AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s the first time he’s acknowledged me since the outburst in my kitchen. He knows about my mum leaving. My dad told him, and despite Kevin’s preference that Chase doesn’t come by after school, Chase still does. He’s been working on my dad’s Stagg by himself, and I’ve been wordlessly bringing coffee out to him.
His eyes are hard now.
I hate this. I hate Chase Maverick. I hate how, even after convincing myself I feel nothing for him, when I see him, he consumes me. I hate how I pick up on the small things he does, like hold his fork in his left hand and frown when he’s concentrating and touch his thumb to his lips when he tries to remember something.
I notice too many things about him. I pick him apart like he’s a painting and I’m trying to find the meaning of it.
I’m glad when Dale sits next to him, because it’s that moment when a slice of information cuts through the haze.
‘You’re Dave!’ I exclaim suddenly.
Dave rolls his eyes, but Chase tips his head back and bursts out laughing.
Despite myself, I beam at him. A thrill goes through me because he remembers.
‘He’s not that exciting,’ Archer says. His body is tense, but it’s his fingers wrapped around my arm that stills me.
He never genuinely laughs at anything I say or do. It literally feels like I walk on eggshells around him. He takes everything so serious, and it’s super annoying.
We walk to his car after school. He’s been driving me home for the past two days, but when we reach the crossroads that separate our houses in different directions, he pauses and asks if I'll go back to his. When I tried to get out of it yesterday, he got real defensive, saying things like ‘You don’t want to be around me,’ and ‘I’m trying to do something nice for you, and this is how you treat me?’ I felt bad, but I haven’t caved.
I just want time to myself right now.
I know what’s coming before he wraps his arms around my waist and pushes me back against his car.
‘Come back to mine,’ he says.
‘I can’t. I have work tonight.’And I need to cook tea for my dad so he doesn’t starve.
‘Mmm.’ He presses his lips against my neck. ‘But not till eight, right? That gives us four hours.’
How does he know that? He knows where I work without me even telling him, and now he knows my shift times.
This sort of information doesn’t become knowledge unless he’s been watching me.
And I’m not sure how I feel about it.
‘I’ll come by Saturday,’ I hazard. ‘I really can’t tonight. I’m sorry.’
His eyes harden and his smile turns pinched, but, ‘Okay,’ is all he says.
Only, when he stops at the crossroads, this time he goes right instead of straight ahead.
I grip the seat. ‘Archer, Icannotcome back to your place.’
‘Sure you can. You just don’t want to.’
‘I literally can’t—‘
‘I won’t let you avoid me, love.’
‘I’m not avoiding you,’ I bite out. ‘Turn back around. Now.’
He says nothing.
‘Archer.’
Still nothing.
