't look like an ice cream shop owner.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot.”

His phone starts to ring. He excuses himself, saying he has to answer it, but takes the call at the table. I can only hear his side of the conversation.

“What's the matter? I'm having dinner. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here for an hour or so. Okay?”

Then he hangs up the phone.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Yeah, that was Chase. He's back from California. He sounds like he's in a bad mood. I don't know what his deal is anymore. He's been acting crazy.”

“Oh,” is all I say. I think, I don't want to know about Chase.

I hope he has a great life with Megan, as much as it brings out a jealous streak in me. I feel like I'm back in high school, watching him in the gym with Carrie.

“Maybe he's just stressed. Who knows?” I couldn’t care less what he does right now.

“Yeah, I don't know. He knows where I'm at.”

“He knows you're with me?”

“Oh yeah, he's okay with it,” he says casually.

“Great.”

A sadness comes over me as I respond. I ask myself mentally for a sign, and the song “Waterfalls” by TLC comes on the restaurant sound system.

I need this date to end. I just want to go home.

CHAPTER 31

Chase

“WHAT ARE THE TEARS for?” I ask Megan as she closes the door.

Of course she doesn't answer. “There's so much to say. To tell you.”

“Meg, just tell me. It's me. We've been through a lot.”

“I just want to start by saying that you know I love you, right?”

“That’s a rhetorical question. Can you love someone you cheated on?”

“I wanted you back. I wanted to be with you and only you. I tried calling you for a month. You wouldn't return my calls. I was pissed, even though I’m the one who fucked up. You may not have cheated, but you pushed me away. The guy I cheated on you with moved on to his next conquest, and I realized it was you I really wanted. I needed comfort. I needed someone… anyone. I couldn't handle not having you and being alone, too.”

Tears flow down her face. She is a sobbing mess. I stand up because I can’t handle seeing her like this. I did care a lot about her at one point in my life. I know something isn't right. I can just tell by the way she is acting. I have so many questions and need so many answers that I don't know where to begin.

“Why did you go to Hailey’s office? If I was with Hailey, which I'm not, it doesn't concern you. We're over.”

She puts her face in her hands, still crying. What the fuck?

“Why are you having a nervous breakdown right now? I'm sorry you’re feeling however you are feeling. But we can't be together—we both know it.”

I'm confused and trying to figure out what is going on. I want to know what's happening with me, but at the same time, I can tell that something I don’t understand is definitely happening with her.

“Chase, I'm pregnant. You’re right. We can't be together. The baby is not yours. We haven't been together sexually for four months.”

I don’t know what to say. What do you say when this is told to you by someone who had your heart and you were going to marry?

“Did you tell the father?” What else is there to ask?

“Yes. He doesn't want the baby. He said that what happened between us should have never happened.”

“Well, he's a dick. He needs to take responsibility. He needs to be there, but if he’s not, you don’t need him.”

“Chase, come here.” She pats the sofa for me to sit down next to her. I feel sorry for her, but she brought this on herself. She left me. I had no plans on leaving her. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Now we can never be; we will never be. I go over to her to hear what she has to say. That is the only reason.

“I have something to tell you,” she says with a serious expression.

“What is it?”

“Parker is the baby's father.”

“What? Fuck!” I bang my hand on the wood table. Not a smart choice—my knuckles are now bleeding.

“Chase, your hand is bleeding.”

“I don’t fucking care. What the fuck happened? I want to know.”