Chapter 117

Chase's POV 

I was determined to make it the most perfect night. 

It wasn't the first time, but was sure one of those rare times I really let myself be vulnerable. 

I said things as they came, and did as I thought. No second thinking, or guessing. 

Emma was pretty. Fuck knows I'd been already picturing her in a wedding dress in my head. 

I was only too convinced that I wanted to make her my bride. 

As I poured out my heart to her, I fervently hoped that her tears were those of consent, happy tears. 

 "I'll take care of it." I said. 

The date was going badly. 

The very last thing I expected was to spring up some country on me. 

I literally never fucking saw it coming. 

I'd planned the whole night in my head, how murderously romantic I was gonna make it, how we were gonna make love under the lights I'd changed the bedroom lights to. 

How the candles around the bathtub were gonna illuminate her skin while I begged her to let me touch her, feel her. 

I'd filled the tub with water and some soap. I'd set up the petals and scented candles too. 

 "I guess we'd just have to get more food, if you're hungry, that is." I said finally, after wiping all the mess my clumsy fingers created. 

Outside, I'm sure it looked like I was really composed, like I'd taken the news with all brevity, but I was quaking in myself. 

Emma was gonna be miles away from me. 

And I can't say I don't trust Lily and Gray, I hate to admit it's Emma I didn't trust. 

Our relationship had been on rocky grounds of late. She'd kept me out, shut the door of her emotions on me. 

When we made love, it felt too forced, too sporadic, and the rush fled as soon as it came, for her. 

I was willing to go through every length with the dinner, to prove to her that we were worth a shot, but she had other plans. 

What a fool I was! 

 "We can just clean this up and…" She started, stumbling over her words. 

 "There's no point." I cut her. "I'll just order more. They'd arrive in no time." I picked as much as I could off the floor and threw them straight into the trash. 

It was a scalding, literally, reminder of what had just happened. 

 "You don't have to." She said again. 

I didn't reply, mainly because I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what else to do. 

Getting another food, even though I had no more appetite was just the way out of the awkward situation. 

The rider was about fifteen minutes away, which was a fair time. 

 "I'll be waiting outside." I said and walked out of the door. 

Not until then, did I let out the tears that'd welled up in my eyes. 

I had been wounded, straight in the heart. Every single thing I did for her, shot me back in the ass. 

All I wanted was something beautiful, something sweet with her. 

Then I remembered HIM! 

When I asked about who she was going with, I was half prepared to hear his fucking name. 

I swear I wouldn't have been able to control my fist, and I was only too grateful when she mentioned Lily and Gray. 

But that didn't mean the storm was over. 

 "Thank you." The guy was a welcome distraction. About my age, but he looked really nerdy and decent. 

I tipped him, after which he curtsied and was soon on his way. 

I seriously would've considered a chef, but I didn't like that type of life. 

I breathed deeply and took the food in to Emma, but she wasn't even at the table anymore. 

She didn't have the decency to be. 

I dropped the food, right in the spot where the pan fried the table clothes I just got and locked the door. 

Maybe it was time for the curtains to fall. 

I never liked the idea of "what will be, will be", but that doesn't mean I didn't recognise when to stop forcing things. 

As I inched closer and closer to the door, I heard her voice, in tears, and she was on a call. I could tell looking from the half closed door. 

 "I'm tired." She cried over the phone. 

My first urge was to storm in there and scream the whole fucking house down, tell her to stop acting like a fucking miserable victim and acknowledge that I'm really fucking trying my best, but that wouldn't have helped anything. 

So I stayed rooted where I was, hearing things that could make me go mad. 

 "That was my friend." She said over the call. 

Screw me all the while for thinking she was crying to Lily. It could be only one other person she could say that to. 

 "She's tired of me. I really have no one else to talk to. That's why I called you. I didn't even want to talk to you." She said, sobbing. 

So many emotions were going through my mind. 

 "I don't want you saying anything about him." Her voice sounded again. 

At that point, I knew I needed to consult the streets. 

The fucker was in my city, and I was gonna let him know that it bites. 

Especially not if he's trying to monkey with my girl. 

That was too much disrespect. 

 "You're not fucking different." She said again. "Matter of fact, bye!" and I heard her phone crash against the rug. 

I didn't know where Emma stood with me, and I was so damn sure she didn't too. . 

Refusing to be a coward in my own home, I opened the door and went in. 

She was surprised, but soon recovered. 

I struggled hard to pay her no mind as I undressed. 

The smell of the scented candles emanating from the bathroom was pissing me off, so I stormed in there and doused them all in water. 

I took a trash bag and dumped them all in it. After which I unblocked the tub, letting all the water flow away. There was no point. 

I was gonna change the strip lights and all the day after. 

My head needed rest, and my soul needed comfort.