Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 87

-Sofia-

"Oh, would you look at that," I sing song, turning over the pink envelope stashed with the mail.

Elise sat across from me on the kitchen island, eating mixed fruits for breakfast. Her blue eyes pinned

I showed her the name written on the pink envelope. "El... el... Lis... Elise," she read it slowly, eyes squi "Someone sent you a letter, hun." I rounded the island, handing her the letter.

Excitement sparked in her eyes. "Really, Mommy?"

"Yes. Look, it has your name."

She passed the letter back to me. "Read it, Mommy. Come on, come on!"

th curiosity, picking the strawberry from her bowl and chewing slowly.

"Alright, alright."I giggled, opening the letter. Elise waited patiently as I ripped the seal and pulled out the cord. Standing beside her, I read the letter. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on FindNovel.net. Visit FindNovel.net to read the complete chapters for free. "Dearest Elise. Mommy showed me the video of your recital, and I was so s

about this. "You were amazing, Princess, and before any boy could ask you out on a date, can daddy b "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Elise's dainty fingers, wet from the fruits she was eating with her bare hands, gripped r hopeful eyes blinking up at me.

"Of course you can, honey." I pinched her cheeks.

"Yey! I'm so excited! Mommy, help me get pretty! I'll go on a date with Daddy!"

issed it. To make up for the promise I broke, will you go on a date with me?" Elise giggled beside me. My eyes were wide as if this was my first time hearing first date? If your answer is yes, I'll pick you up in an hour. Love, Daddy."

arm as she squealed. She had the strength of four kids, shaking my frame. "Oh!!! Can I go on a date with Daddy, Mommy? Please, please, please." She pouted,

I giggled, jealous of her excitement. In the eyes of a child, these small gestures meant the world. So when Chase asked me if this was a good idea, I knew he'd steal Elise's heart instantly. "Finish your breakfast, then we can get ready for your date with Daddy, okay?" "Okay. Okay!" she hummed as she finished her breakfast, her feet dangling from the stool. up and down excitedly.

The doorbell buzzed. Elise hopped off the pink vanity chair in her room. "He's here! He's here!" she ju "Easy, love." I giggled, following her outside, s*atching her bag, shoes, and jacket from the bed. Elise's "Mommy, faster!" she waved at me impatiently as I closed her bedroom door behind me. "Go ahead, be careful with the stairs."

She nodded, holding on to the railings at the second buzz of the doorbell.

For her date was a pink dress with little ruffles on the lining. The cute little bow on the strap matched the ribbon on her hair.

I reached the bottom of the stairs just in time for Elise to open the door. I pulled out my phone and started recording Chase and Elise. Chase stood tall in a white Henley and dark blue jeans. He held a bouquet of pink roses, kneeling before Elise, who kept bouncing on her heels, biting her nails. She was so excited.

"You look so pretty, Princess," Chase presented the flowers to Elise. "I got you these flowers," he said, looping his brawny arms around our daughter's tiny waist, drawing her for a hug. "Pink roses, your favorite color."

Elise accepted the flowers with a huge grin, smelling the roses. "They smell nice, Daddy," she said wistfully. She threw her arms around Chase's neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "Thank you, Daddy. I love you." Chase glanced up at me, mist gathering on the seams of his eyes. "I love you too, Princess."

I held back the emotions threatening to burst out of my chest, so glad I could capture this moment.

"Are you ready?" Chase pulled away, quickly gathering himself back together.

"Uhm, yeah," Elise looked up at me. I helped her put on her boots and jacket, finishing her look with the body bag.

"We won't be out too late," Chase wink at me.

I giggled, mouthing, "I love you." He glanced down at Elise. She was one step down the threshold, busy checking the content of her bag. Chase gave me a peck. "And I love you," he murmured against my lips.

I slid a hand down his chest, hoping I could tell him how much I adore him for being so good to our daughter. We both have our imperfections as parents, but I wouldn't have him any other way.

I recorded them again, hand in hand, walking towards Chase's Jeep. Elise waved goodbye and threw me a flying kiss before they sped out of the driveway. I stood on the threshold until I couldn't see the taillight of the car anymore. Once they were out of sight, I prepared for my date with Georgia.

It was Chase's idea that I do something fun, go out with my friends, pamper myself. My kind of 'me time' these days was being held up in the kitchen, browsing the internet for interesting recipes for Elise and me to make during our baking sessions. But Chase made me promise to treat myself today. He even told me to use his card. He wanted to make sure I spent money on myself.

"I miss going out with you," Georgia said, sipping her banana and berries smoothie.

We just finished getting our hair done. I needed a trim, but Georgia urged me to get my hair colored ash gray. I used to be adventurous with my hair, but I learned to love my natural hair color more since I got pregnant. But for the sake of 'me time,' I agreed with Georgia. She changed her fiery red hair to dark brown, making her brown eyes stand out more. Before exiting the salon, she had the bright idea of sending a snapshot of us to Jessica. Jessica was so jealous she was out of town for work.

"Me too." I toyed with the straw of my chocolate strawberry smoothie. "How have you been, George?"

Georgia and I saw each other often in get-togethers. She and Jessica always come by the house to see Elise, but we never get to talk like we used to do.

