Page 28 of Chasin’s Surrender

“So, now you know why I was a dick and jumped to conclusions. But I gotta ask, why didn’t you say anything?”

Genevieve’s back snapped straight, her head whipped to the side, and she narrowed her eyes on him.

“What?” she repeated. Only that time, it wasn’t a soft murmur, it was an angry snap.

“When I was a dick, why didn’t you say something?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, Genevieve, call me out on being an asshole. Tell me that Bobby was a woman and I was a jackass for assuming she was a man.”

“You called me a lying, cheating bitch,” she reminded him, and Chasin didn’t bother hiding his flinch.

“I was there. I remember. I also remember you not saying anything to defend yourself. You just let me leave.”

Genevieve grew silent and Chasin watched as she shut down. There was no missing it—the shutters slammed closed, and she shored her defenses.

“Don’t do that,” he ordered. “Talk to me. Explain why after the weekend we had, you didn’t try to stop me.”

“Why bother?” She shrugged her shoulders. “You showed me you weren’t who I thought you were. That night and the one we had before it were mistakes.”

“The weekend we spent together was a lot of things. What it wasn’t was a mistake,” Chasin corrected. “You felt something, same as me. And if you deny it, I won’t believe you.”

“Sorry you went through the trouble of heating this up, but I’m not hungry.” Genevieve stood, but before she could pick up her plate, Chasin stopped her.

“Don’t walk away.”

Genevieve glanced down to where his hand was wrapped around her bicep then as if in slow motion, she lifted her face and her eyes followed. Cold, listless eyes that cut Chasin to the quick.

He did that to her.

He knew it so deep in his gut he didn’t try to block the pain as it seared through him.

“Why not? You walked away. You jumped to your conclusions, called me names, and left. I owe you nothing, Chasin.”

“You’re right, I did. But again, I apologized and explained why. Tell me why you didn’t stop me.”

“Right, so that means, what? You get a pass? Everything’s forgiven?” she asked and jerked her arm free.

Other than to get free of his hold, she didn’t move. She didn’t flee the kitchen, she didn’t run away from him. No, she stood tall, back straight, chin stubbornly jutted out, gaze shooting fire. Looking at her, Chasin made a few decisions. He wasn’t letting her go, he’d work for her forgiveness. And after he earned that, he’d work his ass off to get her back to the confident, smiling woman he’d met.

“Fuck no, I don’t get a free pass. I was a serious prick. But I don’t understand why when I was shoveling shit your way, you didn’t do one thing to defend yourself, even if that was just to tell me to go fuck myself. Thinking back, I saw it, you called my name and were getting ready to say something. But you didn’t. What stopped you, Genevieve? I hurt your feelings, I know I did. Why didn’t you call me out?”

“Because it wasn’t worth it,” she fumed. “You’re right—I thought we had something and I let myself get swept away. I did what Bobby’s always accusing me of doing and got lost in the dream. The worst part is, I not only allowed it but I worked for it. You had no clue who I was, and it felt so damn good, I was desperate for you to see me.

“But then you showed me you’re no better than everyone else. People just assume what they see or read about me is true. No one takes the time to ask, to get to know me, they just think they know. And, yes, you did hurt my feelings, but really, I was mad at myself for being so fucking dumb. I should know better, hell, I do know better. Yet, all it took was you smiling at me and I invited you in. How stupid can I be?”

She shook her head. “That’s why I let you walk away and didn’t bother to tell you that you were wrong. If you’re so quick to think those things about me, call me a bitch, then I don’t want anything to do with you. Just like you, I have enough people in my life who treat me like garbage.”

The eyes he’d seen dance with humor and burn with passion were wounded. But the kind of pain she was feeling wasn’t from Chasin being a dick, at least not all of it. No, that kind of pain took years to build and fester.

The look only reinforced his resolve—if there was ever a woman who needed someone on her side it was Genevieve. From the outside looking in, it would seem like she had it all. But she had nothing beyond her fame and wealth. And if Chasin had to guess, those two things weighed heavy like a curse. She’d said people thought they knew her and he reckoned that was the case. But she’d also said she had enough people in her life who treated her like garbage.

“Who treats you like shit, babe?”

“None of your business.”

“Bobby?” But even as he asked, he didn’t think that was the case.