Chapter 20
After they left the pizza joint, Blair fell asleep shortly upon entering the dark confines of the limousine. The trip back to the Hamptons mansion was less than fifteen minutes, but Chuck spent the entirety of the ride watching shadows from street lights and passing cars dance across Blair's face. Her plump lips parted slightly, the remnants of her red lipstick smeared across her mouth from her late night snack. A light hum emanated from the back of her throat, so familiar to Chuck that he longed to reach out and stroke her neck just to feel the soft vibrations he knew accompanied the strange sound. The first time he'd heard it was the night they fell asleep together after making love on her 17th birthday. It reminded him of a mixture between a sigh and a snore, like the content purr of a cat being petted in just the right way. He found it entirely adorable, and she still didn't know that he had lain awake that night memorizing the soft timbre of her body drifting into unconsciousness, relaxed and carefree. When she slept, her eyelashes rested prettily against her cheeks, long and dark in contrast to her porcelain skin. He used to love the way her slow breathing caused her chest to rise and fall in a steady rhythm and the way her brown hair fanned out against the fluffy gray pillows that adorned his bed. Sometimes he thought that she didn't fit anywhere as perfectly as she fit in his bed. She was always beautiful, but when she slept, she was a living angel - pure and delicate.
When they arrived back at the Rhodes estate, he couldn't bring himself to wake her up, so he gently slipped his arms around her small frame and carried her up the flight of stairs to her bedroom. He placed her gingerly on the bed, carefully removing her stilettos and pulling a blanket over her body. Before leaving, he leaned down, placing a sweet kiss to her temple, smoothing her hair back out of her face. Just as he reached the door, he heard a muffled, "G'night, Chuck."
His already broken heart crumbled into a few more pieces, and he murmured, "Sweet dreams, Waldorf."
Now, the neon numbers on the clock resting on top of the large mahogany nightstand read 5:19 A.M., each slow blink of the bright lights mocking his insomnia. The entire night hadn't been what he had expected. Blair had been raw and open with him, and he appreciated her honesty. With each passing day, she let him in just a little bit more, and he didn't feel like he was walking on glass around her anymore, at least not completely.
But she'd also openly flirted with him; he knew Blair, and he knew that he wasn't misreading her signals. She played coy, but she touched his arm, whispered in his ear, bit her lip in the way that she knew drove him wild. She had been the one to bring up their adventurous sex life. She was trying to get a rise out of him, and she'd succeeded - multiple times throughout the night. His newfound celibacy, Blair's seductive dress, her subtle innuendos, the way she smelled and her soft sigh when he placed her into bed – all of it left him in a state of painful arousal, and he desperately needed relief. He was a grown man now, though, and he refused to fantasize about his ex-girlfriend, the mother of his child, a woman who is engaged to be married to another man. It felt wrong, and he had too much respect for Blair to go there.
Instead, he found the only other way to calm his body was to torture his mind. He replayed their last conversation over and over in his head, hanging on at first to all of Blair's beautiful confessions: she was glad he was there, she wanted him in her life, she had missed him. She had searched for him. It was tragic and bittersweet, but it caused his chest to swell with emotion. But then –
I hope you'll come to the wedding.
For Cora.
Did she have any idea what she did to him with those words? The way her words acted as a metaphorical weapon against an unarmed and unsuspecting victim? The first part - "Come to the wedding" - was the crossbow, the strings of the weapon pulled tight, aimed directly at his chest in warning. It was meant as a cordial invitation, but it was a reminder that one false move would cause unthinkable damage. The part about Cora needing him was almost said in afterthought, but, like an arrow, it pierced straight through his heart in a killshot. He couldn't say no – not when she put it like that, not with the subtle reminder that his place in her life was as Cora's father, nothing more.
She asked him to watch her get married to another man. To watch her promise her eternal love to a more deserving man than him.
