Free Finding Chase (Chasing Nikki) by Lacey Weatherford Page A

the first available punching bag and started hitting it as hard as I could, not caring who was there or watching. All the blind rage that needed venting spilled from me as I hammered away, slamming my fists into the bag. It swung about wildly as I pummeled it over and over. The skin on my knuckles split open, leaving blood smears behind, but I kept going, too pissed off to stop.
    I hated myself for betraying both Nikki and Brittney with my actions. I didn’t deserve either of them. Everything inside me was too dark, tainted with something that smothered the good it touched. People like me didn’t deserve to be happy, which is why I lost everyone I cared about. Well, if I was going to lose Brittney, it would be because she was angry with me, not because she was dead. I was determined to never allow myself such close attachment to another person that losing them would destroy me this badly.
    Sweat dripped down my face as I poured all my exertion into beating the swinging device as if my life depended on it. I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to keep going until I couldn’t feel anything. I needed to find that place of blissful numbness once again.
    There was no way for me to tell how long I’d been there when strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me away from the bloody bag. “That’s enough slugger. It’s dead now. It’s dead.” Brett’s voice said softly.
    I dropped to the mat, breathing heavily. The area had cleared but several of my teammates stood around the edges of the room casting cautious glances at me. I wondered which of them had called Brett.
    He settled down next to me. “Talk to me, Chase. What can I do for you, bro?”
    I felt like I was going to start sobbing. “Get me some damn blunt,” I croaked. “I can’t take this shit anymore.”
     

Chapter Ten
    I was in bed with the covers over my head in an attempt to block the brightly shining sun. I didn’t have practice this afternoon, and I was determined to stay inside as long as possible. There was no way I was going to risk running into Brittney, who’d managed to safely vacate my room before Brett returned home with me last night.
    Brett had tried talking to me while he bandaged my cracked and swollen knuckles. I’d managed to conclude that Brittney was the one who’d called him. He’d deduced I’d gone to the gym, and it ticked me off further that everyone seemed to read me so well.
    My phone buzzed on my nightstand, and I groaned, debating whether or not to check it, but curiosity finally got the better of me. I felt a brief shot of panic when Greg’s number popped up. He rarely called me from his cell phone, preferring to join my mom’s calls instead.
    “Hello?” I answered, hoping she was all right.
    “Hey, kiddo. How you holding up?”
    I relaxed instantly at his easy demeanor. He wouldn’t be so laid back if something was wrong.
    “I’m doing okay, I guess. How are you and Mom?”
    “Really?” he continued, ignoring my question. “Because I heard you beat a punching bag to a bloody pulp last night. I thought maybe I should call down and see how things were going.”
    I was going to kill Brett. “I’m fine. Just needed to blow off some steam is all. How’re the wedding plans going? Everything still working out? It’s not too long now.”
    “It’s still too long if you ask me. I’m more than ready to be married to your mom. I hate watching her things move in here without her.”
    I smiled, even though I didn’t want to. “I’m glad the two of you found each other. She seems really happy when she’s with you.”
    “I’m glad you think so. I never thought I’d be this lucky again. I was prepared to live my life as an old unmarried bachelor.”
    There was a pregnant pause between us as his words sunk in.
    “Is that really a bad thing?” I asked, needing to know. I’d never gone to Greg for advice—outside of some casual football talk—but suddenly, given his history and how he’d lost his