Chapter Five

I plopped down on my bed after putting on pajamas, minutes after rattling off about my past to a guy that I barely knew. Sure, I knew about his past and why he was here… but… I put my face in my hands. I felt like an utter fool for talking like that to a guy I met… what? Yesterday? And to make matters worse, he was engaged. For some reason I couldn't get it through my thick skull that I had no chance at a relationship with Chase. Perhaps it was because I was still disappointed about being cheated on by my last boyfriend and Chase was the nearest guy around? No, that wasn't it… It didn't feel like I was just using Chase to make myself feel better… It was like… Like I had just met Mr. Right? I sighed and tried to dismiss the matter. There was no way Chase could be Mr. Right… Could he? Or did I even believe in a Mr. Right?

I wanted to think more about the subject, but my tired body wouldn't let me. My eyes soon closed shut and I was dead to the world. Before I knew what had happened, I awoke to the sound of an alarm clock that I must've set. Apparently for eight o'clock in the morning. Despite the fact I could've used a few more hours of sleep, I got up anyway and showered and did my usual morning routine. After all that, I decided it'd be nice to eat breakfast. So I quickly headed down the stairs. The scent of a well cooked breakfast infested the lobby. Chase sure could cook.

As I arrived in the lobby, I looked around warily, to make sure the restaurant was open. The large clock on the wall near the front desk read 9:25, so I assumed they had to be open. That, and the fact Maya was already talking to customers at tables.

"Angela, would you like some breakfast?" he asked, sounding quite happy to see me.

"Sure. It's exactly what I came down here for," I answered, as he headed back to the kitchen.

I walked to the bar to grab a seat. The thing I kept telling myself was that there was no crime in talking to Chase. It was called being friendly, not being a marriage wrecker. The only thing left to do was fully convince myself that Chase and I were just friends, and not actually 'interested' in each other. But something kept me from saying it. My darn conscience that wouldn't let me lie to myself.

"So did you sleep well?" Chase asked as I sat down.

"Yes. I think I sleep better here in Waffle Town than I ever did back home…" I looked on as he started cooking eggs and bacon.

"The same with me. Before I came here, I used to have bouts with insomnia…" he said as he turned the stove eye up a notch, "I don't now. It's kind of odd…"

I spoke up, "Maybe it's because we're away from what was worrying us."

He chuckled, "For me, it's only some of the things that worry me… I still have things here that…"

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"Well, a lot of things worry me here… I…" he was about to elaborate when Maya arrived at the bar with an order.

"Chase! You have another order!" she placed the ticket on the bar and quickly rushed to his side and put her arms around him and said, "He's such a sweetie once you get to know him, right?"

Chase squirmed to get out of her grip, "Maya, you're going to get burned by grease that's popping up if you don't stop doing that!"

Her eyes looked hurt, "What's wrong? I thought you liked it when I do that…"

Chase sighed, "You have another customer…"

I couldn't believe he was being friendlier to me than he was his own fiancé. He was actually treating her rude. Maybe they had a fight. Or maybe Chase was actually trying to keep her from getting burned…

"Are you and her fighting or something?" I bluntly asked.

His cheeks reddened, "With Maya, you have to be like that… She expects to get her way unless you're completely rude…"

I could tell he wasn't telling the whole truth, but I changed the subject, "So is there anything to do around here?"

"Mostly people go to the beach to swim or fish… Or they might take a hike in the woods," he answered, "But besides that, there's not much to do…"

"I see… I might try to take a hike later on…" I said.

He finished my breakfast and put it on a plate, "You know, it's not safe to hike alone in the woods."

"I'm independent. I'll be fine," I answered as he slid the plate in front of me.

"Oh, you are, are you?" he chuckled as I took a bit of food.

I swallowed and said, "It's easier to be independent. You aren't always asking people for things."

"Just the same, I'd feel better if you found someone to go hiking with if you choose to go."

I laughed, "Like who? You're the only person I've really talked to. And I'm sure gossip spreads in a small town like this. So taking you along isn't an option. Plus, you have to work…"

He looked toward the bar, "I can take off."

I swallowed another bite of my breakfast, "Chase, you don't actually want to go hiking with a girl you've only known a few days, do you?"

He took the slip of paper Maya had put on the bar a few minutes ago and started on the order, "Why wouldn't I?"

"For one, you're engaged to Maya. I figured if you wanted to go on a hike, you'd go with her…" I said and continued eating after.

"So I can't have friends that are girls because I'm engaged to Maya?" he smiled cunningly as he put the ingredients in the heated frying pan.

"So you really want to go, huh?" I laughed.

"It'd be a change of scenery. I'll take off at eleven. It's ten-thirty now… So if you'll stick around for that long, I'll go hiking with you," he said, continuing his cooking.

"I give. You can come with me. At least I'll have someone to talk to," I said sarcastically.

He laughed as he continued cooking. I finished up the breakfast he'd cooked for me and went to the front desk to pay for it. I waited around in silence at the bar until eleven, when Chase announced to the woman at the desk that he'd be taking off for the rest of the day. She allowed him, even though she looked quite confused when he joined me to walk out. To be honest, I was confused myself. And the reality of what had just happened hadn't quite registered with me. Perhaps this was okay, as long as he was just going as a friend that wanted to look out for a friend. On the surface, the whole thing sounded as innocent as possible. But the more I thought it over in my head, it felt like Chase was almost cheating on Maya. And I was the dirt bag that was causing him to cheat on her. But then again, that could just be all in my head.

Couldn't it?