She couldn't possibly understand what she was asking because, if she did, she would know that he wouldn't be able to comfort Cora. He was a master of burying his own emotions, hiding behind his indifferent attitude and stoic demeanor, but there were two people he couldn't hide from – Blair and Cora. They could both see behind his mask. Cora wasn't as adept at reading Chuck as Blair was, but the more time they spent together, the more capable she became at calling out his bullshit. She may not know the reason, but she could already identify the dark clouds in his eyes.
The selfish part of him wanted to come up with an excuse, to find some reason to be out of town on business or fall ill on the wedding day, but maybe he deserved this. Maybe this was a small penance for all of the suffering Blair had endured at his hands. This couldn't possibly hurt as badly as everything he'd done to her. Really, what was another day of pain compared to a life without Blair's love? It would always hurt - losing her, being close to her and still not having her - every day for the rest of his life, he would feel this aching in his chest, so in the end, attending her wedding couldn't cause any more damage to his black heart.
He glanced over at the clock once more when twilight started to peek through the window slats. It was nearing 6:30. He wasn't going to get any sleep with the war raging in his mind. With a groan, he threw back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed, running his hands over his face. It was time to stop wallowing in self-pity. On some level, he was hoping Blair would realize that he's right here, willing and ready whenever she is, but last night's conversation made it achingly clear that it would never happen.
Last night, Blair had been right when she called him out on his complacency; his life was stagnant. He spent his days waiting: waiting for Cora to get out of school, waiting for Louis to leave so he would be welcomed into the Waldorf penthouse without hostility or tension, waiting for his Monday coffee dates with Blair. Everything revolved around Blair and Cora, and there was very little of Chuck Bass left outside of them. That level of dependency wasn't healthy or fair to anyone.
In that moment, he made himself a promise that he would move forward with his life. It was time to take control of Bass Industries and obtain some kind of persona outside of Blair and Cora Waldorf. Today, he would spend the day with Cora and Blair as he'd promised Cora when he'd tucked her into bed the night before, but tomorrow, he would set out to reclaim his identity.
No matter how much he loved his daughter, he was still Chuck Bass.
XOXO
"You did not!" Serena's mouth gaped open in a mixture of shock and revolt. "B, that's not what I meant when I said you needed to have a raw and honest conversation."
Blair shrugged nonchalantly, applying lotion to her smooth legs. "You said I needed to make sure he knows that things will always be platonic between us. Now, he knows."
"You invited him to your wedding to a prince to provide emotional support for a daughter you both created the night he planned to propose to you. A daughter who will likely be heartbroken that her dreams of her parents getting married will never come true. Do you not see the cruelty here?" Serena stood in the center of the room, waving her arms dramatically in an indication that she couldn't believe Blair's callousness.
Blair narrowed her eyes coldly at the blonde, sitting forward, her spine rigid as she tried to control the anger surging through her veins. She kept her voice low as she said, "What do you want from me, Serena? One minute, I'm too friendly and flirty, giving Chuck false hope, and the next I'm cruel and uncaring because I'm getting married to the man who has been a constant figure in mine and my daughter's lives for the past six years. Chuck doesn't deserve my compassion or my forgiveness, but here I am, making it work, doing the best I can for Cora's sake, and all you can do is criticize every choice I make!"
Serena drew a deep breath, exhaling slowly before sitting on the chair across from Blair. She could see the insecurity, the uncertainty hidden behind Blair's wide eyes, betraying the fact that she was afraid and unsure of herself. She was navigating the unknown, walking blindly along a ledge that she could easily fall over with one bad decision. She was trying her best, and Serena, despite her good intentions, wasn't helping. "I'm sorry," she said softly, "I didn't mean to criticize you. I know that this is hard, and it's even harder because it's Chuck. I don't know which of you is more stubborn." She chuckled lightly, but Blair's expression remained impassive. "I care about you both, B, but I will always be on your side. I just know he's hurting, too. I know you're mad at him, I know he screwed up in the worst way possible, but it's going to kill you both if you don't let go of the anger. On some days, it seems like you've completely forgiven him, like you two are in a good place, and then other days, I can actually feel your rage just by being in the same room as you. I don't know how to be a good friend to you when I don't know how you feel or how you'll react. It's been three months -"
"And he was gone for six years," Blair growled, "Three months is nothing compared to that. My reactions are contradictory because my emotions are out of control. He's just as charismatic as he has always been, and it messes with my mind. I find myself almost forgetting what all he put me through when we're together; I'm happy he's back, and I missed him." She sighed heavily and lowered her voice, "It's hard to admit that aloud, but it's true, and that makes me angry. It makes me angry that I forget and forgive so easily because he's Chuck. Because it just feels so right for him to be here. I'm mad at him, sure, but I'm also mad at myself."
