The Chase, Volume 2 by Jessica Wood Read Free Book Online Page A

you?”
    “Just at the library?”
    “Oh yeah?”
    “Yup.” There was a pause and then I thought I heard a muffled giggle. “So what are you up to?”
    “I’m on my way to the library to see you,” I lied.
    There was silence on her end.
    “I’ll be there in five minutes,” I added.
    “Wait, you’re in LA?” she finally asked.
    “Yeah, I’m here. I wanted to surprise you.” I felt my blood boil over at how stupid I’d been for not seeing the signs.
    “W—why, I mean what are you doing in LA?”
    “I wanted to see you. Isn’t that enough of a reason?” I challenged.
    “Uh. Yeah, of course, but…”
    “But what?”
    “I’m…I’m not in LA.”
    My jaws tightened as I heard the truth come out of her mouth.
    “Where the hell are you then?” I heard her inhale sharply when she heard the harsh tone in my voice.
    “What do you mean?”
    Her fake innocence grated against my waning patience.
    “I spoke to old roommate in LA. She told me everything.”
    There was a long stretch of silence and I heard a distant muffled conversation in the background.
    “Cut the fucking crap, Katherine! Tell me the truth!” I felt myself snap as I gave in to the rage that engulfed me.
    “Do you really want to know the truth?” Her calm and casual tone fueled my anger.
    “Yes, I’d would like to know the fucking truth,” I barked back at her.
    “Well, finally. You’re finally being an asshole.”
    “What the hell are you talking about?”
    She sighed as if I was the last person on Earth who didn’t get the joke. “You’ve always been too nice. Too accommodating. Too blah! We’ve never argued, and you’ve never gotten mad at me, even when I’ve done things or acted in a way where you should have.”
    “That’s because I love—loved you!”
    She snorted. “Who are we kidding? You still love me, but right now, you’re just too fucking hurt to admit it. I’m sorry, Dean. I know I’m being a royal bitch right now, but I really just couldn’t hold back my feelings for other men anymore—men who had some balls, who showed some manly emotions. What I’ve been waiting for and craving all through our relationship was for you to push me up against the wall, ignore my resistance, and fuck the shit out of me. I want a strong, aggressive man who can take control. I want passion! And let’s face it, that’s the one thing you’re missing.”
    “So you decide to fuck my friend? My frat brother?” I spat out.
    “We’re not just fucking! We’re in love. Can you accept that?”
    “No, of course I can’t fucking accept that! Are you serious?”
    I heard her sigh as if I was being unreasonable. “Look, Dean. Can I be honest with you?”
    “Well, that’d be a refreshing change. Sure, why don’t you tell me how you really feel.” I felt bitter and vengeful for the way she’d treated me.
    “Dean, I think deep down, you know we’re not right for each other. We want different things, and our personalities clash. I know we’ve been together for a long time, and in the beginning, we did love each other. But in the last year or so in college, I feel like we’ve drifted apart. I think we’re both changing and growing up, and ultimately we want different things. Look, I’m sorry that I’ve hurt you. I’m sorry that Gibson is your fraternity brother. But I’m not sorry that I feel in love with him.”
    “Do you seriously think this is making me feel better?”
    She sighed again. “Look, I’ve learned one thing through all this. Dean, sometimes the most important things in life will happen when you least expect it. So who knows, maybe someday you’ll meet the most important person in your life on some seemingly ordinary day without even knowing it. I mean , that’s what happened to me when I met Gibson. I wasn’t seeking him out or looking for another relationship. But it just happened.”
    Her words stung me more than I could bear. “Shut the fuck up, Katherine! Just shut the fuck up.”
    “Come on,