Out of Nowhere Read online

  It was a Saturday night, and I was sleeping over at Rooney’s house. I told him everything about that fateful day and how I felt about the loss of Cadence. “Rooney, it was my fault she died. If I had just gone with her, she wouldn’t have jumped in without checking.” I explained my guilt, the grief, and my outbursts. He didn’t judge, he just listened and that’s what I needed most. I didn’t need to hear ‘It’s not your fault’ or ‘It will get easier with time’ or ‘You need to adjust your attitude.’ He just listened, like Cadence used to. She and I would sneak into each other’s room late at night and we’d listen to each other. And that’s what I felt with Rooney; it was like Cadence had sent him to guide me. It was in that moment I knew, that no matter what, Rooney and I would always have each other’s back.

  After that night, something in me changed. I’d found my person again and the good Chase from before was back. Ma and Pa were relieved to have their good son back. Well, until I hit my later teenage years, but what teenager didn’t give their parents grief? I remember when I was sixteen, just before my seventeenth birthday, Ma and I were on the front porch, sitting on her favorite swing. She and I were having a chat over coffee. She leaned over and placed her cup onto the railing, and when she turned toward me, I knew I was in for what I liked to call a ‘Ma lecture.’ Smiling at her, I cheekily said, “Yes, Ma?”

  “Don’t take that attitude with me, Chase Archibald.” Shit, she used both names. This wasn’t going to just be a lecture; it was a serious Ma chat. “Now, you know I love you more than anything in this world, but, Chase dear, you need to keep it in your pants.” My eyes bugged out of my head, I wasn’t expecting a conversation like this. “Word around town is that you are bit of a…” She leaned toward me and whispered, “…manwhore.” Leaning back again, she continued, “I know, I was once young too…”

  “Ma, I don’t need to know that,” I scoffed as images of my Ma and Pa flashed before my eyes.

  She raised her hand at me. “No, I’m talking and you will listen. Now, from the talk around town, you are…how should I say this? You are spreading you wings. Yes, that’s such a nicer way to say it, and I don’t condone that. But I also know that you are a man, and if you are anything like your father…”

  “Please shoot me now,” I interrupted and again I was given the eye from Ma. “Sorry, go on,” I added.

  “Now, just tell me you are being safe. I’m too young to be a grandma, although I do want to be one someday, preferably after you finish college. But in the meantime, please be careful. And whatever you do, please don’t hook up with that Sandy Monkton, because if I have to organize a wedding or be forced to spend the holidays with anyone, I don’t want it to be her and her momma.”

  “Ma, I cannot believe you’d say that about sweet old Mrs. Monkton.” We both looked at each other and burst out laughing. There is nothing sweet about Mrs. Monkton, or Sandy for that matter.

  “Sweet and Monkton do not go together in a sentence—ever—Chase. But please, keep it in your pants…or at least be discreet about it.”

  Nodding, I said, “I promise, Ma. I’ll be more discreet.”

  Reaching over, she squeezed my hand. “Chase, you are so much like your Pa; footloose and fancy free. It’s no wonder the girls are lining up. Just make sure you choose someone who is worthy of the Archibald name. It’s a lot to live up to, trust me, I know.”

  “Ma, you were built for this life. You and Pa are meant to be together. You guys are like biscuits and gravy, perfect together.”

  “You are just as corny as your father.” She reached over and cupped my cheek. “I love you, Chase.”

  “Love you too, Ma.” I leaned over and hugged her tightly.

  People teased me about my relationship with Ma and Pa, but when you’ve suffered a loss like we did, it changed everything and it brought us closer together…once I stopped being a dumbass. My attitude nearly destroyed our family, and we had already lost so much. “So, can I go to the party at Sandy’s? I promise not to do anything with her, but I can’t promise that I won’t end up with someone tonight.”

  Ma smacked me in the arm. “Yes, you can go, but no making me a grandma and no drinking.”

  “I promise to not do one of those things tonight.” I winked at her before I stood up, kissed her forehead and said, “Later, Ma.”

