Page 67 of Chasing Forever

“Wow. That’s so cool,” Miranda said. “And your characters seem so real. It’s like, if I met them in real life, I’d want to hang out with them.”

Callie smiled and then took a long drink of her fruity cocktail.

Is she nervous or just being humble? Chase couldn’t imagine why she’d be nervous talking to her “number one fan” about her books, but there was something in her expression…

“I’m often asked if my characters are based on real people, and for the most part, they’re not. However, it’s almost impossible not to draw from some of the experiences I’ve had and some of the people I’ve…had contact with.”

Now we’re getting somewhere.

“Oh really? Like who?” He was extremely curious about her answer.

“All kinds of people,” she said, flapping her hand dismissively.

“So, you weave real experiences and people into your stories,” Miranda said, clearly enthralled by the conversation.

Callie nodded. “Add in a healthy dose of imagination, and I’ve got myself a book.”

“Hmmm,” Chase said, eyeing her closely.

She gave him a brief smile and averted her eyes.

She was still hiding something, and he was determined to find out what it was. But first, he had some groveling to do. He shouldn’t have run out on her that night and stayed away as long as he had. It was a bonehead move, and he wanted to apologize. But with Miranda there, he wasn’t sure when he’d get the chance.

After he’d left that night, he’d listened to a voice mail from Miranda telling him she was coming to visit. She’d be there in two days, and she’d rattled off her flight information. He should have known he couldn’t hold her off for long, especially after she’d found out about Callie. If only the timing had been better.

He’d decided to stay overnight at a hotel near the airport on Kauai. The next day, he hopped a plane to Oahu, where he waited to greet his sister. He hadn’t bothered returning to the resort to pack a bag. Instead, he went shopping in Honolulu for a change of clothes and some toiletries.

He spent the day roaming around the city and thinking about everything that had transpired with Callie. He realized what a fool he’d been on so many levels. But most of all, he wished they’d exchanged phone numbers so he could call her. She might not have answered, but still, he’d wanted to reach out to her.

Finally, after wandering around the city all day, he stayed at another hotel near the airport and greeted Miranda when she arrived the next day. She was surprised and happy to see him there until he explained that he and Callie had had a falling out.

He told her the bare minimum (leaving out their lovemaking) and then waited for her to weigh in, smack him, or both. To his surprise, she hugged him tight and said, “Aww. How sweet. You’re in love.”

“What?!” he replied, looking at her like she was crazy.

“Why else would you be so torn up about it? If she didn’t matter to you, you wouldn’t be here right now.”

Chase cocked his head at her. “You just got here, and already the sun has fried your brain.”

“Deflecting. Typical of you.”

He sighed and followed her through the airport to claim her luggage. She was dressed to kill in high heels, a denim skirt, and a flowy blouse, looking fresh and pretty despite the long flight. He was glad she was there even if she was already being a pain in the ass.

Once they’d boarded the plane to Kauai, she’d started in on him. He’d been exhausted by the time they’d landed, but Miranda still looked fresh as a daisy as she chatted excitedly with Callie about books.

“I love all the men in your stories, but so far, my favorite is Simon,” Miranda gushed.

“Why him?” Callie asked, looking genuinely curious.

“He’s like the perfect blend of sweet and sexy. I just wanted to eat him up.”

Chase paused with a fork halfway to his mouth. “I’m sitting right here.”

Miranda and Callie laughed.

“I’m not a kid anymore,” Miranda said. “It’s not like I’m talking about sex or anything.”

“Okay. You know what? Can we change the subject?” he said, scowling at his sister.