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I know nothing about addiction. I mean, I know there’s such a thing as caffeine addiction, but I’ve never experienced it first-hand. Of course I think it’s hypocritical that he still smokes pot, but who am I to lecture him? I’m sure there’s more to drug addiction than my knowledge can possibly comprehend.
Maybe the secret to overcoming addiction is to replace the thing that kills you with something that kills you a little slower.
‘It’s okay to make mistakes,’ I say quietly, recalling something Kai said last night. ‘As long as you get up and try again.’
I’m not sure if I imagine it, but I swear Chase goes still. Something flares in his eyes, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared.
He doesn’t look at me as he grabs his plate and washes it in the sink.
???
He drives me home.
He says I can keep the pyjama bottoms and tee, and I try to hide my giddiness, because these clothes smell just like him. I’ll definitely sleep in them tonight. He says I should take a shower in case there’s vomit in my hair. He gives me a bottle of water, but I refuse and opt for a glass and I tell him how long it takes for a plastic bottle to decompose.
‘So,’ I say as we leave the house. ‘Does this make you my sponsor now?’
He chuckles softly.
When we reach my house, my dad is in the garden, only this time, Chase decides now is a wonderful time to walk me to my door.
He pauses before the Stagg and flips his keys into his palm.
God. Why does that have to be so stupidly attractive? It doesn’t top the way he palmed the back of my seat as he reversed out of his drive, though.
‘She’s beautiful,’ Chase remarks. ‘Don’t think I’ve seen a Triumph Stagg in such mint condition.’
My dad raises his head from where it’s been stuck in the engine for two weeks and puts his hands on his hips. ‘How much did she pay you to say that?’ He inclines his head at me.
Chase flashes a grin. ‘Not nearly enough.’ He points. ‘Is this one of Ferguson’s converted four-by-fours?’
‘Why, yes, it is.’
Chase whistles approvingly. He peers through the window. ‘And it’s the manual. I’d ask how much, but I have a feeling she’s not for sale.’
My dad pats the roof affectionately. ‘There’s just some things in life that money can’t buy, and happiness is one of them.’
‘I’m Maverick. Chase Maverick.’ He holds out his hand.
‘Nice to meet you, Chase. I’m Kevin.’ My dad literally beams as he shakes Chase’s hand.
Oh no, Chase. What have you done?
Chapter Eleven
My God He’s Beautiful
Monday lunchtime I have an appointment with Headmaster Benjamin. I don’t even know what I’m doing, and as I sit here in the silence of the waiting room, doubt begins to creep in.
This is a stupid idea. I don’t even have a pitch planned.
He’s at least twenty minutes late. I’m just hungry now, and I’ve waited so long that my thoughts have had time to convince me to bail out.
I grab my bag just as he walks in. He greets me pleasantly enough, but the glance he throws at my hair is disapproving.
I tell him about the current climate crisis, and I give him a more in-depth run-down of what I told Chase. He nods and listens and doesn’t say much, and I think that’s because he’s so invested, but I realise he’s just waiting to speak when he says, ‘Miss Johnson, you do realise your hair goes against the school’s code of conduct?’
Is he being serious?
