Chase Me (7 page)

“He was going to leave the 100/6 out in the snow with no top, and then -,” I was cut off and walked over to the office door so Eddie wouldn’t hear.

“Kate, I love you, but you can’t be yourself around him. You have to bite your tongue. That 66 Fastback you love so much. The beautiful 55 Bel Air, those belong to him. Now be nice, make him happy, and get out of the garage. You should have gone home an hour ago.”

“How is my mom?” I asked changing the subject as I fiend for an update.

“She is trying to sleep, but the nurses are coming in and taking her vitals every hour. They had to come in and do her labs again. The doctor said at this time her labs are borderline with surgery being an option. If they decrease over the next couple of hours she won’t be allowed to have surgery.”

“What does that mean?” I asked as tears filled my eyes. “What can they do if they don’t do surgery?”

I started to tremble as I tried to hold back the sobs that were begging to be released. I didn’t even remember Eddie was in the garage until I felt his hands on my shoulders. I turned to face him as a tear strolled down my face. I stared into his brown eyes as Mike’s words stabbed me.

“Kate, honey, if they can’t do surgery then they will send her home and allow hospice to come in and make her comfortable. I’m sorry sweetie.”

I hung up the phone and handed the phone back to Eddie as the tears fell and I sobbed into my hands. He pulled me into his chest and I cried on him as he tried to soothe me. I felt safe and warm with him here, but leaning on a stranger was not something I did.

The sound of the tow truck honking as he pulled away broke the embrace. I wiped my tears and stuttered over trying find a plausible lie, but the words wouldn’t come. Eddie wiped my tear off my cheek and whispered. “Sorry I ratted you out.”

“I’m sorry,” I stated as I pulled back from him and wiped the tears that had fallen on his tie. “I don’t know you and here I am crying all over you.”

“Sometimes the best place to find strength is in the arms of a stranger.”

“Are you trying to get laid?” I asked with a hint of sarcasm.

“No, just wanting to help. Scouts honor,” he whispered as he held up three fingers. I loved that he could show a hint of childishness. Made me feel like maybe he wasn’t a major asshat, but he was still in the minor league.

“I can drive you home since your ride left, but if you try anything I will cut your balls off and hang them from my rearview mirror.”

“Message received. I will make sure to keep my hand and feet inside the ride at all times,” Eddie replied and for a split second it made me smile.

“Just give me a few minutes. Where do you live?”

“Manhattan. You know I’m told I’m a good listener if you need to talk,” Eddie stated as I grabbed my heels off the floor and climbed into the Hummer with him.

“Once I get her started I will turn on the alarm and lock up then I can get you over the river,” I explained as I pulled the wires down to show the electrical tape from where I had hot-wired it as a teenager.

“You steal a lot of cars?” Eddie asked and I laughed through the new fog of depression that was hanging over me. Even through his humor I felt like I had lost a part of myself from the phone call.

“I was a handful in my younger years. I did and said things I shouldn’t have and there are reminders of it everywhere.”

“I want it notated for the record that you are committing this criminal act alone and I am the innocent bystander,” Eddie stated with his hands up.

“Do you ever loosen your tie, Eddie?” I asked and he frowned. Business suits were all the same uptight, over-worked, under-paid people whose brains were focused on work twenty-three hours of the day and Eddies one hour off was already up.

The wires sparked as Eddie climbed in the passenger seat and made a call to the tow truck company. Unleashing some of that alpha male testosterone I knew lingered beneath his lapel.

The engine roared to life. I climbed out and turned out all the lights and the heater. I set the alarm on a delayed exit and then climbed back inside the Hummer. I pressed the garage door opener and the bay doors swung out to let me out. Then I drove Eddie home in uneasy silence because for the first time in my life I didn’t know what to say.

Chapter 6

“Where are you headed?” Eddie asked as we headed into Manhattan.

“Home,” I whispered.

“Want some company?” Eddie asked and it made me do a double take.

“I have a ninja roommate, pepper spray, and I have been trained to detach balls blindfolded on my knees with my hands tied behind my back,” I went full Days of our Lives with my answer including hand gestures and faked fearlessness.

“I would expect no less from someone like you, but I was asking because I feel bad about making you cry. I feel like I owe you something.”

“I wasn’t crying because of you. I can promise you I don’t shed tears over boys,” I responded with all the attitude I could muster into those two sentences.

“Now I am a boy?” Eddie scoffed. “It is late, and you are upset. Find a place and we will stop.”

“You are hell bent on getting me to go out with you aren’t you?” I retorted sharply.

“Don’t take this for more than what it is. I merely feel bad that you were in tears over something I may or may not have done, and I figure I better make it right because you are fixing my babies,” Eddie spoke honestly and I thought it was kind of sweet. He was attractive and I had done much worse, but I kind of felt like I was about to cross a line.