"Blair," Serena started quietly, reaching out a tentative hand to rest atop Blair's outstretched leg. "It's okay to admit that you missed him, and it's okay to admit that you're glad he's here." She bit her lower lip and added cautiously, "And it's okay if you're confused or if you still have some lingering feelings -"
Blair shook her head vehemently, denying Serena's words before they even completely left her lips, "No, that's not it. It's just that it's Chuck, and everything has always been complicated for us. It's just the mixture of anger, sadness, and nostalgia. Those are the only feelings I have for Chuck, besides relief that Cora now has a relationship with him."
Serena nodded, biting back the desire to challenge Blair's appraisal of her feelings for Chuck. She felt utterly frustrated at both of her friends' perpetual stubbornness that seemed to exacerbate their suffering; Chuck's continuous self-hatred and Blair's blatant denial made it nearly impossible to navigate these conversations. She felt like every time they were on the brink of a breakthrough, they got in their own way. They're masters in the art of self-inflicted sabotage.
XOXO
A few hours later, Blair found herself perched on a beach blanket, listening to the Atlantic waves crash against the sandy shore of the private beach. Through her dark sunglasses, she watched Chuck slather sunscreen over Cora's lanky arms as the little girl squirmed in excitement, eagerly waiting to play in the ocean. His hands were comically large as they swiped over their daughter's shoulders and up her slender neck. Blair smiled to herself as she noted that he carefully massaged the cream into the tips of Cora's elvish ears. His attention to detail was impressive because few people would consider how easily the small child's ears could burn under the blazing summer sun.
Serena was wrong. She didn't have any lingering feelings for Chuck; she just appreciated the effort he put in with Cora, how happy he seemed to make the little girl. She would always care about him, but her feelings would remain platonic. Chuck was her friend now. She could admit that much.
She loved Louis.
She missed Louis.
Didn't she?
Honestly, she hadn't thought about him for more than a fleeting moment since he left 24 hours earlier. She told herself that that didn't mean anything; they were separated from each other so often that the distance never seemed like a big deal. It was never permanent. She was preoccupied with Cora, and he had his royal duties to see to. After years together, she couldn't be surprised that they were in a comfortable routine and scheduled absences didn't hurt like they used to.
"Okay, Daddy! Ready?" Cora bounced up and down on her tip-toes, clapping her hands together.
"Just a minute," Chuck laughed at her impatience, "I need sunblock, too, or else my pasty shoulders will burn in the matter of minutes."
Blair pretended to massage sunscreen into her own legs, but she was morbidly curious about Chuck's physique after six years. Her practical side waged a mental war against her more mischievous side, but in the end, she couldn't keep her gaze from wandering to Chuck's form stripping down into his swim trunks a few feet to her right. His eyes were fixed adoringly to Cora, completely unaware of her semi-stalkerish perusal of his body. She watched his fingers grip the hem of his shirt and yank it quickly over his head. Her breath hitched as his hands massaged his biceps down to his forearms and across his chest. He'd certainly changed over the years, grown into the features that were sometimes a little awkward in his teen years. The first time they slept together, she'd relished the fact that he was the complete opposite of Nate – he was soft and dangerous. There was nothing toned about his upper body and nothing kind in his eyes. He wasn't the boy next door or a knight in shining armor. He had been everything she needed at that moment. When they became an official couple nearly two years later, he'd lost most of his softness in favor of a more slender figure that looked good in his expensive suits, but he was still relatively undefined without clothing.
