Chased Dreams by Lacey Weatherford Read Free Book Online

I knew these few minutes,
together, had been good for both of us.
    “Can you get me two more of those pain
killers?” I asked, knowing it wasn’t time for more yet, but my knee
was really starting to throb.
    She looked at me with concern. “You’ve taken
your last two doses too early already. I don’t think that’s good
for you,” She replied, slowly handing them to me.
    “Yeah, I guess you’re right, babe. You go
ahead and leave for work. I’ll just sink back into my little drug
coma.” I winked and smiled, trying to not let her know how bad my
leg was hurting. I couldn’t let her feel any worse than she already
did. “Thanks for breakfast.” I traveled my gaze hungrily over her,
wishing I could keep her here. “You look gorgeous today, by the
way.”
    She flashed me her five star smile before
leaning over and kissing me. “I love you,” she said as she left the
room.
    “I love you too,” I called after her. “I’ll
text you when I wake up.”
    A deep sigh escaped me when I heard the
front door close. I was ready to get over this surgery and on with
my life. The real question was, what life? Mine was ruined forever,
it seemed.

Chapter Six
    The ride home from my post surgery follow-up
appointment was silent. Brittney didn’t talk and I had no urge to
say anything, both of us absorbing the news the doctor had given
us.
    I needed another operation.
    Apparently my surgeon felt the pins used to
secure my shin together weren’t holding it well enough. He wanted
to go back in and add plates to it for extra stabilization.
    This news had me extremely discouraged. I
was starting to wonder if all this was going to work out. Instead
of moving forward, I was being sent back to the beginning, and it
sucked.
    Movies I’d seen of people who’d overcome
great odds and strengthened their relationships with those around
them popped into my mind. Those suddenly seemed like fake,
Hollywood-rigged stories. I couldn’t seem to make any progress, and
my internal struggles were making things between Brittney and me
strained, to say the least. I couldn’t lose her, too, but I was
afraid I would. My fears were speaking loudly to me, telling me
there was no way to hang onto the things I loved the most.
    We arrived at home and Brittney helped me
into the house. I headed straight for the couch, settling myself
there in a slouch, staring at the blank television screen.
    Brittney stood there watching me for a
moment before setting her purse down. “Chase, I know something is
bothering you, but I can’t help you fix things if you won’t talk to
me.” She looked me in the eyes, her expression concerned, but
hopeful.
    I was actually glad she brought up the
subject. “Well . . . .” I wasn’t sure where to start. I knew she
was suffering too, and I didn’t want to say anything that might
make her feel like I was pushing her away. “I honestly don’t know
where I am in life anymore, babe. Nothing is turning out the way I
planned—even this damn surgery isn’t going right.” I sighed heavily
and ran a hand over my face. “It’s just starting to seem like . . .
too much. I feel like I’m just existing—floating out there
somewhere without a clue of what to do.”
    She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Chase,
I’ll always be here for you and you know that,” she responded
seriously.
    “I appreciate that, and I know this has been
hard for you, because I’m not always good about sharing things.
It’s the only way I really know how to deal with hardships. I’ve
always retracted inside myself when life got tough.
    “After Nikki died, I really pulled away from
everyone. It was easier for me to nurse my wounds alone, it seemed.
I couldn’t face the looks everyone gave me when they saw me—those
well meaning, but pathetic stares that said, “Gee, we’re so sorry
your life sucks.”
    “I’ve tried not to pull away from you, this
time, because I do love you and if I lost you, it would kill me.
But it’s been