Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 21

~Sofia~

I got a breather for the entire week. A rest from the issue back in Boston, from Chase. I got too focused on my work only to have my equilibrium shaken by the sight before me.

Mich, Ana, and I just got out of the coffee shop. We got closer each day, and Ana joined us for a late coffee date. Third-wheeling wasn't so bad after all. They welcomed me as if we'd been friends for a very long time. They had other plans for tonight, and I wanted to get some alone time, drink the wine I brought over the weekend, and probably whisk some pasta and eat chocolate ice cream, lots of the latter.

While waiting for the green light to cross the street, someone called my name. Chills instantly spiraled down my spine. I would recognize that voice even if I was asleep.

I didn't turn. I didn't want to, but the next time I heard my name, he was closer... he was standing beside me. My body went stiff as the lamppost cast yellow light over my head.

"Sofia," Kyle called. His voice is soft and warm, like a blanket on a rainy day. It was filled with longing. At least, that's what I could hear. I was curious to know if it was only in my head or if it was what he truly felt. My judgment couldn't be trusted.

My vision remained glued to the red figure on the pedestrian street light, counting the seconds remaining so I could cross.

"Sofia," he repeated. "Baby girl..."

Holding my emotions in, I faced him. I knew I could not run away from him forever, but that didn't mean it was easy.

He aged. His hair, usually styled to perfection, was a mess framing his face. He grew stubbles, frown lines, and dark bags rimmed his eyes. They were dull, sad. It breaks my heart to see him like this. He lost weight. The shirt he's wearing, one of my many gifts, hangs loose on his shoulder.

I hate that he looked like a wreck. He had no right to look worse than me. He was the one who broke my heart. He should be okay, not devastated like this.

"Why are you here, Kyle?" I asked, giving myself a pat on the shoulder for keeping a steady tone. Deep inside, I was breaking. I'm afraid a few more words would p*ick the delicate bubble I surrounded my heart with.

"Can we talk?" he rasped, looking at the pedestrians passing by. He glanced at the pedestrian signals. It was time to cross the street.

I bit my lip. My mind was already on the other side, but my body remained cemented under the lamppost. "Talk about what?" I kept my tone passive.

"Us," he said. A two-letter word that used to mean the world to me.

"Is there still an 'us?"" I puffed, my emotions slowly spilling out.

"Please," he begged, his eyes beseeching. He tucked his hands in his pocket, biting his lower lip. "I missed you."

I wanted to say I missed him, too. I wanted to feel his arms around me once more. But what will I achieve from that? The fact remains the same. Katerina is carrying his child. They're getting married. She is his present and future. I used to own that part of his life. I used to be part of his life. Not anymore. I am his past. "Is that all you want to say?" I glanced at my wristwatch. The numbers were blurry. I needed to get away from him, or he'd see me break down. I don't want that.

His eyes widened, hurt coating his face. He smiled, not hiding his sadness.

This man is different from the Kyle Andrews feared by lawyers in court. He wore his vulnerability, sporting it like he was the one who got his heart stabbed with betrayal.

"I'm not marrying Katerina, Sofia. There's only one woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. She's looking at me right now. I hurt her. I broke her heart, but I'm here to win her back."

I bit my lower lip. His words caressed my heart like a fiddle to a string, making it hum in delight.

"Letting you go was a mistake. I'm not going back to Boston without you."

"Kyle," I choked. My throat was rough like sandpaper. "What are you aiming for? I'm not enough for you because you wouldn't have gotten Katerina pregnant if I was. Just let me go and move on."

He shook his head, reaching for me. I was frozen. My entire body zinged with electricity when he held my hand. "Sofia, you were enough. I have a lot to tell you, but I cannot do that here. Let's talk somewhere... private."

I couldn't breathe. Since Jessica mentioned the possibility of Kyle showing up here in Rio, I wrote a script in my head, things that I wanted to say to him. All the anger, all the pain that kept me awake at night, that made breathing a struggle, that made waking up every day a feat hard to achieve.

I pulled my hand, but was too weak to break free from the touch I missed so badly. "Please," I whispered, pleading. "Just leave me alone, Kyle... I can't do this again."

"Sofia..." he drew me closer, my wobbly legs moving at his command, but an arm around my waist kept me from falling into Kyle's arms.

"You heard her," danger lingered beneath Chase's baritone. His hold on my waist was tight enough to leave me bruised.

Kyle's pleading looked morphed into confusion and anger. The shadow of the man I used to know came up front. "Who's this?" he glanced at me, his gaze sharper than a knife.

"Great question," Chase said, looking down at me and kissing my forehead. "Who's this f*cker holding your hand, Sunshine? I told you to wait for me inside the shop."

I leaned on Chase, drawing strength from him as I pulled my hand from Kyle's hold. "Someone I used to know," said, my heart breaking at the pain that hazed Kyle's face.

He masked it quickly, glowering at Chase. "I don't know who you are, yet you know who I am. Don't you think that's a little unfair?"

Chase kept his typical passive face on, regarding Kyle with an intense glare. "Trust me, Kyle Andrews. Not knowing who I am is the best place for you. Stay there, and you'll be fine."

I don't know who's more surprised by Chase's statement between Kyle and me.

How did he know who Kyle was?

Before Kyle could reply, before I could ask my question, Chase dragged me with him. His motorcycle was parked a few steps illegally away from the lamppost.Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on FindNovel.net. Visit FindNovel.net to read the complete chapters for free. He grabbed the helmet and gently placed it over my head, securing the lock under my chin. He tossed his legs over his Harley and waited for me to climb on that beast.

Not giving it another thought, I used Chase's shoulder as leverage and did the one thing that scared me the most apart from getting my heart broken. I rode a motorcycle.