Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 68

~Sofia~

Trees lost their leaves, dried and swept away by the autumn wind. The temperature dropped as winter came, and snow blanketed the streets in white. Christmas has gone by, and the year has changed. As I walked through the city's footpath, the hum of love month sailed into the air. Last year, at this time of the year, I had been busy preparing what gift I would give Kyle. Now he's about to wed Katerina.

I shivered as a heavy wind swept by. I pulled down my beanie to cover my ears and almost ran inside Sweet Caroline, an Irish pub in downtown Boston. Scanning the crowded pub, I easily found Georgia and Jessica. They occupied the couch facing the fireplace. Martini glasses were on the table in front of them, along with a bowl of pretzels, pasta, and pizza.

Georgia waved at me, grinning wildly. Jessica pursed her lips, rolling her eyes.

"You're late," Jessica said accusingly. I draped my coat on the couch's armrest and unwrapped the scarf around my neck.

"By ten minutes," I smiled sweetly.

Honestly, leaving my apartment had been a struggle. It's February 13. I don't need a reminder that love is in the air. I don't need to surround myself with dating couples in this pub or walk along pairs holding hands in the street.

But Jessica had the bright idea of dragging Georgia and me for a girl's night out. Guilt-tripping was her thing. She said she was willing to give up her date to make me happy. What kind of friend was I to neglect her sacrifices? "You're paying," my best friend pointed a French fry at my face.

My eyes narrowed. "You're the one who invited me!"

Georgia patted my shoulder and handed over a glass of dry martini. "She did say the last one to arrive will pay the bill."

I groaned. It's nice that Georgia and Jessica are getting along so well. In fact, the three of us even have a group chat now, and Jessica indeed said that.

"Fine," I huffed and toyed with the olives in my glass. "Thanks for going out of your way to go on a date with me, but I was honestly fine watching Jack Ryan in the safety of my apartment."

Jessica has been seeing Franko, a guy from the finance department, for over a month now. I know he asked Jessica to spend the weekend at his place. She couldn't stop blabbering about all the details of her dating life, so how could I forget? Georgia and Rafael have been in constant communication since she returned from Rio. It's going well, is what Georgia said.

I hadn't talked to Rafael since leaving Rio four months ago. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on FindNovel.net. Visit FindNovel.net to read the complete chapters for free. That's also how long I haven't heard from Chase. I wasn't avoiding him by any means. It was hard not to hear his name or news about him when he's the biggest client of LBPR. And Georgia seemed to get off on reminding me how nice it had been working as Chase's publicist.

'He is probably the easiest client I've handled!' Georgia exhaled at one point.

I did not have the heart to argue with her. I did not have the energy to tell her how hard it had been to handle Chase and how we ended up getting along.

'He is, was all I said to Georgia.

A day didn't go by that he hadn't crossed my mind. There were moments when my fingers hovered over his number, but I chickened out before I could press the call button.

'What would I say to him?' I was the one who pushed him away. I left him thinking it was the best way to handle things then. These are the consequences of my actions. I miss him so bad.

"You are late. You're paying. End of conversation." Jessica insisted. "Did you get the invitation to Katerina and Kyle's wedding, too?" she asked. 68 Love Month

Katerina gave birth to a healthy baby boy on January 27, and their wedding is scheduled for the 28th. "I did," Georgia and I said simultaneously. "Are we going?" Georgia directed her question at me, chomping on a slice of triple cheese pizza.

"I'm not obliged to be there," I said. "I am not her publicist."

Jessica groaned. With Georgia taking over for me in Rio, Jessica headed the team handling Katerina's case. She had the opposite experience with Georgia.

Katerina was a demanding client. She constantly blames Jessica if the paparazzi get a shot at her baby bump. It was her fault for traveling a lot and attending fashion shows.

If I could, I would've helped Jessica with Katerina, but the circumstances don't allow me to. Besides, Katerina wasn't subtle in hating the idea of me working for her. That's why I was surprised to receive her invitation to their wedding, not that I dreamed of going. I would rather eat nails than have their guest watch my every move at my ex's wedding.

"Well, I have to be there," Jessica grumbled, calling a server. She ordered three more glasses of martini. "I'm just grateful that my time as her publicist is about to end. And after that, I get to lounge in my parent's cabin.

"When?" I asked.

"About that-" Georgia shited in her seat.

"Hey. You promised me two weeks off." She narrowed her eyes on Georgia. "That's why I accepted to lead the team for Katerina."

"What week off? What promise?" I pressed. It's my first time hearing this.

"You didn't tell her?" Jessica gave Georgia a stinky eye. "Lewis offered me the Montiero project, and Georgia promised me two weeks off if I declined so she could 'volunteer' in my stead." She emphasized on 'volunteer' with an air quote. "Oh," my mouth hung open. Everything makes sense now.

Georgia's cheeks heat up. She hid her face by sipping her drink. "It's not like you wanted to leave Franko either."

Jessica indulged in having Georgia cornered. "At least I didn't move countries just to flirt with my crush."

"Hey," Georgia's cheeks were beet red. "I was there for work."

These two were getting along so well. They were professionals in front of our colleagues, but when it's just the three of us, they can't stop bickering like teenagers, teasing each other whenever they see the chance. "What's the real deal between you and Rafael?" I nudged Georgia's shoulder.

She set her glass down on her lap, skimming the rim with her fingers. "We talk almost every day, and he's pretty sweet," she pouts. "But I haven't heard from him for days."

"Maybe he changed his mind and has other plans for Valentine's," Jessica commented, snickering when Georgia's face fell.

She really liked Rafael, and I have been rooting for them since they met in Rio.

"I don't think Rafael is like that," I said. "Maybe he's just busy."

Georgia sighed. "What about you and Chase? Have you heard from him?"

I shook my head no.

"Have you tried calling him?" Jessica asked.

"What for?" I reached for a French fry and munched it in one go. "He knew where I am, how to reach me. It means he's not ready or won't ever be ready."

It was nice to have people I could speak freely about what I felt. Somehow it lessens this heaviness in my chest, the regret I'm feeling for not talking to him when he was so willing to open up. Jessica moved from the single couch to my side. They enveloped me in a hug.

I patted their arms. "I'm fine," I murmured as if saying it aloud would make it real.

"We know," Georgia said. "This just doesn't make sense at all. I saw how Chase missed you when you left. He asked me about you a few times."

It made my heart swell and ache at the same time. 'What's holding him back, then? Is he still blaming himself for Letty's death? How long will it take him to realize that we cannot change the past?'