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“Hi, pretty girl!” I wrapped my arm around her.
Chase trotted down the spiral stairs. “Good morning, sunshine.”
“Where are you going?” Khloe asked.
“To work.” He kissed the top of her head. “See ya later, squirt.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped. “I thought Merry was staying.”
“You have to go to school. But what do you say we go to dinner later?”
“With Merry?”
They both looked at me.
“Sure. I’ll come.”
Khloe jumped up and down excitedly. “Have a good day at work! See you later!”
Chase closed the door behind us as we walked out to his car.
“So, are you still mad at me?”
“For breaking into my apartment?”
“I didn’t break in. Shelly let me in. And I didn’t know you were in the shower.”
“Yeah, yeah. A likely story.”
Chase sat back in his seat and smiled. “Last day with your sling.”
I sighed. “I know. Too bad I don’t have a car to drive now.”
“I’m sorry.” He patted his steering wheel. “You can borrow mine any time you want.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Why not?”
“I didn’t think you allowed anyone to drive it.”
“I don’t allow just anyone to drive it.”
“I just miss it. Driving was always an escape for me. After my mom left, I would wait until my dad was asleep, and I would get in my car and go.”
“Where would you go?”
“Anywhere. Nowhere. There is something so exhilarating about driving in the dark, without anyone on the road, completely aimless. It’s like my endorphins would kick in, and could override any pain or sadness I was experiencing.”
“That’s how I feel when I’m on stage.”
As we pulled up to the shop, I noticed it was open already. “How is it open if your parents are at home?”
Chase sighed. “Tanner has been opening early to get a head start on things. My dad has been going to a lot of doctor’s appointments lately. Tanner hasn’t been dealing well with everything. I think he comes here just to keep his mind busy.”
“And how are you dealing with everything?”
He shut the engine and we sat in the parking lot for a few minutes. His eyebrows pushed together, as he ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know, honestly. I try not to think about it, but my mind keeps arriving at exactly that one thing I don’t want to think about.” He looked up at me. “I’m glad you’ll be here working with me.”
