Taking Chances (Taking Chances #1)(28)
Author: Molly McAdams

My dream hadn’t done his voice justice, at all. That was the first time I’d actually heard him say anything in weeks, and unfortunately it wasn’t directed towards me. I watched him retreat down the hall then turned to start the coffee pot.

“So Harper, anything you want to share?” Bree asked suggestively.

I froze. Crap. He’d told her, how could he do that to me? And why did she sound so freaking happy? My voice shook, “What do you mean?”

“Hmm…let me see. You and Brandon were pretty cozy and he carried you away at seven last night, your lips completely locked the whole time. What do you mean ‘what do I mean?’”

Oh thank God. I exhaled and the tension left my shoulders, “We were tired.”

“Oh come on! Don’t even try to tell me you guys didn’t finally do the bunny dance in bed last night.”

“The what?” I turned to face my friend and burst out laughing, “Breanna. Where the heck do you get these things?”

“That’s beside the point! Fess up!”

“Sorry Bree, we really didn’t do anything.” I smiled and grabbed the now full pot.

“Still?!” Her head fell heavily into her hands, “Harper, how can you still be torturing that poor boy?”

“I’m just not ready yet, and he respects that. Unlike some people I know.” I looked pointedly at her, she just rolled her eyes.

“I have a feeling you just don’t want to tell me about it. Keeping all the juicy details to yourself.” She hmphed and crossed her arms over her chest.

She had no idea how right, and yet how wrong she was.

“Well, I have a feeling you’re going to continue to be disappointed for a while longer. I’m not ready to be with him like that, end of story. You’ll be the first person to know when I finally decide to have sex with Brandon. I’ll even give you the heads up before I tell him.”

“Promise?”

I had chosen my words carefully so I wouldn’t be lying to her, “Promise.”

She sat there studying me as I poured creamer into the mug, “Maybe it’s just because you don’t know what to do!”

“So tell me, how’s your sex life Bree?”

“Ohmygodamazing!”

I smiled and leaned against the counter. Yep, I was now a pro at getting the attention off myself. I listened to her not-so-private life until Brandon came into the kitchen to grab his cup of coffee as well.

“She talking about Konrad again? I swear she brings it up more than he does, and that’s saying something.” He kissed the tip of my nose and moved so he was against the counter, my back against his chest. I wiggled into him more, trying to mold myself to his warm body that could have only been made for mine.

“To be fair, I brought it up, but I think she’s trying to make up for our lack of a sex life.” I laughed lightly and turned to look at him.

“We’ll get there when we’re ready.” He shrugged, but I saw the hunger and longing in his face. We still had close calls, but hadn’t brought it up again since that night in his Jeep. Torture was definitely a good word for what I was always doing to him.

Bree finally got onto a different subject a few minutes later when I was on my second cup of coffee, but I could barely focus on what she was saying anymore. I shook my head as if to clear it and leaned forward a little, hoping it would somehow help. It didn’t. I swear it felt like I was in a Charlie Brown episode, but in slow motion. It now sounded like she was talking under water and I was confused when she started to get up from the table and walk towards me, her face alarmed. Why did she look so scared? I heard a muffled crash and something hit my leg, it stung but I couldn’t look down at it, though I was definitely leaning forward enough to try. Brandon caught me just before my face hit the tile and I lost consciousness.

I heard people saying my name and figured I must be asleep again, I thought I’d opened my eyes to see who was in this dream, but I still could only see darkness. Suddenly, someone was yelling my name in my ear and my eyes shot open.

“Oh my God! Are you okay? What happened?!” Bree was right in my face and if I could have moved back, I would have.

Why was Brandon suddenly so uncomfortable? I mean, his body is hard as a rock, but it was a comfortable rock that I curled into practically every night. Not whatever this was behind me. I turned my head and my cheek met the cold tile. “Am I on the kitchen floor?”

Brandon came running into the kitchen with Chase and Brad, all three looked concerned.

“She’s awake?” Brandon looked to Bree as he knelt down next to her.

“Yeah, just happened.” She replied.

I tried to sit up but my head was so heavy I barely got it two inches off the ground before I gave up, my head smacked against the tile, “Ow.”

“You need to stay down there sweetheart. How are you feeling?”

I looked at Brandon’s hand reaching to cup my cheek, then back to Bree. “Did I fall asleep in here?”

Bree actually laughed and grabbed my hand. “Not quite. You passed out.”

“I did?”

“Yeah Harper, scared the crap out of us too.” She scolded me, but looked relieved.

Brad walked back into my line of sight, “Couch is ready, get her over there.”

I knew from experience any of these guys could lift me by themselves and carry me around, but for some reason all three decided to move me to the couch.

“I’m fine, you’re all being ridiculous.”

“Sweetheart, you were out for –”

“I get that, but I’m fine now.” And I was. I felt like I could get off the couch and go make breakfast. Speaking of…my stomach growled as I thought of food. I pointed at my stomach and smiled at the four of them, “See, I’m fine.”

