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The pair approached our table, and with an excitable shrill, chatted and giggled with Chase, treating him like a famous rock star. I almost expected Esme to run her fingers through his hair.
They finally left us alone, and all that remained was a thick veil of perfume. “What just happened?”
He laughed. “They’ve probably had some blow.”
“That was exhausting,” I said.
“Wasn’t it? Coked out people have got that tiring tendency to overshare. I think I’ll stick to vodka and beer.”
“Mm… me too. I saw what it did to my dad.”
“He died young I recall you telling me.”
“You remember?” I asked.
“Of course I remember. I’m not that mentally challenged.”
I smiled. “I know that.”
“Did he die from a coke overdose?” he asked.
I shook my head. “A heart attack. But I’m sure coke, cigarettes, and hard living were responsible.”
He took my hand and stared lovingly into my eyes. Strangely, it felt deep, like when we stopped giggling in Tantra and allowed our gazes to penetrate deeply.
“There’s something I want to ask you…” He took a long sip of wine, then wiped his lips with a napkin.
“Oh? What’s that?” I asked, wondering if he was about to invite me to the weekend family gathering in the Hamptons that Sara and Liam had mentioned.
“Hey, I know it hasn’t been long or anything, but I was wondering…” He took another swallow of wine and went from gazing into my eyes to staring at his hands.
I looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to finish his sentence.
How hard can an invite to a beach house be?
“Um…” He took both my hands and stared seriously into my eyes. I started to smile when he said, “Will you marry me?”
I nearly choked on my spit and went into a coughing fit. He came over to my side and patted me on the back.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I looked up at him stunned. “Did you just ask me to marry you?”
He nodded with a shy smile.
Shy smile? Chase?
“Will you? I mean, I know it's soon. But I’m crazy about you. I always have been. From the minute I saw you across the bar in Brooklyn that first time when you were with Sara and Liam.”
“Oh, you remember that?” Now that really took me aback. “That’s when Sara confused you for Hunter and they broke up. She thought Hunter was checking me out.”
“That was me ogling you.”
For a moment, I’d forgotten what we were talking about as I stepped back a year to the first time my eyes landed on Chase and his come-fuck-me gaze. But then it hit me: Chase wanted to marry me.
“It’s kind of soon, isn’t it?” I asked, trying to think over the loud party music thumping in my head. Champagne corks popped, and gleeful screams of congratulation came from every corner of my brain, hosting a fucking party with fireworks included.
“Look, if you… need… um, time…”
