“Definitely not a dream,” I said.
We walked through pathways Chase navigated with ease, everyone wearing suits or street clothes instead of uniforms. As Chase led me to an interview room, a pale woman with copper hair careened around a corner at breakneck speed and almost crashed right into us before coughing out a sorry and moving to sidestep us.
Until she saw who she nearly hit and stopped entirely, suddenly in no hurry at all.
"Well, well, look what the werewolf dragged in."
Chase hung his head, more playful than defeated. “Am I in the doghouse?”
"Better hope the director finds you before Stone."
"Not gonna rat me out, are you, officer?" Chase stepped closer to her, making me distinctively the third wheel.
"Maybe. Getting on her good side isn’t easy."
"You’d miss me too much if I’m gone." He winked.
She narrowed her eyes and tried to resist for a second before she laughed. “Damn, Slate. You win this round.”
Thank god, we all kept moving after that. Did Chase like women? Ugh. What did it matter? Did he even like men? He certainly felt comfortable flirting with them. The only certainty was that he didn’t like me.
“Here we are.” He stopped outside the door to a small nondescript interview room. Chase told me it wasn’t right for him to take my statement under the circumstances, which had to be agent speak for ‘the professional ship has sailed after you slept in my bed.’
I was on my own now.
“This is for you.” Chase held out a folded square of bills. “I’d feel better if you have a little cash in case you finish first and need anything or wanna go. It’s only $30. Take it.”
"Oh, thank you." I forced myself to grab the money and smile at the nice gesture. Ireallywas on my own now. The two of us were free to go our separate ways. “So, I guess I’ll leave when I’m done? This is it.”
“Or we can grab lunch later?” Chase offered. “Cafeteria’s on six. I’ll meet you there when I’m finished.”
"Alright. Sure." Hopefully I didn’t sound too eager. Chase lingered instead of leaving. “Is there something else?”
“Nope. I’ll see you later.” Chase rocked on his heels, glancing around. “At the cafeteria. For lunch.”
"On six." I remembered. There was no permanent brain damage after my accident. The doctors checked.
Chase nodded. "Right, to six.” He nodded again. “Sounds good." He nodded another time for good measure.
His reluctance to leave finally clicked.
“Chase, is your boss upset with you?”
He made an effort to lean against the wall, summoning a lopsided smile. "What if I’m enjoying your company too much, did you consider that?"
Him going from zero to flirty quick enough to give me whiplash barely flustered me as guilt struck me. “Someone came looking for you last night, and you’re in no hurry to leave now. Did I get you in trouble? I did, didn’t I?"
“Hey, no. Nobody wants to be alone after a scare like that.” He smiled, warm this time instead of charming, and it made me dizzy. “I’d do the same thing in a heartbeat.”
“W-what about your boss?” I had to ask.
“Oh him?” Chase scoffed, waving off the concern. “He’s nothing I can’t handle. The guy loves me.”
~
Chase
"Arrogant asshole! Do you ever stop and think?” The Director paced in front of his desk, not letting me answer. “If it didn’t set such a bad example, I’d kick your ass until even werewolf healing couldn’t make your face pretty again."
