“Too bad, you have to.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s your boyfriend and you stormed out of his office crying your eyes out. He’s probably worried about you. Actually, if what I’ve heard about Chase is true, he’sdefinitelyworried about you.”
“But…”
“What?”
“He’s going to think I’m an idiot,” I murmur. “I blamed him for all this, when he was really just trying to help. I took my anger out on him because…”
“Because you knew he could take it.” Shelby shrugs. “It’s not rocket science, doll. He knows you weren’t really mad at him.”
“He’s going to think I’m crazy.”
“Gemma, I hate to break this to you, but youarecrazy.” She grins. “That’s half the fun of being around you.”
“Thanks, that’s really helpful.” I groan.
“If he didn’t like crazy, he wouldn’t be with you.” She reaches out and lays her hand on top of mine. “Now call him! Or, at the very least, send him a text to let him know you’re still breathing. Though, in all honesty, I’m not sure how you’re alive after eating five of those cupcakes. I can feel my organs shutting down after just one.”
I roll my eyes, grab my phone off the table, and text Chase.
So, I freaked out at you. Turns out, I should’ve been freaking out at my mother, instead. Forgive me?
The phone rings in my hand.
“Sunshine.”
“Hey.”
“You’re okay?” His voice is thick with concern. “Knox couldn’t find you. You aren’t at your apartment, you’re not at the loft, and your car’s gone from its spot. I called the phone I gave you, but it went straight to voicemail—”
“I’m okay. I rode the T for a while, walked through the park, then eventually picked up my car and went in search of cupcakes.”
“I was worried.”
“I know.” My voice gets small. “I’m really, really sorry, Chase. I shouldn’t have freaked out on you, I know that—”
“No.” He cuts me off. “You feel like freaking out?I can deal with that.You need to yell at me?Go for it — scream at the top of your lungs, sunshine.You need some space?That’s fine, I’ll give it to you when you need it. Butbolting without explanation?Running awaywithout talking to me?Without letting anyone know you’re safe — especially now, when we know for a fact there arepeople who’d like to hurt you?” His voice gets more strained with each sentence, until he’s growling into the phone. “Sunshine, that’s not okay. That’sneverokay.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
I listen to him breathing over the line, imagining his face — jaw ticking, eyes dark, brow creased.
“No more running,” he says finally, his voice soft. “We have a problem, we talk about it. That’s the only way this is going to work.”
“Okay.”
“Now, will you please come home?”
“Yeah, about that.Home.” My eyes narrow. “We have to talk about my apartment. Specifically, about the fact that you moved me out of it without talking to me, and now all of my earthly belongings are sitting in boxes in your living room.Morespecifically, about your utter insanity if you think I’m going to live with you.”
Shelby squeals, when she hears this — in all the drama, I completely forgot to tell her about Chase’s executive moving decisions.
“I figured that might come up, at some point,” he says wryly.
“Chase!”