Deal Breakers

Day 34

I'd just woke up, my eyes still blurry. I couldn't see clearly, but there was someone next to me in the bed. It wasn't Peter, I just knew. When my eyes focused I could see who was laying next to me. Strong jawline, olive skin and pools of blue that I could drown myself in. It would make sense, I've always been afraid of drowning and Chase would be the reason I do. 

"Morning, sleepy." His hand reached out and touched my face. 

"What are you doing here?" 

"I saw Champ leaving early and I thought I'd come say hi." His grin was arrogant but his eyes were soft. He was in his usual black shorts and navy T-shirt, half of the plaid blanket pulled up to his chest. 

"So you got in bed with me?" I say with a chuckle. My insides were tingling, I could feel warmth between my thighs. 

He nodded, cheeks blushing. "I guess so, yeah."

I shook my head, rubbing my eyes. "I guess you've made worse choices before." 

Chase scooted closer to me, his scent of citrus and vanilla filling the room, "I can count a few." He brushed hair from my face, electricity ran through my skin like a wave. "One of them was leaving without you." 

I was frozen, paralyzed by nothing more than just the fear of leaving this moment. "I remember what the letter said," I said. 

He nods again. "Tell me," he breathed. His eyes seemed bigger and brighter than I've ever seen them before. 

I let my head fall back onto the pillow, looking up at the ceiling. I took a deep breath, exhaling with force. I was nervous, but excited. 

"Dear Chase,

I hope you like New York. I'm going to miss you, I think about you all the time. We haven't spoke much lately and I understand why. 

I know I've been dating Pete for a month, but I wanted to tell you something. "

I look at him for a minute, his blue eyes still beaming at me. I slowly started reading him the bits of the letter I could remember, from 'Dear Chase' all the way to how I really feel about him.

"Love, Lala." I finished with emphasis on my nickname he'd given me. I  looked up at him again, my heart pounding. I was feeling shy, guilty and excited all at once as our eyes met. Strangely the room felt a little chilly and the air was crispy, which wasn't normal for the usual stuffy cabin. I licked my lips, which made a popping sound. That sound seemed so loud in this moment, I started to regret with every fiber of my being that I'd told him what I'd written so long ago.

He grabbed me by the waist, pulling me in to his arms. I made a gasp, but before I could say anything his lips were on mine, kissing me furiously. I was lost in the warmth and sweetness of his lips, the way his hands roamed my back, searching for the hem of my pink t-shirt. 

This was what dreams were made of, the feeling of his chest against mine. Our kisses were rough, longing and had a taste of hopefulness in every passing second. It was clear, Chase loved me, I didn't even need him to say it. He was screaming it with every caress of his hand on my back, the way his lips pulled mine in and I didn't need anything else except this. 

"Layla," I hear Peter voice from a distance. "Layla!"

I jolt up, pulling the covers up to my chest. Peter is standing at the foot of the bed, looking annoyed. I look to my left, his side of the bed empty. Empty. The realization washes over me; it was a dream. It was just a dream, unfortunately.

"Layla," Peter groans. "You slept through breakfast."

"Sorry," I grumbled. I threw my head back onto the pillow. "I'm just tired."

"Are you sick?" He asked coming to my side, putting his palm to my forehead to check for fever. 

"Not physically," I muttered. He looked at me, his head tilted. Peter's brown eyes squinted like he was trying to figure out what I was talking about, but like usual he was clueless. 

"Okay, well get ready. Tomorrow is round six," slapping his hands together. 

"You got it, Champ." I stretch my arms out wide, like a cat ending a nap. The room was stuffy and warm, just how I expected it to be. I should have knew just by the comfortable temperature that it was a dream.

"Champ?" he repeated. I shrugged in response, like it was nothing new. But we both knew that was Chase's nickname for him. Peter's eyes narrowed. "Okay, Lala. See you outside." His voice was venomous. 

"Crap," I groaned. I don't know what possessed me to call him that, it was definitely an echo from my dream but I knew Peter found it strange and upsetting. He's been so busy with training and recon work. We were definitely drifting apart lately, I just couldn't figure out what the cause was.. Or who.