"I'm okay," she said, avoiding looking into my eyes.

I pursed my lips, pinning her with an intense stare saying, 'But you don't look okay."

She sighed, gazing towards the glass window of the cafe. We chose a store close to the mall since we plan on shopping later. She peered at the pedestrians milling under the May summer heat of Boston.

When I realized she wouldn't say anything, I reached over and gripped her hand. Her eyes met mine. I smiled at her, hoping to ease the tension on her shoulder. She's not okay. She's doing her best to keep it together, and I wish she would open up to me. She'd been there for me when I went home devastated after Rio.

"I'm here. You know that, right?" I smiled softly.

She turned her palms over, squeezing my hand. "I know."

She heaved a deep breath, masking the loneliness in her eyes with enthusiasm, a routine she had perfected over the last few months. "So, are you ready for your bachelorette party?" she wiggled her brows.

Jessica and Georgia volunteered to plan my bachelorette party. "Please tell me you two didn't hire male. strippers." She answered with a giggle, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes. I groaned. "I guess it's only. fitting since Eros and Rafa plan to pay for strippers at Chase's bachelor party."

Georgia's smile faltered. "Those man wh*res! Maybe we should just crash at Chase's party."

I laughed. "That would be epic."

Chase explained he didn't want to be near any strippers. A drink and time with his best mates were enough for him. I told him I understood he needed to have a good time with his friends. Besides, I trust Chase to know limits in having 'fun." My feet were killing me by the time we finished shopping. I bought a dress for my bachelorette party, a shirt for Chase, and new boots for Elise. Georgia and I parted ways from the mall parking since her place was opposite mine.

While driving home, I noticed a black sedan tailing me. I frowned, remembering the same car parked in the mall parking. Maybe I was being paranoid, but while watching Chase and Elise drive away from the house this morning, I noticed a sedan parked two houses down from our place. Since it's a common car, I could be wrong.

Just to be sure, I stopped by the next gasoline station, releasing a breath when the Sedan continued driving along. Still, I slipped out and entered the convenience store, hoping to calm my pounding heart. This must be the result of watching too much CSI and being obsessed with Jack Ryan.

I went from aisle to aisle, picking random things and throwing them in my basket to get my mind off my mini panic attack. I mean, why would someone follow me, right? From our house to the mall? That's just crazy. Thoughts still in disarray, I went to the counter and paid for my purchase. The guy behind the register eyed me warily as I placed an energy bar, a bottle of soy sauce, a pack of sugar, tapes, and a pack of triple-A batteries.

I smiled gingerly at the cashier, heat blanketing my cheeks under his probing gaze. As he punched each item, I darted a sideways glance outside the convenience store. I did a double take, a black sedan was parked across the street.

I partly heard the cashier say the amount I must pay. With shaking hands, I handed over Chase's credit card. His brows furrowed, swiping the card. "Are you alright?"

"W... what?" I stuttered, eyes pinging back outside the store. A guy in all black stepped out of the Sedan. He was wearing a baseball cap, concealing his face. The distance between the store and his car was too far for me to recognize him. "You've gone pale," the cashier murmured, bagging my purchase.

I didn't bother replying to him, s*atching the black bag, and s*ip*d out of the convenience store. All Black Guy leaned against his car, perching up when the door chimed closed behind me. My car was parked close to the gas pump. There were people around, and it was broad daylight. If he'd do something to me, there would be witnesses, but that didn't ease this unsettling feeling in my belly when the guy started crossing the street. Heart lodged in my throat, I pulled out my key fob and bound for my car. My hands were shaking terribly as I opened the door. The keys slipped from my hand, falling onto the concrete.

"F*ck!" I cursed under my breath, crouching to pick them up. I froze when a shadow loomed over me. If this guy was here to get me, I wouldn't go down without a fight. When he gripped my shoulder, I held the black bag tightly and swung it with all my might as I stood, hitting the guy in the head.

"Aw! Jesus, Sofial"

My eyes were wide as a saucer, glaring at Miles. He pressed a hand over his cheeks. The bag ripped from the force of my strike, its content spilling on the ground.

"Miles! What the f*ck!?" I screamed at him, gaining curious gazes from onlookers. "Don't sneak up

on me like that!" I scolded him, looking back to the other side of the street.

The Sedan was gone.

"I always sneak up on you," Miles grumbled; his cheeks were red, peering down at the items around our feet. "Are you turning coffee into water again?" My brother asked teasingly, oblivious to the horror I thought was coming my way. He crouched down, picking up my st*pid purchases one by one. "What are you up to?" "What?" I asked, running a hand through my hair, my heart pounding against my breastbone.

"Soy sauce, batteries? You experimenting or something?"

"Uhm, no. what?" I swallowed hard. "What are you doing here?"

"I'll speak with Derek and Leo," he pointed toward the monster bike behind my car. "We plan on

turning our old house into a garage."

"Oh," I murmured, wetting my parched lips. I remember them talking about it in our group chat. "You gonna stay here for good?"

He shrugged. "Maybe. You sure you're okay? You look pale."

"Yeah." I glanced over my shoulder again, wondering if it was all in my head.

My g*d. I must be going crazy. Chase must be right. I need a life outside the house.