Regret (A Chase Elliott One Shot)

Regret

Authors Note: This story is rated mature.

I look around at the packed house. Smiles, laughter filling the air. It's a happy occasion, a time of celebration. Kat and Ryan are getting married. After three years together. This is their engagement party.

Kat and I quickly became great friends when I was dating a mutual friend. Note the word was.

I can't help but let my eye scan the room, looking for him. There is no doubt he will be here. He's Ryan's best friend and all. But I have been here close to thirty minutes and I haven't seen him.

Not that I am purposely looking for him. But I can't help it. It's been eight months since we broke up. If you want to call me ignoring all his phone calls and texts, breaking up. Guilt washing over me.

No, I won't go there tonight. Tonight is about Kat and Ryan, not how much of a bitch I am. I am also working. Outside my job at Penske Motorsports as a media consultant, I love photography. So Ryan and Kat hired me to capture their engagement party in photos.

I scan the room with my camera clicking away and I let my lense stay focused on the happy couple. I click away but my finger freezes as the familiar figure steps up to them.

Chase.

Shit he looks good. His brown curls neatly in place. His white button down clings to his broad chest. His jeans hugging his hips and ass, not leaving much to the imagination. As he smiles at Ryan and Kat, it still makes my heart stop. He can drop panties with that smile, I swear.

Suddenly he gestures behind him and a tall thin blonde steps next to him. I feel the camera slip from my hands, landing with a thud against my chest thanks to the neck strap. As he wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her against his side. He's with someone.

I am surprised at the tears that prick my eyes and the tightness that has gripped my heart. I can't look away but when Kat's eyes meet mine, I spin on my heels and leave the living room. Finding a quiet spot in the hall leading to the garage.

It shouldn't surprise me that Chase has moved on. He's Chase panty dropper Elliott, any woman would kill to be with him. Chase well he likes the ladies too but he's loyal and once he commits to someone that's it. He doesn't look at another woman.

"Charlotte." I look over to see Kat.

"I'm fine." I say.

"No you're not." She says walking over to me and bringing me into a hug.

"You want to leave?" I shake my head no.

"Cause we would understand if you do." I shake my head no again and pull away.

"I just need a minute."

"We had to invite him but I swear I didn't know about Barbie." I can't help but chuckle.

"It's fine Kat. Just give me a minute." She nods and gives my hand a squeeze before walking away. I give myself a minute before I rejoin the party.

I do my best to avoid Chase and his plus one, it hasn't gone unnoticed too Ryan and Kat, who I catch from time to time give me looks of sympathy. I don't need it, I made peace with what I did. With losing the love of my life. All though I didn't know he was the love of my life at the time, till it was over and it's too late to fix the damage.

I won't lie, it still hurts though. To see his smile, to hear his laugh. To see him look at another woman. It still feels like a knife being put through my heart. But I have to remind myself that this is my doing. Not his, mine. If I didn't do what I did, that would be me on his arm.