Chasing Rainbows Read Online Free PDF Page B

sitting here instead of me, sitting with the gorgeous hot guy feeling as nervous as hell. I had no clue as to how to handle Chase or his brother. If Natalie were here, she'd know what to do. She'd always been braver than me. She was the strong one. There was no way she would ever do what I did just to cope with life. I was weak.
    "Is your sister as beautiful as you?" Chase asked, drawing my attention.
    Sadness filled me, and I tried to smile through the tears that misted my eyes. I missed Natalie, and it hurt. "She was the most beautiful girl I've ever known," I replied in a small voice. I had no intention of bringing her up right now or discussing her with him, but it seemed lately, she was never far from my thoughts.
    "I'm sorry," he said. His broad callused finger slid slowly across my cheek.
    It was barely a whisper of a touch, but it resonated all the way down to the tips of my toes. He had that look in his eyes, one that was recognizable since I'd seen it one too many times before. I couldn't stand people's pity. So, I took a deep breath and turned the conversation back around to him. "So, enough about me," I said, forcing myself to smile. "Tell me something about yourself."
    "Well, you've met my brother," he said rather wickedly, and smiled back at me over the next forkful of food he'd scooped up and was about to place into his mouth. "Has he hit on you, yet?" he asked, taking me by surprise.
    Before I could even answer Chance confirmed his suspicion. "Yes, he has," he replied, and at the sound of his voice, I glanced up to meet his eyes before he turned his attention to his brother.
    This was awkward.
    Desperate to escape, I averted my gaze to the clock that hung on the wall near the exit. Damn it! I was already ten minutes late for my next class. "I really need to go."
    I definitely needed to get out of there. I couldn't think with the two of them together, nor could I sit idly here with them both feeling like my heart was going to explode at any moment. Anyway, Mrs. Watkins would only buy Kara's story for so long before she came looking for me. Heaven help me, if she already had.
    "Well, don't let me chase you away," Chance said, and I noted the sardonic curl of his upper lip which seemed to match his recent bad mood.
    Chase was watching us with an intent look in his eyes. Suddenly, he stood pushing his seat back and I jumped to my feet joining him. "I'll walk you to class."
    He grabbed the empty cup from my hand before abruptly turning and heading for the trash can. Suddenly, I was alone with Chance. Trapped! Why hadn't I gone with Chase? I could have avoided this.
    "Addie, what am I going to do about you?" Chance murmured, and my eyes jerked from Chase's retreating form to settle on him.
    He was sitting at the table wearing an almost thoughtful expression that made me want to wrap my arms around him, despite my caution, and tell him everything was going to be okay. He was gorgeous, an exact replica of his brother, but he was the dangerous one, and I needed to remember that. I didn't need the drama that would surely accompany him. It was almost as if he wore an imaginary sign across his broad chest that read: "Proceed with Caution."
    "What do you mean?" I asked, slightly confused. There wasn't anything for either one of us to do except steer clear of one another.
    He shrugged his shoulders not bothering to answer. I shifted uncomfortably beneath his gaze and glanced over my shoulder, frantically searching for Chase. Thankfully, he was walking this way and back to rescue me as if I were a damsel in distress.
    "You can run for now," he whispered, his voice low, and the underlying threat implied by his words made my stomach clench. My head whipped around, and my mouth went dry. My thoughts scattered.
    "You ready?" Chase asked. I turned around to face him, and forced a smile to my lips. Chance was getting to me, and I didn't want him to.
    He reached out and took my hand right in front of his brother. Chase's fingers