Now, though, this wasn't the body she'd grown so accustomed to touching; these weren't the arms that held her or the chest she rested her head on. This was something else entirely. This was Chuck all grown up. He didn't have the body of an athlete but of man who'd taken care of himself – a man who ate well and didn't shy away from hard work. His arms were shapely and strong, and the muscles she found there flexed with each of his movements. His chest and abdomen were firm, with hard ridges outlining his pectoral muscles. The beginning of a subtle V worked its way into his shorts, and she had to avert her gaze before her eyes worked themselves any lower.
"I think your legs are well protected." His raspy chuckle caught her attention, and she glanced back up to find him making his way toward her to return the sunscreen to the beach bag beside her.
"Huh?" She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.
"You've been applying sunscreen to your legs for five minutes. I think they're good." He winked, and a soft blush spread across her cheeks.
"Oh, um, well, better to be safe than sorry," she shrugged, biting down on her lower lip sheepishly.
"Cora is dying to get out there," Chuck raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun as he looked down at Blair resting on her side on the blanket, absently noticing how the curve of her hip dipped down into her narrow waist. "You coming?"
He expected her to say no; Blair had never been a huge fan of playing in the ocean. He was surprised when she smiled up at him and nodded, reaching her arm out for him to help her into a standing position. When she stood to her feet without shoes, he was a good four inches taller than her. Something about their position, toe-to-toe in their swimsuits, felt entirely more intimate than their dance the night before. It was day time; there was no alcohol to excuse the fluttering in her stomach as she looked up into his earnest eyes that were studying her carefully. She laughed lightly, swiping her thumb across the white smudges on his temple and nose. "You did a terrible job rubbing in your sunscreen."
"Like you did any better." He smirked softly, trailing his finger over her chin where the slightest remnants of lotion remained. She closed her eyes when his hand worked its way across her jaw to her neck, fingers tangling in the hair falling over her shoulders. Her eyes fluttered open at the loss of his touch, and he lifted the strands from her clavicle so that she could see the sunscreen coating her brown locks. "So messy," he teased quietly.
Her heart beat erratically against her chest, and she sank her teeth into her lip trying to regain control over her breathing. Her voice trembled when she whispered, "Chuck -"
"Mommy! Daddy!" Cora yelled. "Come on!" She carried out the final syllable in a dramatically exaggerated huff, her exasperation written in her impatient eyes.
Blair cleared her throat, taking a step backwards, "Coming, sweetheart." Without glancing back at Chuck, she scurried off toward her daughter, grasping her hand and leading her to the surf.
Chuck shook his head, blinking rapidly after the two brunettes now frolicking in the water, their jubilant giggles floating through the air causing the hair on his arms to prickle. This is happiness, he thought. He was so close. It was dangling just out of reach, cruelly taunting him with all of the beautiful possibilities of the past long lost to the consequences of his own idiocy.
He would never have Blair, but he would always have Cora. And that's more than he would ever deserve.
XOXO
After several hours of splashing around in the water and building the most pathetic excuse for a sand castle that Chuck had ever seen, the loud growling of Blair's stomach gave voice to each of their hunger pangs. The three of them settled onto the beach blanket, and Blair doled out sandwiches, causing Chuck to chuckle when he saw the silly shapes that Blair had cut the slices of bread into. He had what seemed to pass as some kind of deranged rabbit, Blair's was in the shape of a dress, and Cora's unsurprisingly was carefully cut into the outline of a dainty butterfly. A blush crept into Blair's cheeks, and she muttered, "It makes her happy."
"And that makes you happy," he finished her unspoken thought. When she nodded, he grinned at her and said, "Me, too."
When she finished devouring her sandwich and fruit cup, Cora waved over an elderly couple she saw a few yards up on the beach. They slowly ambled over to her with smiles plastered on their faces.
"Who are they?" Blair questioned softly.
"That's Mr. and Mrs. Schuyler," Cora explained, taking a generous sip from her water bottle. "They let me play with their puppy when Gramma Lily brought me out here for our special weekend last year. They're, like, 115 or something."
