It Started with a Crush by Piper James

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chase

Last night was the longest night of my life. After Sage nearly spun out her car trying to get away from me as quickly as possible, I ran back into the restaurant to pay for the drinks we’d ordered. We didn’t even get them before the Turners showed up and ruined the whole night.

No. They ruined everything.

By the time I got back to my truck and out on the road, it took me ten minutes of recklessly fast driving to catch up to Sage. I followed her home to make sure she made it okay, and stopped by the curb, determined to get her to talk to me. But she pulled right into the garage and closed the door behind her before I could even hop down from the truck.

I decided letting her be and giving her time to think everything over was my best strategy, so with a long sigh, I shifted the truck into gear and drove away. Now, I was regretting that choice. I should’ve banged on her door until she couldn’t take it anymore and let me in. Because she wasn’t answering my calls or text messages.

I wiped the sweat from my brow with the back of my arm as I stood and pulled my phone from my pocket. I’d been trying to stay busy, finishing the flooring in the ranch’s family room and replacing all the baseboards in record time. But that didn’t stop me from checking my phone every ten minutes to see if I missed a notification.

I pulled up the text thread between Sage and me, my heart dropping as I read all the messages I sent her that had gone unread between last night and this morning.

Me: Sage, are you okay?

Me: Please, talk to me.

Me: Everything is going to be okay. I promise. I just need you to call me back.

Me: You didn’t break any regulations, Sage. She can’t get you fired. She’s crazy if she thinks she can.

Me: Sage, I need you to answer me. I need to know you’re okay. That we’re okay.

Me: Please, I’m dying over here.

Me: Good morning, beautiful. I hope you got some sleep. Call me.

Me: I miss you.

There were several calls as well, all of them going straight to voicemail, where I’d left messages saying the same things. I didn’t know if she had her phone turned off, or what, but her radio silence was fucking killing me. And I gave zero fucks about how desperate I sounded. I was desperate.

Somehow, I made it through the day without hunting her down. Well, sort of. I did show up at the elementary school at the end of the day to pick up Daniel rather than letting him ride the bus, as usual. I hoped to catch a glimpse of her, but no such luck. And when Daniel got in the truck, he told me Miss Barlow was absent and the class had a substitute.

Fuck. Now I was really worried.

Instead of going back to the house, I drove us out to Ryder and Belle’s. I knew Daniel would love to see his Aunt Annabelle, and when he realized that’s where we were going, he started talking a mile a minute about the litter of kittens in the barn.

Which reminded me of where I’d been while he saw them the first time. In the bathroom. With my face between Sage’s legs.

Shaking off the memory, I smiled at Daniel’s exuberance and promised to go out and see the kittens with him this time. When we pulled into the drive, I was relieved to see Belle’s car in the open garage. I’d been so distracted, I didn’t even think to call first and make sure they were home.

Belle welcomed us in with a smile, but one look at my face had her squatting down in front of Daniel and excitedly telling him the kittens had opened their eyes. He looked at me with a bright expression, and I told him to go ahead. I’d meet him out there in a little while.

Once he ran out, shouting a hello to Ryder as my brother emerged from the back of the house, Belle took my hand and led me into the living room. Pushing me down onto the sofa, she took a seat in front of me on the coffee table, motioning Ryder down beside her.

“What happened?” she asked without preamble.

“Have you talked to Sage since last night?” I asked.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Did something happen at dinner?”

I slumped back against the couch and spilled everything, telling them the whole sordid story. How close we’d become. How happy we were. How the Turners showed up at the restaurant and ruined everything.

“Assholes,” Belle hissed when I’d finished.

“And now she won’t talk to you?” Ryder asked, cocking his head. “She’s not blaming you for this, is she?”

“I don’t know,” I said honestly, “but I don’t think so. I think she’s more scared. They threatened to have her fired from her job.”

“Bullshit,” Belle said. “No regulations were broken. The school district has no established rules against it. She’s not getting fired.”

“But they could ruin her reputation,” I said. “That’s what she was most worried about. If the Turners start spreading rumors, and people choose to believe them, Sage’s character will be raked over the coals.”

“Who cares?” Ryder interjected.

“Sage cares,” Belle and I said at the same time, and her shoulders drooped.

“But if she’s happy with you…” Ryder said, letting his words trail off.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “This is her livelihood we’re talking about. She loves her job and has a strong reputation of being an excellent educator. It’s a source of pride, and now, that could be damaged.”

Belle shook her head before I finished speaking. “She’ll come around, Chase. I know how happy you’ve made her, and she’ll realize nasty gossip means nothing compared to that kind of happiness.”

“Maybe I should pull Daniel out of Red River and send him to that private school in Oakley,” I suggested.

“Don’t do that,” Belle said gently. “He’s made friends, he loves having Sage as his teacher, and he’s happy.”

“Belle’s right,” Ryder added. “That kid has dealt with this whole move like a champ. You don’t want to make it harder by moving him, again.”

“I know,” I sighed. “It would be selfish of me to put him through that just to try to save my relationship with Sage.”

“Plus,” Belle said, giving me a soft smile, “Sage is kind of a badass. She might’ve freaked out in the moment, but once she gets her head on straight, she’ll handle those assholes with perfection. Just wait and see.”

“I hope you’re right,” I murmured.

“Hey, I hate to bring this up,” Ryder said, scrubbing a palm across the back of his neck, “but realistically, how long will this thing between you and Sage last, anyway?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, fighting off the irritation his words spiked inside me.

“Don’t get your feathers all ruffled, brother,” he said, holding up his palms in a placating gesture. “I only ask because the ranch is almost fully renovated. We’ll be putting it on the market soon.”

“And?” I asked, not getting his point.

“And you, Noah, and Ethan will be heading back to Los Angeles. Right?”

“I don’t know, Ryder,” I sighed, the tension draining out of me. “I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately—even before this thing with Sage—and I like it here. Daniel is happy. You’re staying. I’m going to have a new niece or nephew soon, and I don’t want to miss out on watching him or her grow up.”

“What about Ethan and Noah? The company?” Ryder asked, and I could tell he was trying to dampen his excitement at the prospect of us all staying in Red River.

“I don’t know about them. I haven’t discussed it with them yet.”

“Well, whatever you decide, you have our full support,” Belle said.

I nodded absentmindedly. I’d pretty much convinced myself staying here was what would be best for Daniel and me, but now? What if Sage really broke things off between us? Could I stay here, knowing I’d see her all the time? Knowing the pain it would cause me?

Things would be different in eight months, when Daniel finished the third grade and was no longer in Sage’s class. But what if she decided dating any parent at the school was a bad idea? What if she found someone else, someone she could see and be seen with without issue?

I couldn’t handle it. My hands fisted in my lap as I imagined seeing her with some other man. I’d fucking lose my shit.

Maybe going back to L.A. wasn’t such a bad idea, after all.

I shook my head. I needed to stop courting disaster. Until Sage broke her silence and told me what she was thinking, I’d bide my time. Finish the ranch and put it on the market. Enjoy my family before it inevitably split up.

“Dad! Come see the kittens. You promised,” Daniel shouted as he ran into the room, startling all three of us.

“You’re right, buddy. I did,” I said, pushing myself to my feet and letting him pull me from the room.

I followed him out to the barn, promising myself I’d stop trying to convince Sage to talk to me. If she needed time, I could give it to her.

I sent up a silent prayer that she wouldn’t need too much time, because the not-knowing was killing me. It felt like my soul was being crushed, and I’d never felt this way before.

I didn’t know what it meant, but I sure as hell knew I didn’t like it. Not one bit.