  “Bye, Chase, have a good night.”

  As I raced down the stairs, I passed Pa. He slapped me on the back and said, “Have a good night, son.”

  “Thanks, Pa,” I yelled as I climbed into my Jeep and headed out to the party…where I behaved, sort of.

  * * *

  After my ‘don’t make me a grandma yet’ chat with Ma, I changed my habits. I studied harder and unsurprisingly, my grades got better, as did my life. Sure, I was still a ladies’ man, I just kept it hidden and didn’t flaunt it. I took heed of Ma’s advice and, as promised, I stayed away from Sandy Monkton, which wasn’t all that hard because I really didn’t want to go there. Besides, she definitely wasn’t worthy of the Archibald name.

  Before I knew it, I was graduating from high school and awaiting my acceptance to college. Graduation was a bittersweet occasion, because even though I was happy to be finished, a part of me was sad that Cadence wasn’t there with me. Luckily, I had Rooney by my side, and the graduation party was one that will go down in history. Well, what I remember of it anyway. But when you wake with Wendy Jacobs in the barn, you know you had a great night.

  The day after the party, Ma and Pa took me on a graduation trip, just the three of us. It was the perfect way to celebrate. One night, when I was getting ready for dinner, I thought back over my life and I smiled. I was lucky to have had such a great upbringing. Sure, it helped to be an Archibald, but aside from my last name I had many people looking out for me.

  Looking back, I see that the night I confessed all to Rooney was the turning point and the beginning of me becoming who I was today. Closely followed by my uncomfortable chat with Ma…that my life changed, for the better.

  I was lucky to have two pivotal moments that set me on the correct path. I had a best friend, who was with me through thick and thin. I had two great parents, who I could chat to about anything and everything. We could talk about serious political events, or we could chat about totally random and sometimes very inappropriate things too, but it was natural, it was us. My parents were proud of me and I knew that Cadence would have been proud too. I vowed to myself to always make them proud, and I did…until that one fateful time in college.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Chase

  THE DAY I GOT MY acceptance letter to the University of Colorado, my parents were so proud of me. Hell, I was proud of me because I had wanted to go to CU since the first time Pa took me to a game there when I was twelve. But most of all, I was happy to be getting out of Nels Cove for a few years. Ma and Pa stressed, that after attending CU, I would be returning to Nels Cove to work at Archibald Holdings. And you know what? I actually wanted to do it and that surprised the shit out of me.

  In my last year of school, I shadowed Pa during the summer and I absolutely loved it. When I told him that I was looking forward to coming back after CU, the smile on his face was one I will never forget. A few days later, he came up to me and said, “Son, I’ve decided that once you return, it’s yours. I’m going to hand over the reins and you will be responsible for all of Archibald Holdings. This, will all be yours.” And from that moment, he began grooming me. I knew before I could walk that this would one day all be mine, and I decided I would make Pa prouder than he already was. But before I became Mr. Responsible CEO, I was going to live a little and that meant living it up at CU. I would party—party—party. And there would be girls, girls, girls. While Chase was away, he would certainly play, sorry Ma!

  Coming from the most prominent family in town had its ups and downs while I was growing up. Sure, we never went without anything, but that also meant people only wanted to be my friend for that reason. I’d learned to read people, a
nd generally speaking, my gut was dead on. I knew when I was being used, but occasionally I was fooled. It didn’t happen often but when it did, it was a kick in the guts. What I was looking forward to most about CU was, that for the first time ever, I’d just be Chase. I would be leaving behind the stigma and notoriety that was being an Archibald. I couldn’t wait to get to CU. Thankfully, Rooney was accepted to CU too, on a football scholarship, so my wingman was coming with me. We were both excited to party it up on campus together, just like the rest of the students.

