Free Trust by Aubrey St. Clair Page A

bikini
and I'm standing right there.  I lean forward and give him a kiss, meaning for
it to be quick but he pulls me a bit closer, letting it linger. 
     
    "I don't want to
mess up your makeup," I say, pulling back.  There are a lot of people
standing around and I'm not sure I want all the eyes on us.  But my excuse is
partially true as well.  No reason to give those girls a reason to come back. 
The photographer approaches so I resume my place at the back of the room to
watch.
     
    The pictures continue for
a few more minutes before I hear the notification sound of a text message
coming from my purse.  I fish around and pull out my phone, remembering I had
meant to call Evelyn back and hoping it was her.  My phone is blank, no new
messages.  I'm confused for a second and then I remember Chase's phone is in my
purse as well.  I pull it out and click the display to see the last message.
     
    11:31 AM Denise: So do
you think you can ditch Lila at some point tomorrow so we can get together?
     

 

     
     
    I stare at the phone in
my hand as a million different thoughts roll through my head.  Denise is a
bitch, so it could mean anything.  It doesn't mean that Chase is on board with
what she's asking.  And yet, the way it's written, it almost sounds as if they
were having a conversation about it.  Like it was something they had been
discussing and she was just waiting for a final answer.  Of course, it could be
written that way on the off chance that I pick the message up, or see his
phone, just to piss me off and cause a fight.  That definitely seems like
something Denise was capable of, but I doubt it.  She would have no reason to
think I would have seen that particular message.  Although maybe there were
others all worded similarly.  I know it's an invasion of privacy, but I have to
know more.  If they are having a conversation about me, if he's still having
any kind of physical relationship with her, I deserve to know.
     
    I click to turn his phone
on but I'm prompted for a password.  The only message unblocked is the current
one. 
     
    Damn .
     
    Taking a deep breath to
steady my pounding heart, I force away the negative thoughts.  I don't know
anything.  I shouldn't have looked at the message in the first place.  I have
to trust that Chase will tell me if Denise is up to any funny business.  Then
again, I've only known Chase for less than a week and who knows how long she's
known him.  Can I really trust him at all?  He's a poker player.  He makes his
money bluffing, which is really just another word for lying.  He makes money by
keeping his emotions in check and his thoughts to himself.  Can you ever really
know someone like that?  I suddenly miss Evelyn.  My best friend always had my
back, and I feel shitty again for ignoring her all week.
     
    "You ready?" 
Chase's voice startles me and I jump.  "Shit, sorry.  You okay?"
     
    "Yeah," I nod
and then work up a smile.  "Just thinking about a friend back home." 
Technically true.
     
    Chase nods, putting his
hand on me so that he can rub empathetic circles on my back.  It makes me feel
instantly better.  Harrison would have probably made some joke about me missing
my friends but Chase can instantly tell that I just need a bit of reassurance
and compassion.  I must be misreading the whole thing with Denise.  He'll tell
me about it in his own time if it's anything.
     
    We leave the photo shoot
and hop into his waiting limo on our way to his house.  He's sitting across
from me on the bench seats as usual.
     
    "Sorry about those
girls."  He shoots his half smile at me as he reaches forward to squeeze
my knee.  "Sometimes fans can get a little personal.  They feel like they
know you so well after seeing you on TV that they forget you don't know them at
all."
     
    I shrug.  I'm over it. 
I'm more disturbed by the message from Denise than a couple of fan girls.  I
reach into my purse and pull out his wallet and phone, handing