“I’ve got a girlfriend,” he stated and something about the way he stated it, something in his tone, the look on his face, the line of his body, made me brace.
“Uh…” I hesitated when he said no more, “I think so. Her being me.”
He jerked his head to my computer and what he said next made me realize when I braced, I didn’t brace enough.
“Your friends Benji and Serenity think somethin’ else.”
Oh no.
Oh frak!
I totally forgot. Things had been so busy, I’d been spending so much time with Chace, at Mom and Dad’s, it had been weeks since I had a full on conversation with either of them.
I had sent a few emails, just cursory updates and reminding them I hoped they’d backed down from their sleuthing.
But I hadn’t shared about Chace partly because I didn’t have time for big explanations. But also partly because I wanted to keep him to myself and I wanted to make sure it would last, that it was real before I told them. I did this because I’d have to admit I’d lied to them about Chace having a girlfriend. I also did this because when they heard, they’d be angry I lied to them but over the moon that Chace was with me. And I didn’t want them to get excited about something that wasn’t all I’d dreamed it would be, dreams I’d shared with them for years.
There it was yet again. Lying always, always got you into trouble.
“H… how –?” I started and Chace cut me off.
“Got on to check the game time, barely got that f**ker booted up when screens popped up. They’re pissed, baby. Seriously. You haven’t been available to them but you haven’t been forthcoming why. And they got things to share,” he leaned toward me and the way he did made me lean slightly back even though he was ten feet away, “about The Elite.”
Uh-oh.
“Chace –” I whispered but said no more because he lost it.
I knew he lost it because he roared… yes… actually… roared, “Have you lost your f**king mind?”
My heart started thumping in my chest.
“Chace –”
“Take your goddamned coat off and get away from the door,” he growled and my head jerked.
“Wh… what?”
“Take,” he took a step toward me and I stepped back, “your,” he took another step and so did I, “goddamned,” another step for him and me, “coat off.”
“Why?” I whispered and kept retreating as he made it to the door and stopped.
I then watched in fascinated horror as he flipped the deadbolt and set the chain then turned to me.
“Do it, Faye.”
“You’re kind of scaring me,” I said softly.
“Yeah?” he asked, tipping his head sharply to the side. “Good,” he bit off to finish.
“It’s not good,” I whispered.
“Oh yeah, it is, honey,” he whispered back. “You should be scared of me right now. You should be scared of me because I am extremely pissed off. And I’m extremely pissed off because you and your band of misfits have been doin’ something so f**kin’ stupid I can’t even explain to you how stupid it is. And the reason it’s stupid is because it’s dangerous.”
“Chace, it –”
He interrupted me to rap out, “It what?”
“We –” I tried again but he cut me off again before I could say two words.