Chasing Roxi (Princeton Falls Book 1) Read online

  I snapped back to reality when Chase grabbed my hand. Okay, I was holding hands with Chase, my dreams were coming true! My heart was screaming with approval and I was exploding with pride! That hotness I got from him sitting by me, it only intensified when we touched. I was actually surprised our hands did not melt into each other and become one flesh. His touch practically electrified my soul.

  I was trying and failing to keep the conversation flowing when Mikayla and Conner drove by and honked.

  Mikayla rolled down her window and smiled a giant goofy smile as she said, “What’s new?”

  I blushed, and said, “Chase met me for lunch and we went for a walk and then you came by and tried to embarrass me.”

  She rolled her eyes, “Come on, Roxi, you know I love you!” That got a big grin outta Chase. His dimples were too cute to resist. I secretly wanted to grab him and kiss him all over his face. Well, that wasn’t completely accurate. I wanted to kiss him all over but I was tried to contain my enthusiasm and take it slow, at least for our first real date.

  Mikayla said, “We gotta run, but see you at the pool party tonight.” I smiled and waved as they drove off, as I realized I was still holding Chase’s hand. This day was off to a great start and I couldn’t wait until the pool party!

  I asked Chase if he was going to the pool party, and he said he was the lifeguard for the first two hours. I thought to myself that was perfect because that way I could see him shirtless from afar during the party. And if I was lucky, perhaps, up close and personal later! What was it about him that made me go wild? I wasn’t sure what made me go wild for him, but there was definitely an attraction between us.

  We stopped and turned around to walk back towards the Café and Jacki drove by. I guess this is what we got for living in a small town like Princeton Falls. If you walked down Main Street, and the town only has a population of 754 people, everyone will know what you were doing and it might even make the newspaper! I’m not kidding, one time I spent a week at my Grandma’s farm and it made the newspaper. I was so embarrassed but Mom thought it was adorable. I was 12 back then, nothing was adorable, just awkward. So, at least if I made it in the newspaper this time I would have a cute hunk with me in the story.

  Jacki said, “I’ll pick you up at 7 tonight to head to the pool party”. I told her thanks and she drove off. She was on her way to a photography shoot and she had to run. I explained it to Chase so he wouldn’t think she was being rude. Jacki was a very talented photographer. She would drive down these country roads and find the coolest places to take photos. Jacki was a real artist. In fact, she had been doing photoshoots since I met her in 8th grade. I always admired her talent, and I couldn’t believe she was moving away to photography college in 63 days. I had to focus on “now”.

  We got back to the Café and Chase walked me to my car. He opened my door and I hugged him and my whole body heated up in anticipation, then I climbed in. My lips were practically dripping in passion and need. I silenced them for the moment but not forever.

  Chase thanked me for meeting him today and said he’d see me at the pool tonight after his shift was over. I was so excited! I waited for him to get in his car and then I slowly drove by him and smiled and waved goodbye. I thought, could this day get any sweeter?

  Chapter 4

  It did get sweeter. I was only home about twenty minutes and I got a text from Chase…. “Thanks for today, can’t wait for tonight.” I giggled with excitement as I started getting ready for the pool party.

  I was dressed in my new bright neon green bikini and a cute little red sundress over top of it, with sandals, and a change of clothes for after the party. I was singing to the song on the radio when Jacki came into my room, “Are you ready sista?” I hugged her and grabbed my bag, turned off my radio and lights and wrote Mom a note as we headed out the door.

  We got in Jacki’s truck and drove to the pool party. When we got there, there’s what looks like every teen in the whole town of Princeton Falls was there. We saw Mikayla and Conner and they had saved us some lounge chairs. Now we could all sit together as we took turns swimming and visiting. I saw Chase working in the lifeguard tower and he waved and smiled. I thought to myself: Okay, no more doubts, he really likes me.