  The chicks at CU were out of this world, and after a hard week studying they were a great stress reliever and bonus, a mighty good bonus. It wasn’t like back home, they were just happy to be with someone. They didn’t care that I was Chase Archibald from Nels Cove. I was just Chase, fellow student at CU. And just like back home, they would say and do anything to get between the sheets with me, but I didn’t give two shits about that. If they only wanted to be able to boast that they had been with Chase Archibald, then I was only too happy to oblige. What red-blooded male wouldn’t? What I loved most about my time away was being able to blend in. I was just another student. I wasn’t Chase Archibald, Nels Cove royalty, and that was what I loved the most about college life.

  For the most part, during my four years at CU, I kept my head down in the books and out of trouble. I passed all my courses with flying colors. During the summer, I went home and shadowed Pa. Gaining more and more hands-on experience from the big man himself for when I took over. There were a few occasions that I cursed and hated myself for doing a dual law and business degree, but I loved the challenge. I knew this would help me when I took over, and it would help me to continue the success that Pa and Great Pa Pa had created.

  Just like Pa, I thrived under pressure. When I felt like my head was going to explode, I’d find a way to relieve the pressure, and being at college, there was always someone willing to help relieve my stress. I thought it was easy to score in Nels Cove, but campus chicks were always willing, especially after exams. Sometimes too willing, but who was I to deny a pretty young lass should she come calling? Especially a naked, willing lass at my apartment door, wearing nothing but heels, thigh-highs, and a garter? I was raised to be a gentleman after all, and she needed to be warmed up.

  * * *

  Rooney and I shared an apartment off campus. Our building was known as the party building, and we definitely embraced the party life, me more so than him. He always had early training, but in the off-season, boy oh boy, did we party like it was nineteen-ninety-nine. We were living the bachelor life and it was great.

  Every weekend there was a party and every weekend there was an abundance of girls available to have fun with. Rooney, the schmuck, met Natalia in our first year. The two of them fell hopelessly in love, and before I knew it she was also living with us. Thankfully she was pretty cool. Talia was an awesome wingman—sorry Rooney—and when we’d go to the college bar, she was always trying to set me up with a friend of hers. With her help, I always had company. Her friends were always fun, but I had yet to find the one who I found worthy to hold the Archibald name. But I sure was having fun while I was looking and I took heed of Ma’s advice. I was always safe.

  Toward the end of my third year, I made a choice one night that will always haunt me. Rooney, Natalia and I headed to a Halloween party, things that night got out of control. Not long after we arrived, I found myself pretty drunk and I passed out early in one of the back bedrooms at the house. Hours later, I was woken up by screaming. I was on top of the bed, fully-clothed, and next me there was a girl, a naked girl. She was stark naked, her hair matted with what looked like a mixture of vomit and blood, and her body was covered in bruises. It was clear she had been attacked, and possibly raped. Neither of us had any memory of the night before, but she accused me of raping her and from there, it escalated…quickly. The police were called, and in no time at all, I was arrested and charged with sexual assault. As the cuffs clicked into place my heart sank, but I knew with every fiber of my body that I had not done it. Sure, I liked a good time, but never ever would I force someone; my Ma had raised me better than that.

  My memory of the night was blank, I had no recollection of anything after arriving and that immediately set off alarm bells in my head. I could drink a fair amount of booze, but never had I ever blacked out before. I have never had a chunk of time missing from my memory. Thank God I was a law student because I knew to ask them to test my blood. They looked at me hesitantly, but when I explained what I remembered, or what little I remembered, they agreed.

  Thankfully, Rooney and Natalia backed up my claim, which helped my cause. The officers drew my blood and tested it. But by that point it was too late, the damage was done. All around campus I was already condemned as a rapist. Other girls started coming forward, stating that I had raped them too. They all had no memory of the incident and when they woke the next day, like Sheridan, they were naked and covered in bruises. Within twelve hours, my name was tarnished. My reputation, down the drain. There was no worse feeling than knowing you were innocent, but everyone thinking you were guilty. After experiencing this, I would never harshly judge someone again, male or female.

  I’ll never forget the look on Ma’s face when her and Pa arrived. It was a mixture of ‘oh my God, my Son is a rapist’, ‘my poor baby’, and ‘he’s innocent’ all rolled into one. It was that flicker of doubt in her eyes that killed me the most. Sure, I had done things in the past to disappoint her, but never had she looked at me like that. I couldn’t look at her. I placed my head down on the cold metal table and I stared at the gray walls.

