Trust

✍ Question

The walk from the bus stop to my house wasn't very far. I kept thinking about the book Chase had given me. I'd finished it awhile ago. I guess it hadn't technically been a book- more of a collection of poems. He'd bookmarked a page at one of the start of the poems. I supposed he considered it to be one of the more special ones so I spent a whole night reading it, even though it was only six verses. I'd picked up the phone to call him as I'd promised I would after finishing the book, but I hadn't been able to bring myself to press the call button.

When I got to my house, it looked deserted- no sprinklers, no Chase, no crazy godfather peeking from the window with a shotgun to scare away any more possible suitors.

I opened the front door with a bit of apprehension.

"Pops! You're home!" Evan beamed at me. His smile was so big that it stretched from one ear to the other. He looked like the creepy cat from Alice in Wonderland. "Your boyfriend's here."

I was going to say, "He's not my boyfriend," when Chase came down the hallway and I quickly pursed my lips. He smiled when he saw me, grey eyes lighting up. I know boys aren't meant to be, like, beautiful or anything, but Chase looked downright gorgeous at that moment. He was wearing a blue button-down shirt, the top two buttons undone, and jeans. Even his sneakers looked clean. He looked like a preppy college boy, but with a touch of badassness.

"Hi." I smiled.

"Hi," Chase said.

"Hi," Evan chipped in. I glanced at him.

"Hello to you too, Evan."

Evan smiled even wider. "Gosh, I love you two."

"Don't you have somewhere to be? Like, maybe going to Adam's football training or something?" I asked hopefully.

"Nope." Evan ran a hand through his thick black hair. "Actually, Chase and I were talking and I suggested he stay for dinner."

"Dinner? Like, your cooking or Chinese takeaway again?"

"Neither. Chase was just telling me that his brother has some friends who own a pizza place and Chase is offering to buy us dinner tonight." Evan grinned. "This boy sure knows how to wriggle his way into my heart." He placed a hand on his stomach. "Free food'll get me every time."

I laughed. I was sure that Evan was secretly a teenager trapped in an adult's body.

"But don't think you're in the clear just yet, young man." Evan sobered. He looked sternly at Chase. "If you hurt my Poppy in any way, I will personally hunt you down and sever every limb from your body before killing you."

Chase looked slightly taken aback, but nodded seriously. "I understand, sir."

"Evan." I glared him. "Poppy is standing right here."

"I'm just doing my part as a responsible guardian," he said. He winked at me. "Love ya, kid."

A hot flush rose to my cheeks. It seemed that Evan's only mission was to try and embarrass the crackers out of me. He was succeeding

"I'm going to go upstairs," I said. "I'll be back down in a sec."

"I'm gonna play Call of Duty. Wanna come?" He was looking at Chase. Chase sent me a slightly flustered look. I shrugged.

"Alright," Chase said. Evan nodded and went to the games room, presumably to set up the game. When he was out of sight, I brushed past Chase on the way to my room. Chase caught my arm and the contact his fingers made with my skin sent tingles running down my spine.

"Do you think he likes me?"

I tried not to smile. "Evan? I don't know. Does it matter?"

"He's your godfather and obviously an important part of your life. Of course it matters." Chase gave me an incredulous look. "I want him to like me."