  Jacki started, “Chris is working until 11 tonight at the Pizza Shack if we get hungry…” I smiled and she smiled back. We don’t even have to talk anymore and I already knew how the night would end. I told her, “Chase is on Lifeguard duty until 9, then he was off the clock…”

  Mikayla sat down in the chair next to me and we started talking about college plans. We described how we wanted to decorate our dorm room first. Then we touched on what we think we will major in. I can’t even believe we were facing all of these life-changing decisions to make at the ripe old age of 18.

  Jacki piped in, “I don’t know who my roommate is going to be, so I hope she is like one of you two. I am waiting for more info from the college admissions team. I am not even sure if I have to live on campus.”

  We group hugged and Conner just shook his head and smiled. He knew how important us three ladies were to each other. He asked, “I am going to get a snack. Does anyone want anything?” We all chimed in with our requests.

  Mikayla had done a great job with picking Conner. He was so respectful and easy to be around. Those two had been dating since she was able to start dating at 16. He gave her a promise ring two days before the end of our Senior year. I thought to myself, I was not sure Mikayla would wait until the end of her Freshman year in college to marry him. I thought if he asked her tonight, she would say “yes!”

  Mikayla and Conner were just perfect for each other, and I’m pretty sure they both know how lucky they were. They are the only true couple in our click since Jacki and Chris and Chase and I really just started talking last night. I was anxious to see what the rest of the night held for all of us. There was nothing more perfect than Christmas lights sparkling over a fence at the pool and sitting under the stars with your friends. This had been another perfect day….

  Finally, 9 o’clock! Wahoo! Chase was off duty and all mine! He came over and sat next to me on one of the lounge chairs and asked, “What was going on tonight?”

  I told him, “We were thinking about picking up Chris from the Pizza Shack and then head over to the City Park for a walk.”

  He shook his head in agreement, “I like the sound of that.”

  We disbursed, ladies to our changing room and men to theirs. We changed into dry clothes. I decided to slip back on my red sundress but wear my cowboy boots instead of sandals. Mikayla and Jacki both brought dresses too. We didn’t even plan that we were so similar!

  We come out of the locker room and both Conner and Chase were sitting on the bench waiting. How perfect was this? Now we just needed to swing by the Pizza Shack and get Chris when his shift was over!

  We went out to the parking lot and had a mini tailgate party on the back of Jacki’s truck and then before we knew it was time to go get Chris. Jacki drove her truck to the Pizza Shack.

  Chase asked me, “Wanna ride with me?” I hopped in, wearing a big wide smile.

  Mikayla rode with Conner. We all headed to the Pizza Shack. Chris had changed into regular clothes and met us in the parking lot. Jacki was taking mental pictures of Chris in her head because even when she didn’t have a camera handy she was still taking in every moment!

  There was a nice walking trail in the city park. Since it wasn’t a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, we knew the city cops weren’t on duty. The local Sheriff would be too busy to worry about a few good teens taking a walk in the park after sundown. We headed to the park, and each “couple” walked along their own path. I know this may sound corny, but I knew this was the start to something big, I felt it in my gut.

  Chase and I talked for what felt like hours. We sat down on the park bench and he leaned in and kissed me! My brain and heart were doing handstands and flips in excitement and ecstasy!

  I said, “Wow.” />
  Chase said, “Yeah, double wow.”

  He felt that charge of electricity or chemistry or whatever it was that I felt since we first touched. The kiss was perfect, made my toes curl, and left me wanting more.

  Just when I was thinking I wanted another one, Chase turned my head toward him and he kissed me again!

  I was so turned on, I had never felt like this before.

  Chase whispered in my ear, “I felt it too.” I smiled, I’m not alone.

  He said, “I want to ask you something”, I said “Okay.” He asked me to be his GIRLFRIEND! I smiled nonstop for days, I was so happy! (Of course, I said yes, and we kissed more.) Then we walked back to his car and he opened my door and I got in.

