Page 32 of Stealing Chances


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I just nodded, even as doubt swirled through me. “See you tomorrow.”

I watched them go, my stare drifting to where Litany’s car waited. A breath of a laugh leaving me because I had no doubt she was in my kitchen, making coffee for herself.

If anyone,shewas the Gremlin. But we all adored her for it.

By the time I was sanitizing the mats and equipment, she was calling out, “See you tomorrow,” from the street, having left through the front door the way she always did.

I didn’t bother responding with anything other than a wave. She wouldn’t hear me anyway since she always slipped into her car as quickly as possible because she liked to pretend I didn’t know about her coffee thievery.

I clearly knew.

I also didn’t care, considering she always filled our kitchen with her latest baked creations.

Grabbing my phone, I switched to my favorite songs from the workout playlist and turned the music up. Letting it pour through the speakers in the garage as I went through the methodical routine of cleaning and preparing.

I was so lost in the music and routine movements that I didn’t notice the Jeep pulling onto the driveway or the guys walking up until that familiar, husky voice sounded from just beside me.

Stealing my breath and sending chills across my body.

“Need help?”

My head snapped up and my eyes locked onto Chase’s, getting trapped there for long seconds before I was able to pull myself together. “What? No.” I cleared my throat and straightened. “No, I’ve got it. I’m just about done anyway.”

Konrad gave a half-wave as Brandon looked between Chase and me, expression curious and guarded.

“How was breakfast?” I asked slowly, thrown off by Chase’s best friend.

In an instant, the energy surrounding us shifted from slightly uncomfortable to bordering on suffocating.

When Chase’s gaze fell to the floor, I looked in time to see Brandon and Konrad share a meaningful glance before Brandon said, “It was great.”

But his tone and the stiff way the three were suddenly holding themselves saidgreatwasn’t quite how it should’ve been described.

A scoff bled from Chase as he shifted away, turning for the door to the house. A whisper of remorse flashed through the cold resentment in his eyes when they met mine again, and then he was gone.

Stealing that high I’d been on all morning.

Stealing my smile.

Stealing that sliver of hope that we had any chance of recovering from this.

I gripped the gaping wound in my chest when the door shut behind him and tried to stifle the way the oxygen fled from my lungs on a rush. Tears pricked at my eyes as strong arms enveloped me, but I didn’t look away from that closed door.

“What happened?” I asked through the knot in my throat when Brandon released me.

A sigh escaped him as he looked to Konrad for help, but Konrad just shook his head. Scuffing a hand over his face with a mumbled, “Jesus, dude.”

“He was fine,” Brandon finally said, lifting his hands like he was at a loss. “Then we got to my house, and when he found out it wasmyhouse, he immediately wanted to know if Harper was there.”

“Fucking took off for the front door,” Konrad added.

“But he’s been—” I pressed my lips together as my head moved in firm shakes.

That hollow in my chest was opening so wide and so deep, I was sure that even if we made it through this, my heart wouldn’t survive unscathed.

“What happened?” I repeated. “Was she home?”

“She has an early class,” Brandon said. “But Chase lost it when he saw a picture of us from our wedding. Started yelling all this shit about what I took from him.” He cut another look at Konrad and blew out a sharp breath before studying me like he was trying to figure out how to phrase what came next, but he never attempted to go on.

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