Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 60

-Chase-

What the f**k is so special about this day?

I haven't celebrated my birthday in years.

After talking to mom over the phone and thanking her for her greeting, I turned my phone off. That was how it was every year. My mom's greeting was the only important part of this day.

But this year was different. How could I forget about Sofia. The only other person who never forgets to do something special for me?

Even then, she never missed to surprise me every year. I still kept the cards she gave me. It was stashed in a box in my room at mom's place. My Sunshine never changed.

What she saw this morning looked bad. Carlota was dressed in a man's shirt with her bed hair. She came straight here from her night out with some guy she snagged in a club. Carlota was supposed to fetch a few documents for Eros yesterday. But as always, she liked to piss off her brother.

That pain in Sofia's eyes haunted me all day.

I saw Carlota as an opportunity to break Sofia's heart... for her to hate me, so I didn't deny her assumptions. In fact, I even fuel it with my words.

When she left, I called Rafa to make sure she made it home safely. I thought I did good by pushing her away. 'It was the right thing to do.' I kept telling myself this like a broken record. However, Carlota's words were a sucker punch in my ego. "Where's Sofia?" Carlota asked.

"Gone."

She was in the kitchen. Sofia's cake and gift rested on top of the counter. My chest caved. Her thoughtfulness and love... I don't deserve any ounce of it.

"You let her walk away?" she hissed, parking her hands on her hips. "You're fucking stupid, Chase." Ignoring her, I filled a mug with coffee, glaring at her as I took a sip.

Straight and black. That's how I liked my coffee. But this cup tasted bland. Everything just tasted different these days.

I kept sipping it. I needed the distraction. My feet were itching to go after Sofia, take her in my arms, tell her how sorry I am, that Carlota was only here to fetch the documents Eros needed to sign.

"Is anyone asking for your opinion, bitch?" I retort detachedly. Her face darkened, unentertained by my sarcasm.

"I am a bitch, yeah," she agreed, nose flaring, "but I'm not a coward."

"Enough," I growled. "You got what you need. Fucking leave me alone. "Yeah? You'd like that, don't you? So no one would slap you in the face with the truth.

My eyes slanted. It was a warning, but as expected, that didn't phase Carlota. She had no regard for what anyone felt as long as she got to tell them the truth. She and Eros have that in common.

"Do I need to spell everything out for you? What you want and what everybody wants are two different things?" she closed her eyes and took a deep calming breath. "I'm guilty. I told you she's trouble, but I was wrong. Sofia is good for you, and when did you care what everyone says and thinks? Derek tells you to stay away from his sister, and you're doing what he wants."

"Because it's what I should've done, Carlota."

"Yeah?" She challenged. "Have you considered what Sofia wants?"

"She doesn't know what she's getting into."

"Then tell her, goddammit!" She raised her hands in the air. "It's been years, Chase. Letty is dead. Derek needs to move on, and so do you!"

Her words silenced me. I want to tell her she doesn't know what she's talking about, but she was voicing the thoughts in my head.

'Derek has no right to decide for Sofia,' I realized that after talking with my father.

Although I can't admit it to Carlota, she's making a lot of fucking sense.

My silence infuriated her. Her eyes narrowed to slits. "You're fucking stupid," she murmured, grabbing the manila folder on the counter. "I will leave, but I want to ask you one more question."

I nodded for her to fire away.

"What do you feel about Sofia?"

My brows furrowed. "I care for her.

She groaned, scowling at me. "What do you feel about her?" She pressed. "You'd rather take a bullet than admit it, but you care for me. You cared for Letty. Is that the same with Sofia?"

My molars grind. Carlota smiled as if she had hit a bullseye.

"I slept with another man last night. This," she lifted the shirt she's wearing, "this is another man's clothes, but that doesn't make you angry, right? In fact, you might even feel relieved I am not pinning over you. But does the same thing apply to Sofia? If she sleeps with another man... oh," she beamed, eyes dancing with pure delight as my expression darkened. "What was his name? Andre is it? Since you fucking broke her heart, what if she ran straight into Andre's arms? What would you feel?"

My throat tightened. I couldn't speak. Just thinking of Andre wiping Sofia's tears, the tears I caused her to shed, made my blood boil.

"Just fucking admit that you fell hard for Sofia. There's no harm in being human, even for once, Chase." Carlota sashayed victoriously towards the door. She paused and glanced over her shoulder. "Oh... and thank you for caring about me."

"I don't give a shit about you!" I growled a lie.

She chuckled. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me."

As soon as I stepped inside the cabin, Carlota appeared from the second-floor landing.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I snarled, went to the minibar, and drank the Jacks straight from the bottle.

"So, did you tell her?" She asked excitedly. Once she took in the fresh bruises on my face, her smile faded. "Damn... What the hell happened?" She descended the stairs two steps at a time, went to the downstairs bathroom, and emerged with the first aid kit.. "Derek happened." Carlota cupped my face. I shoved her hands away. "Leave it."

She hissed and gripped my jaw, pressing hard on my bruise. I winced. "Carlota!" I scowled at her.

"Oh, you poor baby," she cooed.

"Leave it!" I groaned.

"Don't be such a p***y, Chase."

I sighed and let her fix my wounds. There was no arguing with her. "How did you even get in?" I winced as she dabbed my lip unceremoniously, wiping the blood.

"I needed a place to crash. Eros is mad at me, so I asked Rafael for the spare keys."

"Since when were you two the best of friends?"

"Since he didn't want to be around his stupid best friend

It's been days since I last saw Rafa. I was too busy wallowing to even notice that he's been

purposely avoiding me...

"Rafael was pretty mad at you, you know."

"I am mad at myself, too."

Once she patched my face, she motioned me to remove my shirt. She shook her head, seeing thefresh purple scars on my torso. "Geez. did you even fight back?"

1 shook my head. I had no intention of fighting with Derek; he knew that. All I really wanted was to

talk to Sofia. Tell her what I feel and ask for her forgiveness.

"What are you going to do now?" Carlota asked,

I kept drinking my whiskey.

Sofia refused to talk to me, and right now, I bet Derek would tell her his version of Letty's story.