Beautifully Awake(53)

The last thing I wanted was to be the source of more drama between Chase and his parents. “Chase, it’s fine. I’m sure your mother was just curious,” I lied.

Constance looked me up and down once more before she turned back to Chase. “Yes, darling, curious. How could I not be curious about the woman vying for my son’s attention? And from the looks of it, vying for your extended line of credit. To my knowledge, albeit limited in the area, social workers can’t usually afford ... couture.”

I was stunned, floored actually. Totally freaking flabbergasted. What a bi-atch. Shit. This was his mother.

“E-nough, Mother.” Chase articulated the words so slowly. It looked like fire should have been simultaneously spraying out of his mouth.

If her son’s blatant contempt affected her in any way, she definitely didn’t show it. She curled her Juvederm enhanced lips into a fake smile. “Greg darling, let’s give Lili the tour. Chase go say hello to our guests, they’re in the formal living room.”

“You go be with your guests, and I’ll show Lili around. We’ll come and say hello in a couple of minutes.” Chase possessively pulled me from his mother’s grasp.



Her eyes pinballed from her husband back to Chase.

“Constance, come, let’s mingle with our guests, give the kids a chance to settle in.” Chase’s father gripped her hand.

“Lili, I look forward to spending time with you,” she said on her exit.

“You as well,” I managed to squeak out before she disappeared down a long hall. I let the breath out that I hadn’t even realized I was holding.

“I’m so sorry, baby. I knew I should have never brought you here. She’s wicked. Please don’t let her scare you off.” His eyes were sad and pleading.

“She’s um … okay.” What could I say? She was his mother. “Don’t worry, she won’t scare me off. I promise.”

He laughed out loud and squeezed me tight.

“What’s so funny, lovebirds?” Asher strode up to us. “Glad you’re here. Between my parents and yours, I might put a bullet in my head.”

“Wow, that bad, huh?” I grinned.

“She just got a taste of my mother.”

Asher cringed and patted my back. “I’m sure Chase apologized. That’s all you can do with that woman, pick up after the tornado that swirls behind her ... anyway, I want to hear about the rest of your evening.”

“What are you, a fucking girl pining for gossip?”

“No, asshole, I just want to hear how your dinner was.”

“It was great, Asher, everything was delicious.” I got the feeling Chase had no intention of detailing our night’s highlights. “Chase was just about to show me around.”

Asher directed his attention back on Chase. “I can show her around. You better get your ass in there to say hello to everyone before your parents stroke out.”

“Fine. Lil, I’ll be right back and then we’ll get something to eat.” He placed a chaste kiss on my lips before stalking down the hall.

“Come, Lili, this way. I’ve got to show you the library, it really is impressive.”

I followed Asher through an arched doorway at the end of the gallery into a stunning dark wood paneled room with gorgeous inlaid hardwood floors. There were floor-to-ceiling books lining two of the walls and an outside wall of windows that overlooked Central Park. The view was amazing. But what caught my attention was a fourth wall that showcased a stunning brick wood burning fireplace and a beautiful deep stone mantel that housed a collection of what appeared to be family portraits. My eyes were drawn to a photo of a young teenage Chase with his arm casually draped around a stunning girl about the same age. Long blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her head was tipped up, slightly peering directly into Chase’s bright eyes as she laughed. My heart raced at how alive he looked, how innocent and carefree. Their feet were buried in the sand, the ocean at their backs, as their sun kissed glow radiated happiness. The surrounding photos gave me a similar warmth. Some with his parents, but most were gorgeous beach action shots of the two as toddlers and young children; one unmistakably Chase and the other the unidentified blonde.



“They used to love it there.” Asher startled me as he spoke to my back. I wasn’t sure how to respond. I sensed I was supposed to know more than I did. “See that smile, Lili? He was happy then, and in a blink of an eye, it was gone.” I felt the heat from his body as he took a small step closer to me. “You brought it back. I saw it the other night when he smiled at you.” He turned me to face him. “I never thought I could see Chase happy again.”