My Everything

CH 26-

Sophie went after Chace but she was at a gross disadvantage in this expansive land that was his home turf....apparently. She still could fully process why Chace kept this a secret. So his Mom lived local and he helped her on the farm. That seems commendable.

She suddenly remembered when he took her to see the sunset on horseback how that was a spot he frequented. She thought maybe Chace headed to the barn to saddle up. So she back tracked to the stable.

Just as she reached the barn door Chace was coming out on one of the horses. He had to pull the reins hard in order to not knock over Sophie.

"What are you crazy? Don't you look where you're going?!" Chace shouted.

"I was in a bit of a rush to catch you." Sophie said through exasperated breaths.

"How did you know where I would be?"

"I remember what you said about how you like to go to that spot when you are upset. Figured you were heading there," she shrugged.

"I'm not upset!" Chace growled.

"You looked upset," Sophie countered feeling a bit annoyed that he wasn't appreciative of her effort and concern.

"Cause you know me so well, " Chace scoffed.

" You're right! I don't know you well. How can I when you won't tell me ANYTHING about you." Sophie motioned around to the barn and the farm.

"How is it any of your business what I do with my time on the weekends?"

"You know what, it isn't. I chased you down cause I care about you and genuinely wanted to know how you were. Your ego is too big to recognize actual compassion." Sophie stomped off in the direction of where she left the rest of the crew.

Chace sat there and contemplated what she had said. He was being a jerk just because she had seen him at one of his more embarrassing times. He never felt like he was good enough for someone like Sophie. He felt like he was faced with an impossible challenge. He could tell Sophie the truth and risk losing her or he had to let her walk away and lose her for good.

He made some pretty dumb decisions in life, some that actually got him here today, but he wasn't a complete idiot. He rode so quickly up to her that she was startled. He leaned down and grabbed her by waist and hoisted her on the back of the horse in one fluid motion. Instinctively she held on, wrapping her arms around Chace's torso. Besides the hug at the diner this was the closest they have ever been. She could feel the definition of his muscles through his flannel shirt. Although Sophie was not in control of where they were going, something she typically hated, she noticed she felt eerily at peace wrapped around Chace.

Sophie could see he was following the same path he took her that one night. This time though he did not go into a full gallop or Sophie might have been thrown off. Sophie took that as a good sign that he wasn't that mad at this point. The horse stopped and Sophie got off first then Chace.

Chace sat in his well worn spot and Sophie sat next to him. Sophie didn't know what to say and she didn't want to risk saying something that would make him more upset.

"I just didn't know how to explain my situation." Chace finally broke the silence.

"I'm really lost here, Chace. I just don't see the big deal. So you spend the weekend at your Mom's helping her with her dairy farm. That seems noble."

Chace hung his head low. "That's just it. It's not noble. It is a part of my community service."

"Oh." Sophie took a second to process that as she remembered some tabloid fodder about him getting arrested. She didn't keep up with the Hollywood gossip so she just assumed he lawyered up and got out of it like most celebs do.