Brad was pressing on my leg, making me wince, Bree was watching his hand and Chase and Brandon were staring at me. Both clearly still worried.

“Uh, Brad? Could you ease up? You’re hurting me.”

He smiled sheepishly and removed the bloody towel away from me.

“What the –”

“You dropped your mug and a big chunk sliced your leg pretty good.” Brandon filled me in as he pressed his lips lightly to my neck. “How are you really feeling? And don’t lie to me.” He whispered into my ear.

I looked up in time to see Chase hang his head and step away, slowly shaking it back and forth. One half of me yearned to go comfort him, and I tried not to let it show.

“I’m great, really. I feel like nothing happened.”

He seemed to consider that a moment before finally helping me sit up.

“See? Just fine.” My head swam and I felt nauseas for a second.

Brandon smiled and kissed me softly, “I’ll go make you something to eat then, that’s probably what it was. You didn’t have dinner last night.”

“Or lunch.” Bree interjected and I blushed as Brandon scowled at me.

“Bree?” He said.

“Yeah?”

“Can you go with her while she takes a shower? Just in case it happens again.”

“Sure, come on Harp, you look disgusting.”

I smiled at her, “I love you too Bree.”

I took a shower, without incident, and practically inhaled the eggs and toast Brandon made, even though it was enough for Bree and I put together. By the time we were finished, I’d already missed my only class of the day, so naturally Bree and I decided to go shopping. Brandon wasn’t ecstatic, he was trying to keep me in bed, but once I had eaten, I felt better than I normally did so he reluctantly let me go. We’d barely gotten into the second shop when Bree put a hand on my arm and turned me towards her.

“Are you okay Harper?”

“Yeah. Why? What’s up?” I breathed heavily.

“Um, well we just walked like one hundred feet and you’re practically doubled over trying to catch your breath.”

I raised an eyebrow and started to speak.

“Okay fine, that was a little exaggerated. But you’re bright red, sweating and you are breathing hard.”

“Well, it’s really hot today, but other than that I feel fine.”

“Harper, you’re wearing a short sleeved shirt and it’s fifty degrees outside.”

I paused, “Really?” My heart had finally slowed down so I took a deep breath, relishing in the feel of my lungs filling to their capacity.

She grabbed my hand and towed me towards the car. I couldn’t even complain, I felt fine but man all I wanted to do was take a nap. When we got back, Brandon jumped up to greet us, worry etched all over his face as he took in my heavy breathing and red face.

“Did she pass out again?” He asked Bree.

“No, but she wasn’t doing well.”

“What do you mean? Did something else happen to her again?”

“She is right here, and nothing happened. I just need to take a nap. If you guys are done treating me like a child, I’d like to get to that.” I pushed past him and headed for his bed.

It wasn’t either of their faults, and they really didn’t deserve to have me snap at them. But I was frustrated with how rapid my awesome feeling had turned into barely being able to keep my eyes open and practically drooling at the thought of taking a nap. I climbed into Brandon’s bed, fully clothed and was out before I could consider taking my shoes off.

The rest of the weekend consisted of me feeling fine, and Brandon and Bree fluttering around me like I was going to collapse at any given moment. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when Sunday came and went. Bree, Claire and I had a girl’s day since Chase bailed on family day again, and Monday I was back in class. Things were already calming down with Bree and Brandon since there were no more weird episodes, and I was certain they’d get over it completely if I made it through the day. And get through it, I did. I’d had so much energy that day, I practically skipped to each class and Bree had to hold me tight enough to keep me walking. Thankfully, Brandon seemed to be completely over the fainting spell too, because when I got back to his room that night, he immediately tossed me on the bed and attacked my mouth and clothes. I hadn’t had one of these steamy sessions with the love of my life since Wednesday, and it was long overdue.

9

“So Chase isn’t here again.”

“I know, Mom and Dad have to be getting annoyed with him. He’s missed the last few family days.”

He has missed five, not like I was counting or anything. I haven’t seen him once since over a week ago when I passed out, and other than that I’d only caught a glimpse of him three times since our goodbye one month and two days ago. I know, I’m pathetic. “Maybe I shouldn’t come to family day Bree. I might be the reason he doesn’t come around anymore.”

That made her finally look up from her laptop, “Why would you say that?”

“I don’t know, maybe he doesn’t like that I’m intruding on family time.” My heart ached for him, and I wish it didn’t. I wanted to marry Brandon, it finally hit me two weeks ago and I’d never been more sure of anything in my life; so the fact that Chase still had a hold on me at all frustrated me to no end. Since the night Brandon had come back from Arizona, I’d never once regretted my choice in choosing him. I don’t know how to explain it, but when I thought about my future, he’s the only man I ever saw. But I needed to say good bye to Chase for good, I just didn’t know how to do that yet.