  After waiting for an eternity, well it felt like an eternity, when in actual fact it was only a few hours, I was cleared. My blood results showed traces of GHB, Rohypnol and Ketamine—the same as Sheridan. The surveillance tapes from the house also cleared me too. The footage showed me stumbling into the bedroom; clearly I passed out because I did not exit the room. A few hours later, someone roughly pushed Sheridan into the room. That said someone was then seen on camera pulling up his fly, readjusting his clothes, and exiting the room half an hour later.

  With the video evidence and the number of women who had since come forward, the detectives deduced that, A. I did not attack Sheridan, and B. there was a serial rapist on campus. At that discovery, I made it my mission to find the bastard and bring him down. Not only to clear my name, but to get justice for the women he attacked and to also make our campus safe once again. There was no need to treat women that way and I vowed to Sheridan, and all the others who wrongly accused me, that I would find him and he’d be punished for what he did.

  Oddly enough, throughout the ordeal, Sheridan and I became great friends. She switched over to the same law and business course as me. We became study buddies, and an unofficial crime-fighting duo. She went on to become a powerhouse lawyer, getting snapped up by a big firm in New York as their corporate lawyer. She was always trying to poach me, but my heart was set on running Archibald Holdings back home in Nels Cove.

  The other students treated us differently, well me specifically. Many still had doubts in regards to my innocence and they all wondered how Sheridan could be friends with her possible rapist. It didn’t matter how much we defended that it wasn’t me, I was stuck with the tag. That suspicion spurred me on to catch the real culprit, and to make the campus safe for everyone once again.

  Just before spring break was when everything changed for the better. It was a Thursday afternoon. Sheridan and I were on our way to the local coffeehouse to study for our upcoming finals when we happened to stumble upon the rapist in action. Sheridan froze with fear when she heard his voice, it triggered unwanted memories of that fateful night, but I jumped into action. I managed to subdue the guy before he could assault his latest victim. The police were called, and once again, my name was in the headlines with the words rape and serial rapist. Thankfully, this time though, the words hero and rescued were associated specifically with my name.

&nb
sp; Finally, my name was cleared, but as usual, there was the odd person who still didn’t believe in my innocence. On the outside, I didn’t let them bother me, but on the inside, I hated that people were still cautious of me.

  That incident taught me to be more careful and I toned down my partying. I didn’t drink as much as I used to. I’d still go to parties, but I would keep my head clear. I would always know where I was going and where I was. I did not turn down the girls though, I’d just make sure that we were around people and that they could hear her enjoyment. The hero tag helped in that regard, and let’s just say, I finished my last few months at CU with outstanding grades and I never went to sleep cold or alone. Those last few months went off with a bang…between the sheets.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Chase

  IN THE SPRING OF TWO-THOUSAND-AND-FOURTEEN, I graduated from CU with honors. As I walked across the stage to collect my degree, I glanced into the crowd and my eyes landed on Ma and Pa. They were huddled together, Pa with his arm around Ma, her snuggling into his side, just like always. I’d never seen the two of them so happy. Pa’s face was full of pride; Ma was beaming, even though she had tears streaking down her face. I was grinning at seeing them both so happy, but my happiness was thwarted when a wave of sorrow hit as I thought about Cadence. Looking to the heavens, I knew on that day, she’d up there, cheering me on and secretly wishing that I’d trip on stage and make a total ass of myself.

  Someone did trip during our graduation ceremony and thankfully it wasn’t me. Unfortunately, it was Natalia. Through my tears of laughter, I raced over to make sure she was okay. “Piss off, asshole, I’m fine,” she snapped as she stood up. She pushed me out of the way and turned toward the dean to receive her degree. She was totally embarrassed, and once we sat back down, she placed her face in her hands and burst out laughing. She looked up at me. I shrugged my shoulders at her and we both broke into a fit of laughter, garnering a stern look from the lady directing everyone.