Blair laughed aloud and Chuck smirked to himself, studying the couple as they approached. "I would say 70 at best." He poked Cora just under her ribcage where she was absurdly ticklish, making her giggle uncontrollably. "Definitely not 115."
"Ah, Cora," Mrs. Schuyler crooned as the little girl ran up to give her a big hug. "I'm so glad to see you again, my dear. How've you been? Did you start kindergarten already?"
Cora's large eyes batted in excitement that the older woman had remembered their conversation about her fears of starting school. "I did. It's so much fun, and everyone loves me and wants to be my friend."
Mrs. Schuyler chuckled, "Of course they do, darling. You're delightful." She turned toward Chuck and Blair, and asked, "And who is this?"
"This is my Mommy and Daddy," Cora smiled brilliantly, pride beaming from her eyes at being able to introduce both of her parents simultaneously.
"Is that right?" She returned Cora's smile, with a knowing glint in her eyes. She didn't say as much, but Chuck would be willing to bet money that the old woman knew more about their situation than she let on.
"You take after your mother, I see," Mr. Schuyler spoke for the first time, winking playfully at Cora.
"She certainly does," Chuck smiled politely, reaching out a hand to each of them, "Chuck Bass. It's a pleasure to meet both of you."
"Your family is beautiful," Mrs. Schuyler's eyes shone warmly, and Blair didn't have the heart to correct her. "Would you like a family picture? Trust me," she said wistfully, "These moments fly by so quickly, and before you know it, she'll be grown. Cherish these moments while you can. One day, they'll just be memories."
Blair could tell the elderly woman was speaking from personal experience, so she gratefully accepted the offer, handing her iPhone over as she and Chuck scooted closer together with Cora perched in Chuck's lap. "Act like you like each other," Mrs. Schuyler joked, "Put your arm around her, Chuck." He tentatively did as he was told, resting his hand against her hip and pulling her into his side, his fingers skimming the exposed flesh of her lower abdomen. "Everyone say 'Cheese,'" she instructed, snapping several photos from different angles. Returning the phone to Blair, she looked at Chuck and said, "You must be so proud."
He glanced over at Blair and Cora; Blair could feel his heated gaze burning into her when he responded, "I've never been prouder of anyone."
Blair, growing increasingly uncomfortable with the intimacy of the conversation, changed the subject, "So, Cora tells us you have an adorable puppy."
"Oh, yes, Mr. Jangles. He and Cora became the best of friends. Though he's certainly not a puppy anymore."
Cora's eyes widened, and she clasped her hands together, "Oh, can I come say hi to him? Please?"
"Of course. If it's okay with your parents, that is."
Blair nodded, and Cora took off running in the direction of the Schuyler estate. She and Chuck set about cleaning up all of their belongings before beginning a slow trek in Cora's direction. Neither one was in a particular hurry, and they fell into a languid stroll alongside each other. "So," Chuck began, "I've been thinking about what you said last night."
Blair's spine stiffened slightly. Some of the details of the night before were a bit hazy, and she had tried to downplay her flirtatious display in her mind. She recalled the way his hands felt on her hips and her inappropriate commentary about their sex life. She felt heat rise into her cheeks as she bit down nervously on the inside of her cheek. "About?"
"When you said that I was rolling over for Jack." He looked out over the ocean, narrowing his eyes into the distance to watch the water lap at the wooden posts holding up a long pier at the far end of the beach.
"That wasn't my place," she said quietly, "You've got a lot going on right now, and I have no right to criticize -"
"No," he interrupted, "You were right. Since I've been back, I haven't particularly felt like taking on Jack…I wasn't even sure if I wanted to take back Bass Industries, honestly. I still have such a bitter taste in my mouth about the Empire and BI after…" he shook his head, knowing that she understood his unspoken words, "Anyway, I'm going to take my company back, and I'm going to turn it around. I'm going to make it my own, not Bart's or Jack's. I'm going to turn it into something Cora can be proud of."
"Wow," Blair murmured, studying the lines around his mouth. She could see the nerves warring inside of him, "What are you going to do?"
