Page 67 of The Accidental Text

Maggie:??

Chase:I’ve never done anything adventurous. And I just feel like … I should.

Maggie:Okay…

Chase’s number pops up on my screen and suddenly my phone is vibrating in my hand.

“Hello?” I say.

“Hi,” he says.

“No one talks on the phone anymore.”

“It was too long to text. I figured since we met in person already, it wouldn’t be that weird to talk on the phone.”

“You couldn’t Marco Polo me like everyone else?”

“Do you hate the phone that much? Fine,” he says. “I’ll send you a Polo.”

“I’m kidding. But really, only old people talk on the phone.”

“I’m an old soul.”

“So … you want to jump out of a plane?”

“Yes,” he says. “I’ve been thinking since I saw those pictures on your office wall. I haven’t done anything all that adventurous in my life.”

“Well, then jump out of a plane.”

“Yes, but my plan helps us both.”

“How’s that?”

“I don’t want to just jump out of a plane. I want to try other things too. Maybe start small and lead up to that.”

“Okay,” I say, dragging out the word.

“And you need to jump out of a plane in May.”

I take a breath. I’m resigned to do it. It has to happen or Chelsea will probably wring my neck.Notprobably—definitely.

“I’m not following what this has to do with me.”

“I want to do some other stuff before I take a big jump like that. And I think we should do it together. It might help you get your mojo back. Maybe you’ll remember your zest for it all. And then it might be easier to do the jump with your family.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know … I thought you might have some ideas,” Chase says. “Aren’t you the adventure expert?”

“I mean … I did hike Machu Picchu.”

“You’re so cool.”

“I am,” I say. “Actually, it was the shortened version of the hike. But still.”

“Aw, why did you have to tell me that? You just lost some cool points.”

I laugh. I picture Chase talking to me while sitting on a couch in his place, his dog Oscar lying in his lap. I wonder what kind of home he has. Is it like a bachelor pad with sparse décor? No edible food in the refrigerator?

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