I Never Thought

Chapter 9

I was frozen. I felt my breath hitch in my throat and for a few seconds, it was as if my body forgot how to breathe. For the first time in a year, I was holding eye contact with the first and only guy I had ever called my boyfriend. I should have looked away, I should have continued to drink my beverage and went on like he wasn't even there, but I couldn't. My stomach had dropped ten feet and all I could think about was to run.

His attention was taken off of me when his friend with sandy blond hair said his name. He turned to him and began talking, but his eyes still found their way over to me every few seconds. His friend noticed and eventually looked over at me briefly, but he did a double take when he realized who I was. They both stared at me silently, with no emotion on their faces. Who was that other guy and what did he know about me? I instantly wanted to call Chase, but I decided against it. I slowly stood up to my feet and I quickly walked out the door.

My heart was pounding before I even started running again. I ran straight towards my house, not even stopping to catch my breath.

I pushed the back door open and ran in. My dad was sitting by the island in the kitchen, and he looked at me over his glasses. His eyebrows rose and he closed his newspaper. Taking in my exasperated demeanor, he frowned and removed his glasses. "What's wrong honey?"

Was I about to tell my dad that I just ran into the guy who sexually assaulted me? Neither of my parents knew about that incident and I planned to keep it that way. I placed my hands on my hips and tried to catch my breath, I was pretty much hyperventilating.

He got up and walked toward me when I didn't respond. I hadn't realized that I had tears running down my cheeks, but I guessed he did which must've been the reason why he put his hands on my shoulders and pulled me in for a hug. He rubbed my back as I unintentionally began sobbing into his polo shirt. Why was I crying? On my dad out of all people? I tried to recollect myself because I was uncomfortable making my dad worry about me. I had to think of a lie to tell him because I sure was not going to tell him the truth.

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me anything," he said as he smoothed my hair when I attempted to talk. My words came out strained and in a stutter. I wiped my eyes with my fist and kept my gaze on the floor. He gently moved me back so that he could look at my face. "Did someone try to hurt you?" He asked, his voice low and hushed. I shook my head from side to side, and he threw another question at me. "Do I need to call the cops, Chloe?" He shifted to look out the window.

I grimaced, "no Dad, there's no need for that. I'm fine."

That very second, Christian walked through the door and Chase followed behind him. They were mid-conversation and laughing but stopped when they saw what was happening. Christian's face dropped when he saw me.

"What happened?" He walked about three quick steps and he was already at my side. Chase stayed at the door with his hands in his pockets, but a concerned look covered his face.

"She wouldn't tell me. I'd say to give her a minute." Dad sighed and stepped to the side.

Christian dropped his hand onto my shoulder and gently squeezed. I looked up at his face and his eyebrows were furrowed together. I stood there silently. I wanted to tell him, but I couldn't because Dad was still standing a few feet away. I just shifted my weight between each foot. The memory of Chase's fist colliding into Greyson's face flashed through my mind. The pain I felt when he fell to the floor, groaning, made its way back into my heart. My eyes teared up again.

Dad's phone rang in his pocket, breaking the silence. He looked over at me for a few seconds before he pulled his cell phone out. He walked out of the room saying "you guys make sure she's okay." I took that opportunity to say it. I let out a long breath and sat at one of the bar stools.