  We headed toward my house. Mom left the porch light on, which meant she went to bed and to try to be quiet when I came in. I smiled, knowing I was about to get another incredible kiss from Chase as we kissed goodnight. I was going to have the sweetest dreams ever tonight! I thanked him for the fun day. He hopped out of the car and ran around to the passenger side to open my door. I stepped out of his car and right into his arms. We kissed long and passionately and hugged and then he walked me to the door. My body instantly longed for more. I wanted more of Chase, more of his touch, more of his kisses and hugs and any reason to touch his entire body.

  I was in seventh heaven. Red Roxi had the boyfriend she had been dreaming of for over two years. I went inside and walked to my room. I couldn’t wait to write in my journal tonight…

  Journal entry for the day:

  “Dreams do come true Red Roxi, Chase is your new boyfriend!!!!”

  Chapter 5

  I laid on my bed daydreaming and replaying the day’s events over and over until I rolled over and blinked to find it was after 2 am! Okay, I had to force myself to get some sleep. I turned off my lights and laid back down. I must have finally fallen asleep because the next thing I knew I was in my forever dreamland. I was so happy in my dreams, of course, watching a shirtless Chase would always make me smile.

  I woke up after having the sweetest dreams. Mom said, “My sweet Roxi, you have a permanent smile on your face! Please tell me why?”

  I told her, “I have a BOYFRIEND!” She screeched just like I always did! She was excited because she understood me and was so happy for me. She asked me the normal Mom questions and I gave the normal daughter answers, nothing too graphic but enough information for her to connect the dots.

  Mom said, “Who is it? What is his name? Was he in your class? Was he a good guy? Did he have a job? Did he kiss you?”

  I blushed as I said, “My dream man. Chase Daniel Walker. Yes. Oh Yes. Lifeguard. YES. I almost melted.”

  As we were talking, Dad came into the kitchen, looking for breakfast and knowing Mom will be packing his lunch next. He asked, “What are my two favorite girls talking about?”

  Mom tells Dad, “Our sweet Roxi has a boyfriend named Chase.”

  Dad chuckled, “That’s a great name because if he hurts you chasing him will be the nicest thing I will do to him!”

  I quickly changed the subject and asked him, “Dad, please pass the cereal.” I just wanted to get through this breakfast without telling them exactly how much I liked Chase.

  I finished and put my bowl and spoon in the dishwasher and cleared off the breakfast bar for Mom. She worked on packing Dad’s lunch next, so I headed back to my room to get dressed.

  As I walked into my room, my phone chimed. I know I just got a text. I laid across my bed to reach the phone on the charger and saw the text was from Chase: “I’m off work today, can we meet up?”

  I wrote back: “Look forward to it, call me ☺” Two minutes later my phone rang, it was Chase.

  “So, what would you like to do today?” I said I was thinking about going fishing today and maybe going on a group camping trip on the weekend.

  Chase said, “Oh yeah, that sounds great! Let’s figure out the plans after our picnic lunch and go fishing trip at the Lake. I will pick you up at 10 am.”

  I replied, “Sounds perfect, see you soon.” I hung up the phone and got ready for my day date. Chase picked me up and we went to the East side of the Lake. There were picnic tables on that side, but no picnic shelter area. I had been fishing at this lake a thousand times, but never with a super-hot lifeguard or any boy beside my Dad or brother! Today would be special, I could feel it in my soul.

  It was a beautiful sunny day the sky was so blue and pretty without a cloud in sight. I knew Jacki would be outside taking photos on a day this beautiful; she wouldn’t be able to resist. She had a way of making even the most normal things look beautiful. I had several prints hanging on my wall over the past several years that she had taken. I especially loved the pictures with sunsets, flowers, and silhouettes.

  Chase asked, “What are you thinking about?”

  I replied, “It is so beautiful outside today that I bet Jacki would probably be out taking photos somewhere.” He nodded in agreement. We sat our picnic stuff down and grabbed our fishing poles and tackle box and started walking to the Lake.

  Chase said, “Wait, I gotta do something…” I stopped and he turned my head his way. He kissed me, that same electric pulse shot through me as the first few times we touched and kissed, there was something special about him.

  I told him, “Thank you, I was having trouble waiting on another kiss too!”

