Up for the Chase by Nicole Tetterton

I smile at him, a wider smile than I have had in a long time. He has taught me how to live again. When I’m unbuckled I run into his arms and kiss him.
    “I’m guessing that you liked it?” he asked pulling me into his embrace and I quickly nod my head. “Good, we could go actually bungee jumping.”
    “One step at a time,” I tell him which causes him to laugh out.
     
     
     
    It has been six weeks since Chase has come back knocking at my door, two weeks he stuck around coming by everyday watching Av when I had to work, unfortunately he has to actually go back to work, which I found out that he moved to Orlando, we never talk about us, but we talk about Av all the time, and I can’t help but to notice how great he is with her. He tells us that we have to come down for Thanksgiving next month, and I tell him that we will. Thanksgiving every year for us has not been great, since my father isn’t around it’s usually just Av an I. Hannah goes home to see her family, and we are stuck Watching really bad cartoons and having to tolerate my awful cooking.
    I am good at many things... cooking does not seem to be one of them. My phone rings as I am driving home from school, getting ready to stop to pick up Av, and looking down I see that it is Chase.
    “Hello,” I say pressing the Bluetooth button on my steering wheel.
    “Good afternoon, baby momma.” He makes me laugh with his good mood. I’m not sure why he feels the need to call me that
    “What are you doing?” I ask, laughing.
    “Well, I just got off the phone with my mother,” he pauses but he doesn’t continue.
    “Alright, I’ll bite and. . . wait, when did you start talking to your mother again?” I ask sounding shocked.
    “Well after California, I went home, I actually stayed home for some time before I headed back to Florida, and we have been working on our relationship since, it isn’t an easy fix, but we are trying.” He tells me and then starts again, “Anyways, she says that it’s too cold to stay in Tennessee for Thanksgiving, that they are expecting a foot of snow.”
    “Okay,” I say out loud in the emptiness of my car as I pull into the parking lot, “I’m confused.”
    “What is really happening is she doesn’t want to ask if she can come to my house for Thanksgiving,”
    “I’m still lost.” I admit to him.
    “I’m not going to lie; she already knew about you, she knew that I was trying to find you that I was going out of my mind to find you, well when I got back here I had called her telling her that I fou nd you, she was through the roof excited, in my mother’s weird sort of excitement, but she asked a lot of questions, I tried to explain to her that the situation was now complicated. When she asked how I had to tell her about Av, that’s why she wants to come to Thanksgiving, because I told her that the two of you were coming.”
    “Oh, well that’s great, I guess.” I could hear his amusement through the phone.
    “I can tell her no, if you guys want me too.” I think that he sounds hopeful that I don’t want her there.
    “No, I mean, well it’s just awkward, but she has a right to meet Avery.” I shrug to no one in particular.
    “I’m just going to warn you now that she is interesting.”
    The only thing I ever remember Chase telling me about his mother was how he thought she secretly hated him for killing Matt.
     
    Chase
     
    My mother, Avery, and Ariana, in the same room; GREAT this is going to interesting.
    After I hang up with Ariana I dial my mother’s number.
    “Chase,” she answers coldly. Although we were working on our relationship it was still slightly estranged.
    “Hey mom; if you want to come here for Thanksgiving you is more than welcome.”
    “I don’t want to intrude.” She infuriates me.
    “No, I just called and talked with Ariana , you know just so it wouldn’t be a shock and all to her. Plus, she is bringing Avery all the way here."
    “Alright, if you insist, she is alright with