He looked at her, a slow, sheepish smirk spreading across his lips, "I have no fucking clue."
"Well." She smiled up at him, her hair whipping around her shoulders from the ocean breeze. She brushed her hair out of her face and placed her hand on his shoulder, "I believe in you, Chuck. I always have."
His eyes were a deep shade of chestnut, a subtle indication of the vulnerability that he felt in that moment. He inhaled deeply, burying his feet into the sand with each stride in an attempt to distract himself from the implications behind Blair's sincere compliment. "What about you?" he asked huskily. "Have you given any thought to going back to school?"
"Not really," she admitted.
He nodded, pulling her bag from her shoulder to unburden her from its weight even though he was already carrying more than his share. "Think about it, okay?" he implored, "You don't have to do it right now, but I want you to be happy. I know that your heart isn't in heading Waldorf Designs."
"Does a princess really need a career path, anyway?" It was meant to be a joke, but her voice cracked on the delivery, causing Chuck to stop in his path.
"Blair," he hefted the bag onto his shoulder and turned her to face him, placing his hands on each of her arms. "'Waldorf women are not socialites; Waldorf women are not for display.'" He quoted her own words back to her from one of their many discussions long ago. "You've never wanted to be defined only by your status in society, but by your contribution to society - your power and your strength. You're royalty with or without the official title, but you're also a leader, Blair."
She nodded, her expression unreadable. Inside, she was shaken; Chuck knew her to her very core. He knew her deepest insecurities and her most ardent desires. He could see that she was lost, but only she had the ability to find herself. No one could do that for her. "I don't know how to do it, Chuck. I don't know how to be Blair Waldorf anymore."
"Bullshit," he tilted her chin to look in his eyes, "I've been here for three months. You're stronger than you've ever been. You're fierce, tenacious, and selfless. One of the smartest, most driven people I have ever met. I see Blair Waldorf in these big doe eyes," he swiped away a tear threatening to fall from her lash line with the pad of his thumb, "She's right here in front of me. She's just tired and too stubborn to let anyone help her carry the burden, but I'm here. Never let anyone - not your mother, Serena, society, Louis, me…Don't let anyone tell you who you are. You're the only one who decides that. So, tell me, Blair, who do you want to be?"
"I want to be powerful. I want to leave my mark on the world." She said it so quietly. She hadn't let anyone see her vulnerable, unsure side in so long. She was strong for everyone around her; she stood up for herself and her daughter, and there was something therapeutic about admitting her fears to Chuck.
"You will," he whispered, each of his hands cupping her cheeks, idly stroking her skin with his thumbs. "Remember who you are, and you will." He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head and said, "Come on. Let's go see this dog."
XOXO
When they reached Cora, she was rolling around in the plush grass with a labrador retriever licking her cheeks, tail wagging incessantly. She laughed in pure joy, giving no attention to the dirt covering her arms and legs or the grass stains on her light pink dress she'd worn as a swimsuit cover.
Blair and Chuck thanked the Schuylers for their hospitality and led Cora back home to wash up for dinner and pack for the early morning return to Manhattan. Later that evening when they tucked her into bed, she asked, "Mommy, can I get a puppy?"
Blair scrunched her nose, "No, honey. You know Louis is allergic."
Cora crossed her arms over her chest with a deep huff of indignation, muttering under her breath, "He ruins everything."
"Cora, that's -"
But the little girl cut her mother off before she could be admonished and turned to Chuck with large innocent eyes, "What about you, Daddy? Can I have a puppy at your place?"
"Um," Chuck stuttered, not wanting to disappoint the child. If she fluttered her eyelashes at him and stuck her bottom lip out in an adorable pout, he would give her the world; he was unable to deny her anything. "I have to check the hotel pet policy."
"You own the hotel, silly," she rolled her eyes.
He laughed because she had a point. He redirected her attention, trying to distract her from the subject at hand, "Do you have everything packed? Ready to return to school on Tuesday?"
"Yup, all ready to go." She paused, glancing between her parents, "Can I ride back with you tomorrow, Daddy?"
