have no intention of opening that old, healed wound.”
She sighed. “That’s too bad. It’s always the hot ones that break your heart.”
“I agree, which is why it is better to just leave men alone. I don’t have time for heartbreak.”
“But it isn’t always going to end in heartbreak.”
“Most of the time, it is.”
“You’re right. It’s better to be alone and miserable.”
I didn’t miss the sarcasm. We finished our drinks, and before she could convince me to order a second, I bowed out. I needed to go home and fall into bed. Now that I didn’t have to work tomorrow, there was nothing I needed to get out of bed for. I was going to sleep in.
When I got back to my empty apartment, I was no longer all that tired. I was stuck in the past, thinking about those days when Chase and I were happy together. I did something I told myself I wouldn’t do. I went into my closet, got on my tippy toes, and pulled out the old cedar box my father had given to me on my sixteenth birthday. I carried it to my bed and opened it up.
Memories flooded me as I stared down at the contents. It was my life with Chase all wrapped up and tucked away in a pretty box. I reached for the dried rose and smiled. He’d given it to me just because. I gently put it down before reaching for one of the cute little notes he’d slipped me in class. It was him professing his love for me.
The picture of the two of us at prom really stirred things up. I stared at it for a long time. He looked so handsome in his tux. I looked so young and hopeful. Everything seemed so perfect that night. I loved my dress. I found it on a clearance rack at Banner Brothers, which was just a little ironic. I remembered it was three sizes too big, but with the help of Cori and my mother, we took it in and made it fit me.
Chase hadn’t been able to take his eyes off me. He told me all night how pretty I was and how much he loved me. I was on top of the world that night. I had stars in my eyes and was convinced nothing could ever bring me down. I had been a young, naïve fool. I hated that I let myself get caught up in the teenage dream of getting a happy ever after with my high-school boyfriend.
I put the picture back and closed the box. Chase ruined me. I had never been able to find a man that measured up to him. I never cared for anyone the way I cared for him. I tried to say I didn’t have a boyfriend because I was too busy working and building my career, but deep down, I could acknowledge it was because I knew I would never find another man like him.
I could admit I never really got over Chase Adams. I didn’t want to. Those were some of the happiest days in my life and I was afraid if I got over them, they would be gone for good.
I wanted to remember the way I felt when he kissed me for the first time. I wanted to remember how good it felt to be held in his arms or the excitement I felt when I saw his name on my caller ID. They were good memories. I just couldn’t see myself ever getting that excited about seeing another man’s name on my caller ID.
I tried several times throughout college, but none of the guys I went out on dates with really sparked that little flame I knew I had within me. It was like it only burned for Chase. When it became clear I couldn’t have him, I decided I didn’t want anyone else.
Chapter 6
Chase
I had the plan, but now I needed to figure out how to make it happen. How did I convince Harper to come and work for me? It was clear she wasn’t happy with me. She’d been polite but in a way that said she was only doing it because she had to and not because she actually wanted to.
I heard the doorbell and got up to answer the door. Cori had come home a bit ago and was in the shower. I had ordered dinner for us. When it arrived, I tipped the delivery driver and carried the bags