  He laughed, “So we both feel it, huh?”

  He said, “I have kissed a couple of girls and it was never like this…”

  I nodded, but said, “You are my only.”

  He said, “I can’t believe that!”

  I said, “Believe it!”

  I told him, “I had been admiring you for two years and that didn’t leave much time to get another boyfriend.”

  He said, “I can’t believe you have liked me for two years and never did anything about it!”

  I tried to refocus Chase as I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Let’s get fishing.” We baited our hooks and started fishing. Meanwhile, he sat on his rock smiling to himself. I knew he was thinking about our kisses and that he was my only kissing partner.

  So, I laid my rod down and decided to go sit on his lap. I laid a big passionate kiss on his lips. I could feel his erection through his shorts. I know he liked the demanding-ness.

  I said coolly, “I guess I should have done that two years ago.”

  He smiled and those dimples were too cute to pass up, so I laid another kiss on him before he could even utter a word.

  Then his rod began to shake up and down and I said, “You got a bite!”

  He grabbed the rod and reeled it in, a nice big catfish! As he hooked his onto the fish stringer, I got a bite on my rod and I managed to catch a slightly smaller catfish than his. We stayed and fished for another hour until it was time to enjoy our picnic lunch. We finished fishing and walked to the picnic table where we sat our stuff earlier. We set it all up and enjoyed our picnic lunch. We had ham sandwiches, apples, chips, and juice boxes. After lunch, we chewed Wintermint gum and now we call it “Kiss Gum.” From now on I will always think of our first kisses when I chew that gum.

  We finished the picnic and decided to go lay out on the beach at the lake so we could talk more. I was hoping for more kissing too! We grabbed the fish on the stringer and threw them into the fish cooler. Dad and Chase would clean them when we got home.

  We drove over to the beach and found there were only two other families there. We practically had it all to ourselves! We laid out the blanket we used at the picnic table and made a nice place to lay next to each other and talk.

  I laid on my side, facing Chase and he did the same to me. I was 5’ 8” but Chase was 6’ 2”. He was taller than me and hung off the blanket a little bit. We scooted closer together until I could smell his “Kiss Gum.” I couldn’t wait, I pressed my eager lips to his beautiful lips for another kiss. This one was longer and more passionate than any other kiss we had experienced thus far and I felt the shoc
kwave of electricity go through me. He turned me on more than I knew was possible. At the end of the kiss, I was laying on my back and he was half laying on me. I started picturing things, dirty images, thinking about sex with him. He was so sexy that I couldn’t even imagine what he looked like completely naked, I got a half-naked show at the pool when he was on lifeguard duty and topless…. I almost drooled with that image in my mind.

  My mind wondered as he took my hand and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

  I said, “Ummm, I was thinking about how sexy you’d look completely naked.” Then I realized I had said that out loud! What was wrong with me, I couldn’t keep anything inside my head when he was with me!

  Chase smiled his sexy dimpled smile and said, “I could make that dream come true!” I blushed, but was even more excited by the thought that we were both curious!

  I asked, “Are you a virgin?”

  He blushed, “Yes.”

  I said, “Whew, me too!”

  He laughed and said, “I figured when you said I was your first kiss, that you were probably a virgin.” I laughed too, good, he was paying attention to what I said the whole time!

  Okay, now there was an awkward silence since we brought up sex and virgin questions. So, I leaned over and gave him a kiss. He smiled and kissed me back. There was something between us, I couldn’t describe it in words but I felt it in my entire body when he touched me.

  It was time to leave the lake, so we walked back to Chase’s car and headed toward town. We dropped off his fishing gear at his house and I got to take a peek at his room. It was a very nicely organized room and it smelled delightfully yummy like his aftershave. I thought to myself, the scent overload ought to help me have sweet dreams.

  We finished clearing out his stuff and headed to my house. Dad was home from work and I showed him the fish we caught. Dad commented, “I am proud of your bounty!” Then he helped Chase clean the fish so we could have them for dinner.