“You coming?” she said over her shoulder once she reached the top, and he laughed, shaking his head before he climbed up after her.
“Wow,” she breathed as he came up behind her, taking in the view that was as familiar to him as his own apartment. “Chase…this is…”
“I know,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder.
The bridge itself was old and forgotten, the road closed off years ago, but from the top of it, you could see for miles. On one side, the lights of the city below twinkled and glittered in different colors like scattered jewels, and on the other, the peaceful, tranquil stretch of wilderness, broken only by a lazy stream meandering throughout.
“Can you tell me how you found this place? Or is that not a first-date story either?” she murmured contentedly.
He chuckled softly. “When I was younger, whenever I felt like getting away from all the bullshit, I used to just drive. Half the time I didn’t even know where I was going. One time I ended up here.”
“It’s beautiful. Like it should be a painting. Or a picture.”
Chase smiled, closing his eyes. “This was the first photograph I ever sold.”
He felt her turn her head toward him. “Really?”
“Mm-hm,” he hummed. “I photographed a whole series of this place, transitioning from day to night. And one day I got the balls to go to a gallery show. It sold within the first half hour. That was the first time I felt like I was good at this, you know? I always loved it, but that was the first time I felt like I was good.”
She slid her hands over his where they rested on her stomach.
“I come up here whenever I need a little inspiration.”
“Were you in need of a little inspiration tonight?” Andie asked, and Chase shook his head.
“Not when I’m with you. Not ever with you.”
Andie smiled, leaning back into him as she closed her eyes.
“One day I’m gonna take you up here.”
Andie turned her head slightly to look at him. “Aren’t we already up here?”
Chase shook his head. “One day I’m gonna take you up here,” he said, running his hands down over her hips as he pulled her body back against his.
Andie groaned softly as her eyes fluttered closed. “Then do it,” she whispered, turning in his arms and wrapping hers around his neck. “Take me.”
Chase nearly broke under that look in her eyes, but he shook his head. “Not now. I would never do that on our first date.”
“Chase,” she whispered. “It’s not really—”
He cut her off with a shake of his head. “No sex tonight, Andie. Just us. Just this,” he said, gesturing between them with his hand. “This is just as important to me.”
She looked up at him, her eyes still filled with lust. “That’s some self-control you got there, McGuire.”
He smiled slowly. “It’s not as infallible as you think,” he said, gently kissing her lips. “That being said, I’m gonna take you home.”
Andie stuck her bottom lip out, pouting adorably, and he laughed softly before he leaned in and took it between his lips. “We’ll come back,” he whispered against her mouth. “I promise.”
Chase helped her down the side of the bridge, and they walked back to the car, their hands clasped in comfortable silence. And when they got back to her apartment, he walked her to her door, thanked her for a wonderful evening, and kissed her good night.
“Mmm,” she hummed against his lips. “Your kisses still give me butterflies.”
He smiled, brushing the hair away from her face.
“You’re really not coming in? Just for a few minutes?” she asked, and he laughed softly.
“I’m a man who knows his limits, Andie,” he said, kissing her hand before he turned and walked toward the stairs.
“Chase?” she called just as he reached the top, and he turned his head over his shoulder just in time to see her grin.
“Now it’s my turn to do this right. Clear your schedule for tomorrow night. I’m making you dinner.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Chase stood in his living room, giving his apartment the once over. He had straightened up as much as possible, especially in the kitchen. Andie assured him that his lack of kitchen supplies and cookware would not be a problem; she’d be bringing over everything she needed, so he at least wanted to provide her with a neat space to work in.
He was just about to wipe down the stove one more time when he heard a knock on his door, and he smiled, turning to open it.
“Hey,” he said, his smile dropping as soon as the door was fully open.
Shit.
He righted his expression a beat too late, smiling again. “Colin. Good to see you, man.”
He knew Andie hadn’t mentioned anything about their relationship to Colin. They had only spoken twice since their break up, and both were very formal conversations, mostly just about returning each other’s belongings. Regardless, he wasn’t exactly sure how he was supposed to play this.
“You busy?” Colin asked.
Shit shit shit.
“Uh,” Chase said awkwardly, running his hand through his hair and thinking of how he could possibly get Colin out of there before Andie showed up. He was fully aware that eventually Colin would find out they were together, but he didn’t need to know just how soon after their break up it happened. “No, I’m not busy. What’s up? How are you?”
“I’ve been better.”
Stupid fucking question, Chase thought.
“Yeah, I heard. Tyler told me,” he said.
Colin stood there, his expression unreadable. He didn’t look sad, or pissed, or confused, or hurt. He just…stood there.
There had never been a more awkward silence.
Fuck it, he thought. He had to say something. Invite him in. Anything. He could text Andie, tell her to stall.
“You want a beer or something?” Chase said, taking a step back into the apartment.
“No. I can’t stay. I was just in the neighborhood.”
Another silence, made more awkward by the fact that Chase didn’t believe him for a second.
“I went to Andie’s to get some of my stuff today,” Colin said, and Chase shifted, rubbing the back of his neck. He had no idea what he was supposed to say to that. He was totally unprepared for this, and he should have known better.
“I figured it would be better if I went when she wasn’t home,” Colin added.
Chase exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry, man.”
Colin laughed then, a dry, humorless laugh as he tilted his head to the side. “Why do people always tell you they’re sorry when something bad happens to you? I mean, it’s not like you did anything, right? So what are you sorry for?”
Chase kept his expression smooth, his eyes on his friend.
“Anyway,” Colin continued. “I was at her place, and I found this.”
For the first time, Chase realized he held something in his hands, and he looked down just as Colin unrolled it and held it up.