"Of course," he glanced at Blair, "Maybe I can give you both a ride since Jacques already took Louis back to the city in your car?"
"That would be great," Blair agreed. "Thanks."
"Goodnight, Cora," Chuck bent down and kissed her forehead, tucking the comforter beneath her arms, "I love you."
"Love you, Mommy; love you, Daddy."
Blair closed the door softly. Her fingers toyed with the hem of her dress nervously, unsure of where her anxiety was coming from. "Well," she said, "Goodnight, Chuck."
"Night." He stopped her as she turned to walk down the hallway, "Hey, Blair."
"Yeah?"
"When's your wedding?" He felt like there was a lump lodged in his throat, and he could barely force out the question.
She stared past him at the large painting on the wall behind him. The muted colors swirled into a strange pattern that wasn't even visually appealing. The piece probably cost six figures, and Cora could've created something more beautiful. She tried to maintain a steady voice, but talking to him about Louis or about her wedding always felt wrong. It always felt like betrayal. "December 8th."
He nodded without another word, shoving his hands into his pockets as he closed the door to his own bedroom.
Three months from now. Fuck.
XOXO
The next morning after dropping Blair and Cora off at the Waldorf residence, Chuck directed Arthur to drive him to the nearest animal shelter. He had no idea what he was doing; he'd never owned a pet before, never really particularly wanted one. Dogs are dirty and loud; they're too much work, especially in the city where he won't have a fenced in yard for the mutt to run free and do its business off leash. But, still, the hopeful look in Cora's eyes led him here, to yet another unfamiliar experience – pet adoption.
He approached the front desk, ringing the bell impatiently until he heard in the midst of all of the obnoxious barking, "Hold on just a minute. Be right there."
A few minutes later, a woman with long black hair pulled back into a high ponytail appeared at the counter with a smile encasing white teeth. Chuck's eyes naturally raked over her curvy figure, taking in the flawlessly smooth tan legs peeking out from beneath cut off shorts. He allowed himself to appreciate the way her simple tank top stretched across her perky breasts before his eyes finally reached her face. Recognition immediately dawned on him, and he cursed himself internally for blatantly ogling her body. "Miss Morales," he greeted, "How are you?"
"I'm sorry," she knit her eyebrows together in confusion, and he noticed the striking amber color of her eyes beneath her long eyelashes. She was an utterly stunning woman. "Do I know you?"
He smirked, "Chuck Bass. My daughter's in your class at Constance."
A slow smile spread across her lips in understanding, and she nodded her head. "Oh, your daughter must have my twin sister, Sofia," she reached out a hand to shake his, "I'm Emilia Morales. We both volunteer here, but she's out of town since school is closed for Labor Day today. How can I help you?"
"I'm looking to adopt a dog," he rasped, "Low maintenance, already potty-trained, not noisy or messy, listens to commands."
She scoffed aloud, "Are you sure you want a dog? A cat might be more your style."
"It's for my daughter," he explained. "I want to make her happy."
He watched Emilia's hand touch her chest above her heart, and he knew that he'd won her over. "I think we have just the dog for you. Follow me." When she turned around, he shamelessly took in the round curve of her ass, barely concealed in those tiny shorts. A pang of guilt worked its way into his chest, and he choked it down, choosing instead to focus on the stirring further south. He replayed the image of Blair kissing Louis in his mind, imagining her in an extravagant wedding dress walking down the aisle toward her prince in just three months' time.
I hope you'll come to the wedding.
Yeah, he'll be there alright – with a date on his arm. Right now, though, his main focus was to get Emilia into his bed. He'd get Blair out of his system one way or another.
A/N: *Hangs head in shame* Finally an update after a month. Life is just extra busy right now, so I write when I can. I just don't have as much time as I used to.
I have received some of the most thoughtful reviews on my previous chapters, and I am so incredibly grateful for each and every one of them. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart; it means so much that you are willing to take the time to leave such beautiful words about my story. I'm still so overwhelmed by the response to this story. Love to you all; you give me life and keep me motivated when inspiration is lacking.