Page 55 of I Despise You

“It’s great. I love everything about it.” It’s not a lie.

“I’m glad to hear that. Have you made any friends? Got a boyfriend, maybe?” She teases.

“Yeah, I have a few friends. No boyfriend.” I don’t want to tell her about Chase or introduce her to him just yet.

“What about that sweet boy who took you to visit your dad’s grave?”

“Um, he’s just a friend.” I don’t know if Chase introduced himself as my boyfriend, but since my mom didn’t ask me anything about it when she called me, I assumed he hadn’t mentioned anything about that.

“Ah, okay.”

I notice movement out of the corner of my eye. Chase. He’s just overheard me say to my mom that he’s not my boyfriend.

Shit!

“Mom, I need to do something. Can you give me a moment?” I ask.

“Yeah. I have to go back in there anyway.”

Brittany’s father is expecting her, and I hate that, but I only nod. When she’s gone, I go after Chase, but I can’t see him anywhere.

I pull out my phone and text him, but I get no response. Shit! I have to explain everything to him, but I don’t want to do it over a text.

I dial his number, hoping he’ll pick up, but he doesn’t. Maybe his father showed up too, so I head back in the room to see if I can spot them somewhere in the crowd. My mom waves at me, and I wave back at her.

Once I search the whole room, I realize Chase’s not there. He must’ve gone back to his room, so I hurry to find him.

When I reach his room, I pause because the door is cracked open. I peek through the crack and have to stifle a gasp.

Two big men are holding Chase by the arms. There’s a scowl on Chase’s face, and his father is standing not too far away from him.

“You’re going to break up with that pretty little gold-digger. Do you understand me?” Chase’s father says.

“I can date whoever the fuck I want!” Chase yells.

“You’re a Campbell, boy, so no, you can’t. She’s a pretty piece of ass, and you can fuck her all you want, but she’s not going to be girlfriend or your wife.”

My eyes widen. Wait a second. He’s talking about me, isn’t he? Eww!

I need to stop this somehow.

I take a few steps back, until I’m farther down the hallway.

“Chase! Are you there?” I call, pretending I’m just looking for Chase and haven’t overheard anything.

When I come closer and push the door open, his father is smiling at me and his bodyguards are standing next to him.

Chase is glaring at all of them, his arms crossed.

I’ll be damned, but his father could be an actor. They staged the whole thing in seconds when they heard my voice, and it was so effortless, as if they’ve all done it before.

“I’ll see you later, son,” Chase’s father says, tapping him on the shoulder before going for the door. His bodyguards follow him, and I step out of their way.

“What happened?” I ask softly when Chase and I are alone.

“Nothing,” he snaps.

“I came here to apologize. I know you overheard me when I said to my mom that you’re just my friend. I just didn’t want her to start asking questions or think that you’re distracting me from schoolwork.”