Not You It's Me (Boston Love #1) - Julie Johnson Page 0,84

I do a little finger-wave in his direction, grinning wide.

At that, he definitely smiles — just the tiniest bit of crinkling around his eyes, but still, it counts. In my book, at least.

“Sunshine, I told you to stay in bed.”

When I hear his voice, my eyes move to Chase. He’s leaning against the kitchen island, arms crossed over his broad chest, somehow commanding the space even in his bare feet and boxers. I grin at the sight and cross toward him. As soon as I’m within reach, his arm shoots out and tags me around the waist, hauling me close, so I’m plastered against his side.

I don’t object — in fact, I nestle closer, enjoying his warmth, the way my head fits perfectly in the hollow of his throat, and how good his arm feels, wrapped tight around my shoulders.

“You don’t need to be here for this,” he rumbles softly against my hair.

“It’s about me, right? My apartment and Ralph?”

My question is met with stony silence — which tells me I’m 100% correct.

“That’s what I thought. I’m staying.”

Chase sighs, but doesn’t argue.

“Stubborn,” he mutters.

“Overprotective,” I counter.

He chuckles, but I feel his body go tense as he turns his attention back to Knox.

“What did you find out?”

Knox’s dark eyes flicker from me to Chase. “Goldstein is in the wind. I checked his apartment, went to his office, even paid a visit to a few of his friends. None of them have seen him.”

“You’re sure?” Chase asks. “They aren’t lying, covering for him?”

Knox doesn’t bother to respond, but his eyes glitter with something dark — like onyx exposed to light — and his head bows in the slightest of nods.

He’s sure.

I don’t want to know how he’s so sure. Ever. Because I have a feeling it involves a lot of broken bones and scary threats.

“There’s more,” Knox says, voice low. His dark eyes move to me. “Maybe you should go back to bed, Gemma.”

Chase’s muscles go even tenser and I feel my heartbeat kick into high gear.

“I’m staying.” My voice is resolute, even if there’s fear running through it. “I want to know.”

Knox nods, looking back at Chase. “The apartment was ransacked — you saw that. Nothing valuable was taken. But, after picking through the wreckage, I think he did find something.” His eyes move to mine. “You had a wooden box, beneath your bed.”

Dread drops into my stomach like a stone.

“Looked like you kept lots of old papers in it — high school report cards, old invoices, photographs, that kind of shit. They were scattered all over the floor of your bedroom.” Knox’s gaze narrows on my face. “You know what I’m talking about?”

I nod.

“He put the empty box back on your bed, when he was done. There was a note in it.”

I suck in a nervous breath, and Chase’s arm tightens around me.

“What did it say?” I force myself to ask, dreading the answer.

Knox’s eyes are intent. “‘Tomorrow I won’t be the one they’re laughing at, bitch.’”

“Shit,” I whisper. “Shit, shit, shit.”

Chase turns me in his arms, cups my face between his hands, and bends to look into my eyes. “Gemma. What’s wrong?”

My gaze, wide with panic, flickers up to his. “This is a mess. Oh god, I have to leave. I have to get out of here, leave the city, maybe go back to my Mom’s… ”

“Gemma.” His grip on my face tightens, not enough to hurt me but enough to ground me in the present. “Tell me what’s going on. We’ll fix it.”

“You can’t fix this, Chase!” A hysterical sound bubbles up from my throat. “The press — they’re going to love this. They’ll eat it up. And the fallout… God, I knew this would happen. I knew they’d find out. Dammit, I’m such an idiot.”

“Sunshine.”

“You should cut ties with me, Chase, before the shit hits the fan. This is going to be a freaking circus. They’ll never leave me alone, after this.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“You don’t understand—”

“Gemma!” His eyes flash with frustration. “Listen to me. I don’t give a shit about your past or the press. It doesn’t fucking matter to me. All that matters is this, right here, you and me.” His voice is unshakable. “Whatever it is, I’ll fix it. But you have to let me in. You have to trust me enough to make it better.”

I freeze, staring at him. Weighing the truth in his words.

My mother’s voice whispers from the back of my mind.

When you start to fall, don’t talk yourself out of