Finding Chase (Chasing Nikki) by Lacey Weatherford Read Free Book Online Page A

we followed the girls inside.
    A hostess greeted us at the door and ushered us to a booth in the corner, but not before I caught a glimpse of Matt sitting next to a girl in the bar area. I cast Brittney a glance and then Brett to see if either of them had noticed. Brett had, but he shook his head, gesturing for me to be quiet. I knew he didn’t want to ruin Brittney’s night, but I wanted to beat the guy and find out what the heck he was doing. Britt was a great girl, and she didn’t deserve to be treated this way.
    Tana slid into the booth first, then Brett. Brittney moved in on the other side and scooted around by Tana, leaving me a place to sit beside her.
    We ordered drinks and began looking through the menu. I kept getting distracted by the sports news on one of the many flat screen televisions around the ceiling of the neon-lit restaurant, but I couldn’t help glancing occasionally toward the bar. I didn’t know if I was hoping Brittney would see Matt, or not. I definitely didn’t want her to get hurt, but if he was the cheating idiot I thought he was, then I’d be happy if he got caught, for sure. He may have managed to get a spot on the team too, but I hadn’t liked him since I’d first moved to Silver Creek. I never could figure out how he and Britt had gotten together in the first place.
    “What are you getting?” Brittney asked, nudging my elbow.
    I returned my gaze to the menu. “Hmm . . . I’m not sure. The Devil Burger sounds good, and it’s their signature dish, so I might try that.”
    “It does look good.” Her eyes flicked over the page. “They have southwestern chicken wraps. I might try those. Ugh, there are too many good choices. I always get something and then wish I had something different.”
    I chuckled. “Everyone else’s plate looks better than the one you have?”
    “Exactly. Then I’m bummed because I wasted my money.”
    “Tell you what—you order your chicken wrap, I’ll order the burger, and we can share with each other. I’ll give you half of mine, if you give me half of yours.”
    Her eyes widened and she grinned. “You’d do that for me? Really?”
    “Of course I would. I can’t let you go home feeling bummed, can I? What kind of friend would I be?”
    “You could never be a bad friend, Chase. I don’t think it’s in your chemical makeup.”
    I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and gave her a brief squeeze. “I’m glad you think so. You wouldn’t have thought that if you’d known me a couple of years ago.”
    She looked like she wanted to ask me something, but the waitress brought our drinks, interrupting us. I rested my arm on the seat behind her, slouching as she took our orders. When she left, I leaned my head against the booth too.
    “Are you tired?” Brett asked.
    “Exhausted. Aren’t you? We worked out hard today. I feel like I could sleep for a year.”
    “We should’ve let you guys stay home,” Tana spoke up. “Especially since you have football practice again tomorrow. You need your rest.”
    “We’ll be okay,” Bret said. “This is nice, and we needed to eat anyway.”
    “And there’s no dishes this way,” I added.
    “Please. You both know you wouldn’t have cooked. Brett would’ve ordered a pizza if we hadn’t invited you.” Brittney smiled. “He hates to cook.”
    “You’re right.” Brett grinned. “I see a lot of pizza in our future.”
    “Well, we didn’t have any groceries to cook with anyway. We still need to go shopping tonight and get some,” I reminded.
    “Maybe we can all go after dinner then,” Tana suggested. “Britt and I need some more too.”
    “Sounds like a plan. Let’s do it.” I glanced between the twins who both nodded in agreement.
    Brittney suddenly stiffened, and I turned to follow her gaze, seeing Matt walk from the bar with his arm draped around the curvy brunette. They were laughing boisterously over something, and his hand slid down to pinch her on the rear.
    “Well, now I know