Gentry's Chance

Chapter 15. Stay

Taytum's POV

We had made it to the concert, and it was terrific. I'd gotten pushed around a couple of times, but Chance wound up holding onto me through the show", so I didn't get lost. Drew drops Chance and me off at his house. Chance and I get in his car right away so he can take me home. It's a quiet ride. Chance and I haven't said much to each other since the night we played that stupid game.

It feels like he's not at all okay with what happened. I'm pretty sure he regrets what we did. It may not have been sex, but this is the second time we slipped up. How are we ever going to just be friends if this keeps happening?

The one boy I really like and I can't have him. It's infuriating. He pulls up to my house and looks down at me. I speak before he can. "Chance..." I trail off. "You regret it, don't you?"

He grips tightly onto the steering wheel and looks away from me. "Yeah," He admits. It feels like he just punched a hole into my heart. It angers me and hurts me. I want to ask him why he did it then? I gave him the chance to back out of the dare. Instead, I get out of the car. "Taytum," He calls, but I shut the door and run up my yard.

Before I shut the front door, I hear his car peel away. I drop my bag as tears build in my eyes, and I slowly sink down to the floor. My heart pounds against my ribs. I swore I wouldn't cry over stupid boys, but here I am, balling like a baby. 

After several minutes I get to my feet and go to my room. I unpack my bag, starting the laundry. After my laundry is done and I've showered, I get something to eat. When I'm done, I go back upstairs and crawl into bed. After a few episodes of Sons of Anarchy, I doze off. 

***

I've been thinking about getting a job for a while. I think it'd be good to start my work history before I'm eighteen. After I'm done filling the application out for the gas station, I head back home. Before I get too far, my phone rings. It's Chance, which surprises me.

"Hello?" I ask quietly.

"Hey," Chance says softly. 

"What's up?" I ask.

"Can I ask you for a huge favor?" He asks. Even though the phone, I can hear how awkward he feels. 

"Um, okay?" I arch a brow.

"Would you come to watch Emma for me? My dad isn't home, and I have to get to work. My other sitter just quit on me," He mutters. 

"Oh," I murmured, surprised. "Yeah, I can do that."

"Really?" He asks, surprised.

"Yeah, I'll be there soon," I say.

"Thanks," He says. "Bring some clothes, though."

We hang up I stop at my house to grab clothes. I begin to head out of town toward his house. Once in his driveway, I get out of the car. Chance opens the door for me. "I really owe you one. I'll pay you for it. I have to warn you I'm probably not going to be back until three or three-thirty in the morning."

"Wow," I breathe.

"Yeah," He sighs. 

"That's why you told me to bring clothes," I murmur.

"Is it okay?" He asks worriedly.

"Yes, it's fine, don't worry," I shrug. He kisses my cheek before walking out the door. I turn to face Emma. She smiles widely at me. "Well, it's just us, what do you want to do?" I ask her.

"Watch movies?" She asks.

"I'd love to," I smile. 

After watching a couple of movies that Emma likes, we make a pizza for dinner. After dinner, I read a story to her, and she heads to bed. My phone vibrates I pick it up to check the text.

Chance: You can sleep in my room. That couch sucks. You can use the shower in my room too if you need it. I might not be back until six in the morning now. My room is the last door in the hallway. My dad's room is between mine and Emma's. Do not go into his room. If he finds out anyone is in there, he gets angry as hell. He's very clean.

Me: Okay. I won't go into his room.

After watching the news, I turn the TV off and head back to Chance's bedroom. I had showered this morning, so there is no need for that, and I didn't bring stuff to shower with. I change into a pair of red silky short shorts and a red spaghetti strap crop top. My aunt Laura had bought it for me from Victoria's Secret for Christmas last year. 

The bed smells just like Chance. The smell is so intoxicating that I almost consider going back out to the couch. I slowly drift off to sleep. 

***

A movement wakes me. My eyes flutter open. "Chance?" I squeak. His alarm clock reads three o'clock.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. I was just grabbing a pillow," He said softly. "Go back to sleep."

"Where are you going?" I ask.

"To the couch," He murmurs. His chest is glistening. I'm guessing he just got out of the shower. He's in nothing but a pair of shorts. 

"You can sleep in the bed with me. There is enough room," I stare at him as I scoot over. He looks away for a moment but then back to me. His gaze is intense. He sighs as he puts the pillow back down on the bed. I give him some of the large blanket. 

We stare at each other for an immeasurable moment. Chance breaks the silence. "I'm sorry," He said softly.

"For what?" I asked, taken aback by the apology. 

"What I said to you. I didn't mean it in the way you think, Tay." His eyes are apologetic.

"You have nothing to apologize for," I murmur. "You've been honest with me. I had no right to be upset."

"Are you kidding? You had every right to be upset. I'm not trying to send you mixed signals, but I know that is what I'm doing. It's so fucking hard not to get attached to you. It may even be too late. I meant what I said. I do regret it. I regret doing it because I know it's hurting you. You deserve better than that... then me." Chance swallows hard and buries his face in his hands. "Every time we spend time together, we get a little closer no matter what it is we're doing. I can't seem to stop it. This is why I didn't even want to try being friends with you. You can't be friends with someone who does things to you that nobody else ever has. I'm completely fucking losing it over you."

Every single thing he said matches exactly what I've been feeling. I want to throw myself at him, but I don't. I fist the pillow beneath my head. "What things?" I breathe. I know what things, but I want to hear him say it. 

"You know what I'm talking about because you feel it too. I see it every single day in your eyes, and it's so fucking hard to ignore. Every time you get close, I feel your heart beating just as fast as mine does. I've never had any girl turn me on in less than sixty seconds either as you did." He chuckles. I bite my lip to hide the smile that wants to spread across my lips. "I'd suggest keeping our distance from each other, but I'm too involved with you for that now. I'm selfish and beginning not to care if it hurts us when I'm gone."

Tears begin to build in my eyes. "I wish you could stay," I murmur. "I'd give anything to see you stay."

He sighs and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into him. I bury my face into the crook of his neck and wrap a leg around his waist. "Me too," He whispers in my ear and kisses my cheek softly. The thought of him going away tears me apart inside. I pull back to look at him. His hand trails slowly up my bare thigh. All I can seem to think about is kissing him. He brings his hand up resting it against my cheek. His thumb traces my bottom lip for a moment and without hesitation, he quickly captures my lips with his. The kiss is sweet but there is no reassurance in it. We have now, but we're never promised any day after this and he has made that clear. He could leave any day.