The only real problem was that even if we had a drink and had sex, and I enjoyed those blissful moments where life happened in the background and I had no problems. In the morning when I leave to head to the hospital I won’t remember his name and my problems will resurface with a vengeance.

“No sex,” I spoke up as if he had offered it when he hadn’t.

“You don’t know me so that comment is forgivable. You could march in my bedroom in a whip cream bikini and I still wouldn’t give you my cock. I am not that easy. I say when and I say where that happens,” Eddie’s sarcasm couldn’t be missed, and neither could the way his bedroom eyes looked at me when I finally agreed to go get some food with him. He was as adorable as he was irritating.

The hours passed as we sat at a twenty-four-hour coffee shop talking about everything except what mattered, and what was important. I had discovered how he liked his coffee and Clumsy Smurf was his favorite. I knew he was educated and demanded the attention of anyone who came by.

He learned that I have no filter and say what I think no matter the consequences, and that my favorite my little pony is Derpy.

As much as I wanted to say I was focused on my mom and everything happening around me, I couldn’t. Eddie was a perfect distraction without the guilt and painful hangover. I think he may have to become my new friend for when Brooklyn is busy.

“Who is your favorite chipmunk?” I asked as I took another drink.

“Alvin,” Eddie replied with a smile. “What about you?”

“Theodore,” I replied and Eddie looked at me strangely. I knew I had just sparked a whole new conversation.

“Why Theodore?” Eddie asked with that my chipmunk is better than yours twinge.

“He is the one they underestimate the most. At the end of the day he is the one no one expects to be a bad ass, but he can be.”

“I think you and I are watching two different chipmunk cartoons.”

“I love the fact that you watch cartoons,” I shined as I had finally met an alpha-man-child. I wanted to capture him and put him in a jar to keep him forever even if his taste in chipmunks was all wrong.

“Do you want another coffee?” Eddie asked and I knew I was close to my limit before my body started shaking with a caffeine/sugar overload.

“No, I think maybe I should get you home and then I need to go home. I have to be somewhere in the morning.”

“It is morning,” Eddie replied and I looked out the window to see the sun was cresting over the Hudson River. I looked at my watch and counted how long I had to get to the house and get Brooklyn.

“This was just what I needed,” I whispered and Eddie seemed to know it because he just nodded. His attention was caught on something over my shoulder.

“Kate,” a familiar deep voice echoed behind me. I turned and looked up at the brown hair blue eyed hockey player that I had once taken home with me.
Oh God, this was not happening.

“Hi Kurt,” I spoke softly and kept my head down. I shouldn’t feel awkward, but I did. “What are you doing out so late?”

“We went out to celebrate another win for the team. Anytime you want to come watch us I will get you a seat.” Kurt stated nonchalantly. “How have you been?”

“I’m okay,” I asked. “How are you?”

“I miss you.”

“You don’t even know me,” I was nearly silent as I tried to hide my embarrassment. I was never apologetic for how I lived my life, but I felt guilty and ashamed in this moment. I had enjoyed my time out with Eddie because there was no tension or stress, and now he was going to think I was the slut Henry thought I was.

“I know your favorite drink is tequila rose. I know how you taste. I know the sounds you make when you are turned on. I know that you need a man in control so you can just let go. I know your pussy tries to pull my cock even deeper inside you when you get close to orgasm. I may not know your favorite color, but I know you.”

Holy hell this was uncomfortable. Open up Webster and under the outlined word awkward you would see a picture of this moment for references.

I ran my hand through my hair and looked over at Eddie who seemed to be sizing Kurt up.

“Kurt, I think maybe you have had a little too much to drink tonight and should cab it home,” I spoke softly as he forced his way into our booth, shoving me into the window.

“Only if you are coming home with me,” Kurt replied as he drank the rest of my coffee. I was never a damsel in distress, but I felt like it right now. When I dealt with men I was usually as drunk as they were and game for whatever.

“I think you should stand up, walk away, and when you sober up you can call the lady and apologize for acting like an ass,” Eddie spoke up and I swallowed hard. He was authoritative and demanded attention when he lowered his voice like that.

Gone was the gorgeous gentleman and once again returned the sexy school principal who was about to give us all detention.

“I think you and I should step outside,” Kurt stated as his words started to slur.

“Let’s go outside and catch your cab,” Eddie stated as he stood up and grabbed Kurt by his jacket lifting him from his seat.

They shuffled around and I scooted a few inches up next to the window trying to put as much distance between me and them. I tried so hard not to watch whatever was happening, but my eyes were glued to Eddie. “Apologize to Kate, who you will never call again,” Eddie stated as he held Kurt in a fixed position with his arm behind his back. The look on Eddie’s face was intimidating, I just knew he would snap Kurt’s arm and not even blink. It was as scary as it was intoxicating. No one had ever stood up for me before, usually they are all harping on me.

“I’m sorry Kate. I’m really drunk and you can’t just give a guy the keys to the castle and then tell them to sleep outside. I miss you and wanted my stronghold back.”