Picture Perfect

Chapter 10: Special Diets

          The next morning Deagan is awakened by a delicious aroma filling her nose and the bedroom her and Troy are staying. Sitting up and stretching, Troy still asleep on his side facing her, she smiles, leaning down and kissing him on the cheek. Placing her feet on the floor, Deagan stands up and walks out of the room to go downstairs and get some coffee. In just some short purple Nike running shorts and a long sleeve shirt, she walks downstairs. She abruptly stops once she passes the patio door, back peddling and looking out the full glass door to the back patio. Her breathing catching when she sees Chase sitting on the railing in just some basketball shorts, a little sweaty. The breathless feeling is pushed to the side as she sees Emma wearing a skimpy workout outfit, flirting big time with Chase.

          After pouring her a cup of coffee and taking one last look at her sister drooling over Chase she walks back upstairs, taking a small sip. Troy is sitting on the bed, talking on the phone as it sounds like he is talking to a company about an advertising deal. Setting the mug down on the table, she climbs into the bed, moving behind Troy on her knees, kissing the back of his neck. She tries to take her mind off her sister and Chase wondering if there is something between them even though her sister said no.

          "Babe, can you get me some coffee?" Troy asks softly, phone still to his ear.

          "Yeah," kissing his cheek as she makes her way back downstairs.

          Looking out the patio door again, she notices Chase is still out there but with himself, walks back to the kitchen to get Troy a mug.

          "Aren't you going to eat with us honey?" Her mother asks.

          "Umm yeah, I'm just taking this up to Troy," Deagan smiles, "I'll get him to come down."

          "Oh okay," her mother says with a smile.

          Deagan winks at her and starts to walk back to the staircase. The patio door opens, almost smacking Deagan as Chase walks in. It's pretty clear why Chase is over at her parents' house, pulling the memories out of her memory bank. When they dated, every Sunday morning Chase would run from his place to her parents and then eat breakfast with the family.

          "Hey stranger," Chase says to Deagan.

          "Oh hey," she smiles a little. "I see old habits don't die."

          "No, they don't," Chase laughs a little just as Emma comes inside as well. Deagan realizes what Emma is doing. She is running back to Chase's with him to his house. Something Deagan always did, which would then lead to hanging out and sex.

          "Umm it was good to see you," Deagan says, walking past Emma and back up in the bedroom.

          Handing Troy the cup of coffee, finally off his call, "So where can we go for breakfast?" taking a sip.

          "My mom made a huge breakfast downstairs," Deagan says getting dressed. "She's an excellent cook."

          "Well, you know I'm on that special diet for training," looking at Deagan.

          "You can't cheat one day?" she asks through a smile.

          "Babe we've been over this, we both have to stay strict to our diets for work."

          "Okay, fine," Deagan says after a moment, knowing her mom is going to be hurt.

          Walking down a few minutes later, Deagan can't help but automatically hate herself as she sees plates of food for both of them on the table.

           "Umm thank you, mom, but we are going to go out. We are both on special diets."

          "So you're not gonna eat what your mother made you?" her dad asks surprised.

          "I'm sorry. We are on special diets," Deagan says again. "We have to follow them. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it sooner."

          "Oh okay well that's fine," Deagan's mom replies, her dad getting up clearly disgusted.

          Sighing, "Come on," she says grabbing Troy's hand and walking out the door and into the rental car.