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CHAPTER 36: UNSPOKEN UNDERSTANDING
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Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 37: INTERRUPTED CONFESSIONS
After a brief internal debate, I decide to take his outstretched hand, allowing him to pull me to my feet. I start removing my clothes until I'm left in just my bra and underwear.Of course, Max couldn't resist smirking at the sight of my Betty Boop underwear. In my defense, Avery had picked them out, and given the time constraints and my disinterest in getting involved with anyone tonight, I hadn't bothered to change into a different pair.Please, like you'd ever change them regardless.Touche."Adorable," he remarks, winking at me. I roll my eyes."I was in a hurry," I reply with a slight smile forming at the corner of my mouth before playfully pushing him off the dock.We both laugh as he resurfaces with a wet head, and I dive into the lukewarm water, relishing the sensation of it enveloping me from head to toe. Moments later, I feel Max's hands on my back, helping me stay afloat. I open my eyes to see him smiling down at me, and I stretch my arms out, leaning back in the water."I
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 38: THE INTERVENTION
Max had initially seemed willing to cut the guys some slack, even smirking during their banter. However, at the mention of a name I had learned Max despised, his demeanor transformed into one of complete fury, his jaw clenching tightly."What?" Mason mumbled, lowering his head to look at his laced fingers. "Better him than us.""Get off the jet skis and get the hell home, all four of you," Max ordered in a low, dangerously strict tone, leaving no room for further discussion.The guys wasted no time, jumping into the water and swimming back to the dock as quickly as possible, leaving the jet skis behind."I'm going to tear him apart," were Max's final words before he started swimming back to the dock. I did my best to keep up with his rapid pace.Max effortlessly hoisted himself up from the water, his back muscles contracting and loosening within a single glance. He swiftly dressed himself and headed back to the party with his fists clenched, clearly intent on confronting Ryan. As I dr
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 39: UNLEASHED FRUSTRATION
I may not have been a time management expert, but waiting two hours for someone who promised to meet me once they finished their task felt like pushing the limits. Max had never specified how long it would take to sort things out with Ryan, but my patience held as I waited. It wasn't until I received a message from Kalix that everything changed....Kalix Miller: Change of plans, call me when you can.I dialed Kalix's number, curious about the sudden change."Isabella," Kalix answered in hushed tones. Why the secrecy? "We managed to leave the lake house without a major confrontation, but Max," he paused, "he's absolutely furious. He told me to call you and tell you to take his car back to your dorm because he needs solitude right now. But I can't leave him like this, Isabella. I've known him for seven years, and I've never seen him like this. 'Angry' doesn't even begin to describe his current state.""So, you're most likely holed up somewhere, whispering, to get me to come over withou
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 40: FEISTY
"Did you make sure to handle all your last-minute assignments?" Avery inquires as we approach the final ATO party of the semester.Today is Tuesday, November 22nd, also known as the eve of the notorious five-day Thanksgiving break. Following tradition, ATO is throwing their last extravagant party of the semester since when classes resume, all students—including myself—will be engrossed in studying, either to maintain their current grades or perform academic miracles to reach their desired grade thresholds. Since we'll sorely miss the ATO parties, Avery and I easily agreed there's no way we could skip this one."Yes, ma'am, even that torturous analysis of Wright's Sonnet 106," I reply, recalling the painstaking task."Tell me about it," Avery sighs. "Between that and submitting the final draft of my Winter Showcase composition for approval before the big event, this half-week has been brutal.""Yeah, in more ways than one," I add, fully agreeing."Hey," Avery says, nudging my arm as we
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 41: CONFESSIONS IN THE BATHROOM
I've been incredibly patient, waiting for him to address this draining situation, hoping he'd do or say something, but it's been nearly a month of tension between us. I'm at the point where I'm ready to move on, with or without him."First of all, you locked us in here, not me. And secondly, 'not do' what exactly? We're not even doing anything in the first place, and that's the problem. You were busy with your business downstairs, and I was doing my thing upstairs until you came up here and messed everything up. Right now, the only thing we should be doing is having an honest conversation to sort out whatever's happening between us. But it seems like that's the last thing you want.""You don't know what I want," he whispers at first, his words barely audible. Then, he raises his voice, saying, "You really don't know what I want. If you had any idea, you wouldn't be saying all this bullshit right now."In that moment, I see an opening to do something I've been wanting to do ever since
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 42: UNWANTED LETTER
He has an affection for me, and upon reflection, that's the clarity I sought—to confirm I wasn't imagining things. I never expected Max to desire a committed relationship with me, especially when I struggled with commitment myself. That understanding predated my decision to confide in him."I've wanted to share my true feelings with you for a few days now, and I finally have. I won't deceive you; I harbor no expectations. I never did. I grasp that you have principles, just as I do, so I genuinely wish the best for you, Max. I can't be more sincere," I conclude. Max stands a few steps away, and I close the distance, placing a soft, lingering kiss on his cheek, savoring the sound of his breath catching as my lips meet his skin."Goodnight, Max," I murmur before turning to unlock the door and exiting the bathroom, hearing Max's exasperated cry of "God damn it" and the door slamming shut behind me.I don't have much time to dwell on it because as soon as I reenter the bedroom, I find Loga
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 43: REVEALING THE PAST
"You doing okay there, Slayer?"…"After your chat with Mom and Alex? Definitely.""I'm proud of you.""Thanks, Buffy. I'm proud of myself too."I picture Buffy flashing one of her signature smiles, and then my thoughts slip into silence. That silence is a welcome respite now more than ever.There's a limit to how many tears one can shed before the accompanying headache becomes unbearable. I reached my limit exactly two hours and thirty-eight minutes ago—a new personal record."New" because I've never cried consecutively for that long about him, and "last" because I won't ever allow myself to cry for that long again. I won't say I'll never cry over him again, period, because I'm only human. An occasional tear may escape down the road, something I can't physically control.But what I absolutely won't permit him to do from this day forward is haunt my mind and heart. Eighteen years have been enough. It'll be challenging, and I'll fall more times than I can count, but I refuse to let him
Thrill of the Chase CHAPTER 44: SURVIVOR'S TALE
"After that incident, she became a frequent visitor at the local hospital, offering excuses like 'I fell down the stairs' or 'I didn't see where I was going,'" I mutter again, still struggling to accept the harsh reality, even though I've recounted this story before. "That's the grim reality when you reside in places like Riverdale, Philippines. People are either too terrified or too corrupt to demand the truth, even when a pregnant woman is involved, so they choose to accept whatever story she provides. He eventually dragged my brother into the physical abuse as well, although thankfully not to the extent of sending him to the hospital. But that doesn't mean it hurt my brother any less."I take yet another extended pause, my longest one yet, because once I resume, I don't intend to stop until I've shared the entire tale. Failing to do so...well, I can't even begin to fathom the consequences."When my mom reached her sixth month of pregnancy, he came home in the most intoxicated and d
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