Page 76 of The Accidental Text

“Are you Chase?” I hear a voice say from behind me and I widen my eyes. I turn to see Chelsea standing there, a clipboard in one hand, a walkie-talkie in the other.

Chase steps around me. “I am,” he says. “You must be Chelsea.” He gives her a little wave, since he can’t exactly shake her full hands.

A look of confusion passes over Chelsea’s face. “Are you here with Maggie?”

“Well … she invited me,” Chase says.

“I’ve heard you’re looking into getting your car wrapped.” There’s an accusation to her tone, like she’s not buying any of this. Which is ridiculous. I’ve come up with a solid story.

Chase looks to me, a question in his eyes. Now is not the time to change our story. “Yes,” I say, jumping in. “He’s just got to buy the car.”

“Which … I’m doing next week,” Chase adds, not sounding convincing at all.

“That’s right.” I nod my head quickly and then stop myself. Methinks I doth protest too much.

Chelsea looks at us, her blue eyes moving back and forth between Chase and me. I see the moment when she realizes she doesn’t have time for this crap.

She holds out the walkie-talkie to me. “You ready to get to work?” she asks. She’s got her irritated, sarcastic voice on.

“Of course,” I say, taking the device from her. She’s acting as if I’m just here for the fun while she works her butt off. I know my assignment, and it doesn’t start until the racing begins.

“Nice to meet you, Chase,” Chelsea says, and then turns around and walks the other way, pulling another walkie-talkie off the waistband of her jeans and saying something into it.

“Guess you better work.” Chase moves to stand in front of me, a nod at the device in my hands.

“I’ve got a little longer. I’m in charge of making sure everything on the track goes smoothly. Racing doesn’t start for another hour.”

Chase nods and then something over my shoulder catches his eye. He leans in. “Dawson, twelve o’clock.”

“Oh, right,” I say. I’d forgotten that I’d see him here.

I knew he’d be here, of course, since all Cooper’s employees have to be. I just didn’t think all that much about seeing him.I’ve hardly spoken to him since the last time he was in my office. Only one time that I can think of, when I was manning the desk for Robin and he was on his way out for lunch. He stopped to say hi and tell me that he’d decided to give Chad another chance. Of course he brought up Chad. Always Chad.

What’s weird is that I didn’t worry or agonize over seeing him today, like I normally do. I must have been so caught up in getting Chase his dream ride in the Lambo that I didn’t have a chance to think about it. I didn’t even bother wondering if Dawson and I would talk and what I’d say to him. OrifI could say something to him.

Maybe seeing him at that party with Natasha was the remedy I needed for this stupid crush.

“Should we go talk to him?” Chase pulls me from my thoughts with his question.

“Dusting off those wingman skills?” I lift my brow.

“I mean, I’m not just using you for the Lamborghini.”

I laugh. “I’m not sure I believe you.”

“So, what should we do?” he asks, his pointer finger tapping on his can of soda. “I could strike up a conversation and see what’s really happening with Natasha.”

I scrunch my face. “How would you do that?”

He lifts a shoulder and then lets it drop. “Dunno. You’ve seen my skills, though. I could make it happen.”

“I don’t doubt it.” I look over my shoulder at Dawson and see him talking to Chad, then I turn back to Chase. “You know what?” I say. “I don’t much feel like it today.”

“No?”

“Nope. I think I’m just going to take a break from all that.”

“All right, then,” Chase says, giving me that slight smile of his. “I’ll be ready with my wingman skills. Just say the word.”

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