It Started with a Crush by Piper James

Chapter Ten

Chase

Sage never responded to my text about remaining friends, and I was kicking myself in the ass for even sending it. People who kissed, then said they wanted to be friends were never telling the truth. “Being friends” was a fucking cop out, code for “I’m not interested.”

And that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I was very interested, and I’d only been trying to play it cool so as not to scare Sage off. Hell, even if she refused to date me until next summer when Daniel was no longer in her class, I’d probably wait. It wasn’t like I had other prospects lining up, and even if I did, I was pretty sure none of them would spark the same interest Sage Barlow had.

There was just…something about her. She was gorgeous, of course, with that reddish brown hair and blue eyes. And if I ever got the chance, I was going to count the sprinkling of freckles that peppered her nose and cheekbones. Her long neck begged to be kissed, and everything underneath? Well, I’d just say Sage was definitely my type—if I even had one.

That beauty sparked an instant attraction, one that only grew as I got to know her a little bit through our text messages and our time together at the bar. The way she cared about the people around her made me all warm and gooey inside, particularly when her expression softened as she talked about my son. She was like a mama bird to all her students, and I could see her turning into a bear if anyone so much as lifted a finger to threaten them…including Daniel.

She was funny, too, and not afraid to speak her mind. I just…liked her. A lot. And I was really fucking bummed out that she had this preexisting rule about dating her students’ parents.

If she’d never broken it before, she certainly wasn’t going to break it for me, a guy she barely knew.

“Hey, Chase. Got a minute?”

I looked up from the cabinet I was sanding to see Ryder striding into the kitchen. Dusting myself off, I stood and removed my safety goggles.

“Sure, what’s up?” I asked.

“Belle and I are going to host a dinner party on Saturday,” he said. “Since we eloped to Las Vegas, we never got to have a real wedding reception to celebrate with our friends and family. So, this Saturday. Our house. Six p.m. Can I count you and Daniel in?”

“Of course, brother,” I said, stretching out a hand to shake his. “We wouldn’t miss it.”

He cocked his head, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “You know, Sage will be there.”

I dropped into a squat, picking up the sandpaper and scrubbing it over the wood of the lower cabinets. Better to concentrate on that than look Ryder in the eye as I tried to play it cool.

“And?”

“Ha! I knew it. You like her,” he teased, dropping down beside me and picking up a fresh sheet of sandpaper to help.

“Where did you get that idea?” I asked.

“Well,” he said, his movements halting, “you were smiling like a jackass at the bar the other night, then you both disappeared, and when you came back, she was skittish as a colt and you looked like the cat who ate the canary. You kissed her, didn’t you?”

Fucking Ryder always was observant as hell.

“Yes,” I sighed. “And before you ask, it was amazing. Best kiss I’ve had in years, maybe even ever. But it doesn’t matter.”

“Yeah, when I mentioned it to Belle, she said Sage has some rule about dating the dads of her students.” He cocked his head. “Maybe she’ll break it for you.”

“I doubt that,” I said. “I asked her out and she shot me down. Then I texted her to say no hard feelings, and I hope we can still be friends.”

“Ouch,” he shot back, flinching. “How did she respond to that?”

“She didn’t.”

“It’ll be all right,” he said, slapping me on the back as he stood. “If all else fails, you can try again in nine months, at the end of the school year. I mean, if she’s worth it. That’s a long time to wait.”

He strolled out of the kitchen, whistling a jaunty tune. From deeper in the house, I heard his voice call out to Ethan and Noah, telling them not to make plans for Saturday night.

Ryder was right—nine months was a long time to wait, but I’d already decided before even talking to him that Sage was worth it. All I had to do was keep my head down, stay busy, and concentrate on work. The time would fly by, Daniel would move on to the fourth grade, and I could try again with Sage.

Assuming she didn’t find someone else in the meantime.

Shit. I wish I hadn’t thought of that. Now, I was going to be a nervous wreck for the better part of a year, just waiting to find out through our mutual friends that Sage found love with someone else while I was waiting in the wings like a fucking loser.

Maybe I could ask her to wait for me, too?

Fuck, no. That was a terrible idea. It made me sound too…desperate.

I heaved a sigh and forced myself to concentrate on the cabinets. I would see on Saturday night if Sage was even receptive to talking to me after my lame-ass text message. If she was, then I’d take it from there and decide what to do.

I just really hoped she was. Even if she only wanted friendship, I’d take it.

I liked her that much.

* * *

“Hey,buddy. You almost ready for Uncle Ryder and Aunt Annabelle’s party?”

“Yep,” he said, giving me a big grin as he pulled on his shoes and tied them. “Ready.”

“Are you excited?” I asked, ruffling his hair as he moved to stand beside me.

“I can’t wait to play with Thanos,” he said, grinning.

Thanos was Belle’s French Mastiff, a beast of a dog that Daniel adored beyond measure. A little pang ticked in my chest at the sight of his smile. Daniel was eight, the perfect age to have a dog of his own. But we were basically nomads right now, and without a permanent residence we couldn’t really make that kind of commitment. Plus, this rental house had a “no pets” policy.

Maybe I should search the market for something to buy.

I shook my head. Our home was in Los Angeles. Ryder would be staying here, of course, when we finished the ranch and sold it, but the rest of us would be heading back to L.A. to resume our old lives.

The idea of going home held little appeal to me. With every day that passed, L.A. was feeling less like home, and I struggled to find reasons to go back there. Other than Perry Brothers Construction being located there, there was no reason. No ties. Nothing to draw me back.

Red River, on the other hand, was a little slice of apple pie—all-american and sweet—with several reasons to stay. I loved the slow pace of the place, the woods and the ponds, the sweet southern accents, and the overall friendliness of the community.

Daniel was settling in beautifully at school and making friends. He was happier here than I’d ever seen him, and I knew he’d miss Ryder and Belle when we left to go back to L.A.

Then there was Sage. I knew it was stupid—I’d just met her. But there was something magnetic between us, and I really wanted to see where it would lead. Even if I had to wait nine months.

I needed to talk to Noah and Ethan. I had no desire to close down our business, but the truth was, none of us needed to work. Thanks to Perry Brothers’ success and some smart investments, we had more money than we could spend in our lifetimes. We continued working because we loved our jobs, and we loved being in business together. But, if at the end of this renovation, Noah and Ethan wanted to return to L.A., I’d have to make a choice based on Daniel’s best interests. And mine.

And I had a strong feeling just what that choice would be.