CHASE - Volume Three (The CHASE Series Book 3) Read Free Page A

into the real world,” Brian said.
    Brian walked out of the room, and I almost felt like he’d gotten what he wanted, and I usually didn’t like to do that, with anyone. I was a man of control, one who spread fear into the hearts of both my friends and foes, and now I felt as if I were turning into a yes man, with Brian and Nigella both getting what they wanted out of me. I guessed it could even be argued that Jasmine got what she wanted as well, which was ruining my life. Her cackling when Alexis came over proved that.
    Truthfully, I really didn’t want to go out to this club. I wasn’t a club guy, even if there were hordes of scantily dressed women, all liquored up, all of them looking for a guy to go home with. That wasn’t me anymore, though. The whole getting women to come home with me thing. There was only one woman I wanted to come home with and to, and at this point, she had no intention of doing the same with me, no matter how many times I tried or asked.
    I turned off my computer screen, rubbed my eyes, and turned around in my chair, looking out my window. It was raining, sprinkling, really, a thing that didn’t happen all too often out in these parts. The skies were dark, the hot California sun completely blacked out, the scene almost echoing my attitude and feeling.
    I stood up, walked to the window, and looked all around, watching the cars below like ants walking around their hill.
    This night better not turn out to be from hell.

Chapter Three
     
    Alexis
     
    A few days had passed and I had been talking to Travis on and off. Things were going well between us, a little too well, actually, and it made me fairly scared. I liked him. He was nice, smart, a gentleman, and didn’t expect so much out of me. I knew I could tell him things about me without him getting critical or judgmental, and that was something that meant the world to me. In this world, this day and age, and most importantly, this city, that was a hard thing to find. Most people did what benefited them, and not what benefited the other person, or meant anything to them.
    We hadn’t met back up yet, with school and work getting in the way, but we were planning on it again soon. He wouldn’t tell me what we’d do, but I almost hoped it was just going back to the beach and eating fish tacos. I knew going on the same date twice in a row could seem just a little mundane, but why mess with perfection? We had such an enjoyable time together, and it didn’t make sense to go do something we might not enjoy as much. Besides, I really wanted those tacos again. Maybe that was why I wanted to go back there so much. Not for the beach talk, but for food. Makes sense.
    As I sat at work, the information counter not exactly all bouncing and busy, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I took it out, not bothering to sneak it like I normally would so that I wouldn’t get yelled at, and saw that Travis had texted me. I smiled, opened up the text, and smiled even bigger.
    “Hey, you. Just thinking about you and hoping you’re doing okay. I know we haven’t made plans, but can’t wait to see you again!”
    I knew I was blushing, biting my lower lip, before I looked up and saw a guy walking by the desk, looking at me with a confused face. I quit biting my lip and looked back down, realizing that I probably looked like a complete idiot. Sometimes when a girl likes a guy she can look like a complete and utter idiot. That’s just the sad fact of things.
    “I’m happy you texted me. I’m doing well, how about you? Can’t wait to see you either! Hopefully the second date is as fun as the last,” I replied, adding a little smiley face to the end of my message.
    I went back to my messages, seeing all of the texts from people back home, a girl in my psychology class, my mom, Travis, and lastly, Chase. I hadn’t deleted all of his texts. A part of me wasn’t able to, for whatever reason. Could I not let go of him? Did I want to reread the messages randomly to make