hand in the air, motioning me to come his way. He’s found a great place for us to stand. It’s a ways out from the stage, but it’s still a good view.
“Thanks, Strawberry,” he says once I reach him. I place his change in one hand and his drink in the other. I think it’s safe to assume that at this rate, we won’t be driving home.
“Thank you for paying.”
“Of course,” he winks.
We stand and sip our beers, enjoying the moment while waiting for Broken Bells to perform. It’s hot out today, but between the alcohol, and the masses of awesome people surrounding us, we’re going to be just fine.
“So...” Eric looks down. “What’s the deal with you and Chase?”
I shrug my shoulders and take another long sip of beer. Based on his awkward demeanor, I’m guessing Eric feels conflicted about two of his closest friends dating. I can’t say I blame him. It’s a situation that has the potential to end badly.
“I don’t know. We went out Monday night and then he stopped by the apartment on Tuesday. That’s the last time I saw him.”
“But you’ve heard from him, right?”
I nod. “We’ve been texting each other all week.”
“Good,” he says. He seems pleased, which makes me pleased.
A few minutes go by before I work up the courage to ask a question that I’m not entirely sure I want to know the answer to.
“Hey, Eric?” I tilt my head up.
He looks down at me and smiles. “Yeah?”
I take a deep breath. “What’s the deal with Chase and Christa?”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Isn’t that something you should ask Chase about?”
He’s right. I shouldn’t be asking him, but it’s been in the back of my mind since the night I met Chase. I didn’t want to bring it up so soon. I really like him and I don’t want to give him a reason to run off or think that I’m jealous. I’m sure if he hadn’t met me, he probably would’ve gone home with her at the party that first night. It’s like a scab I can’t stop picking at. Morbid curiosity is a bitch.
“You’re right. I’m sorry I’m asking you. He’s given me no reason to doubt him thus far, but I trust you, Eric. I don’t want to get hurt. If they’re still hooking up, I don’t want to get in the middle and wind up getting screwed over.”
He sighs. “You do realize I’m breaking guy code, right?”
“Please, Eric,” I beg.
He looks around the crowd distractedly, uncomfortable, like he’s being put on the spot.
“As far as I know that’s over between them—for now.” He runs a hand through his blonde hair. “Listen, you have to understand that Chase is a lot like me. It’s why we get along so well. We’ve been each other’s wingman for years. It’s our thing. We don’t like to lock ourselves down and commit to one, single girl.”
My stomach drops.
“That being said, I firmly believe that if he told you it’s over between them, then it’s over. We may be womanizers but we aren’t liars. And I don’t think he’d juggle you and Christa at the same time.”
“What do you mean it’s over between them ‘for now’?”
“I mean that Christa is Chase’s constant. They have never been exclusive, but she was never just a random booty call. She has some kind of hold over him. She’s the only girl that’s gotten under his skin since Nicole.”
“Who’s Nicole?” I ask.
Eric winces, shaking his head. “You aren’t going to hear about that one from me. I’ve already said more than I should. His personal life is none of my business, but I also don’t want you to be blindsided by anything.”
Too late for that.
I quickly chug the rest of my beer. I’ve been looking forward to ACL all week, but now my mood has soured. Serves me right for asking a question I didn’t want to know the answer to in the first place. Eric gives me a pained, sympathetic look. I hate it when people look at me that way. I don’t want or need his pity.
“You’re reading too much into this, Mia. Don’t
“Thanks, Strawberry,” he says once I reach him. I place his change in one hand and his drink in the other. I think it’s safe to assume that at this rate, we won’t be driving home.
“Thank you for paying.”
“Of course,” he winks.
We stand and sip our beers, enjoying the moment while waiting for Broken Bells to perform. It’s hot out today, but between the alcohol, and the masses of awesome people surrounding us, we’re going to be just fine.
“So...” Eric looks down. “What’s the deal with you and Chase?”
I shrug my shoulders and take another long sip of beer. Based on his awkward demeanor, I’m guessing Eric feels conflicted about two of his closest friends dating. I can’t say I blame him. It’s a situation that has the potential to end badly.
“I don’t know. We went out Monday night and then he stopped by the apartment on Tuesday. That’s the last time I saw him.”
“But you’ve heard from him, right?”
I nod. “We’ve been texting each other all week.”
“Good,” he says. He seems pleased, which makes me pleased.
A few minutes go by before I work up the courage to ask a question that I’m not entirely sure I want to know the answer to.
“Hey, Eric?” I tilt my head up.
He looks down at me and smiles. “Yeah?”
I take a deep breath. “What’s the deal with Chase and Christa?”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Isn’t that something you should ask Chase about?”
He’s right. I shouldn’t be asking him, but it’s been in the back of my mind since the night I met Chase. I didn’t want to bring it up so soon. I really like him and I don’t want to give him a reason to run off or think that I’m jealous. I’m sure if he hadn’t met me, he probably would’ve gone home with her at the party that first night. It’s like a scab I can’t stop picking at. Morbid curiosity is a bitch.
“You’re right. I’m sorry I’m asking you. He’s given me no reason to doubt him thus far, but I trust you, Eric. I don’t want to get hurt. If they’re still hooking up, I don’t want to get in the middle and wind up getting screwed over.”
He sighs. “You do realize I’m breaking guy code, right?”
“Please, Eric,” I beg.
He looks around the crowd distractedly, uncomfortable, like he’s being put on the spot.
“As far as I know that’s over between them—for now.” He runs a hand through his blonde hair. “Listen, you have to understand that Chase is a lot like me. It’s why we get along so well. We’ve been each other’s wingman for years. It’s our thing. We don’t like to lock ourselves down and commit to one, single girl.”
My stomach drops.
“That being said, I firmly believe that if he told you it’s over between them, then it’s over. We may be womanizers but we aren’t liars. And I don’t think he’d juggle you and Christa at the same time.”
“What do you mean it’s over between them ‘for now’?”
“I mean that Christa is Chase’s constant. They have never been exclusive, but she was never just a random booty call. She has some kind of hold over him. She’s the only girl that’s gotten under his skin since Nicole.”
“Who’s Nicole?” I ask.
Eric winces, shaking his head. “You aren’t going to hear about that one from me. I’ve already said more than I should. His personal life is none of my business, but I also don’t want you to be blindsided by anything.”
Too late for that.
I quickly chug the rest of my beer. I’ve been looking forward to ACL all week, but now my mood has soured. Serves me right for asking a question I didn’t want to know the answer to in the first place. Eric gives me a pained, sympathetic look. I hate it when people look at me that way. I don’t want or need his pity.
“You’re reading too much into this, Mia. Don’t
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