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He nodded. “After I graduate from Shadow Falls, I’ll be moving to France for a year to train under one doctor, then for the next four years I’ll be moving to Germany, Japan, and then Switzerland.”
He picked up his coffee. “So while it ticked me off that you sort of chose Chase over me, I—”
“But—”
He held up his hand and silenced her. “I finally realized that I sort of chose my career over you. Or I was going to if it happened.”
Nodding, but still needing something to do with her hands, she pulled her phone out and ran her finger around the case.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t care about you,” Steve continued. “As crazy as this sounds, I still kind of love you. And I’m still kind of pissed about Chase, but…”
“I understand.” She looked up, trying to think of something to say that would make him feel better. “You just love your career more.”
He frowned again and she realized that might not have been the right thing to say. “And you love Chase more. And maybe even your career.”
She looked down at the cookie. “I don’t know … Chase and I … I don’t know if it’s love.” He’s already left me. “I mean, the bond just—”
“Stop,” he said. “And look at me,” he insisted.
When her gaze raised, he continued, “I don’t know what or how the blood transfusion affected you two. But Della, you had eyes for him when he first showed up. You were halfway in love with him before you got his blood.”
She didn’t deny it. “It’s still complicated. He deceived me and now…”
“And now he’s working for the FRU, helping you get your father off, and … and he loves you. He told me, Della. And he’s not going to give up on you.”
He already did.
“But that doesn’t mean you have to make it so hard on him. I know you. When someone gets a little too close, you start pushing them back. Stop it. I know you’ve been hurt, but other people, people who care about you, shouldn’t have to pay for the mistakes some idiots made in the past.”
Emotion tightened her throat. Had she run Chase off? She recalled telling him she didn’t love him, but hadn’t he told her he’d wait?
Maybe waiting didn’t include thinking she was snuggling up with Steve. Maybe she should have tried to explain right away. But if Chase was able to just walk away after a little misunderstanding, was she that important to him?
“Thanks for the advice,” she said, and for some crazy reason she reached over and took another bite of the cookie. Then another. It didn’t taste any better, but it didn’t stop her.
She wanted to like it.
She also wanted to know what love tasted like.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Chase parked in front of his cabin. He got out and stood by the open door waiting for Baxter to get out.