Page 92 of The Accidental Text

It’s just as I’m starting to wonder if we’ll ever reach the swimming hole, sweat dripping down my back from the workout and the heat of the noonday sun, that we come upon it. The trail lands on a flat rock of sandstone, and when we get to the edge, below and across from us are various platforms of flat stone, and at the bottom, a crystal-clear pool of water. It’s … amazing.

“Wow,” Chase says as we look down at the oasis below. It looks like a crack in the earth with all the rock surrounding the water. The name makes more sense.

There are only a handful of people around. Some lying on towels on flat rocks under the sun. No one is swimming in the hole, but I watch as a couple jumps from the highest rock, plunging into the water. They’re screaming and gasping when they come up for air. Must be cold water, which makes jumping sound even more appealing after the heat from the hike.

We make our way down to one of the lower sandstone pads,closer to the water. We find an empty area and lay our towels out, claiming the spot.

If anyone was paying attention to us, we’d look like a couple that’s been together for a long time. Sitting here on our towels, Chase reaching into his backpack and handing me a water, me reaching over and tousling his hair after he makes another joke about the Crack.

There’s a level of comfort with Chase that I’m not sure I’ve experienced with another human before. Certainly not with Dawson.

“You ready to do this?” I ask him.

“Hell, yes,” he says. That half-grin back on his face.

I really do love that smile of his. It makes me feel like everything is right in the world. My stomach takes a dive again. He’s leaving. Going to London for six months. I really don’t want him to go. He’s become such an important person in my life. I think about him all the time, wondering what he’s up to, what he’s thinking about. The great thing with Chase is that when I get those thoughts, I just text him. I don’t overthink anything or try too hard. It’s so easy with him.

It’s nothing like what I experienced with Dawson. All those sweaty pits and palms. All that anxiety.

A thought jumps out at me that makes me freeze in place. Do I have feelings for Chase? Is that what this is? Was Dawson right?

“What’s wrong?” Chase asks, a look of concern on his face. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I take in a breath. “Totally fine.” I’m being an idiot. That’s not what’s happening here. And yet … “Should we jump?” I say, the words rushing out of my mouth.

He gives me a strange look. “Sure.”

We stand up and I take off my shorts and tank in a hurry, leaving them on my towel. I decided to wear a one-piece today since jumping off cliffs can cause lots of wardrobe malfunctions with a two-piece. I don’t know this from experience, but Chelsea does.

Chase gives me an appreciative look. A double eyebrow raise, that half-smile on his face. It makes my stomach do a weird diving thing.

I just need to jump in the water. All this heat has gotten to my brain.

Chase takes off his shirt and, for the love of all that’s holy, my mouth goes dry at the sight. He’s very … fit. There are abs—not the kind that are super defined, but they are there and, wow, they arepretty.

I swallow and move my gaze away, trying to act relaxed, like his shirtless shape didn’t have any effect on me at all. Chase is handsome—I already knew that—but he just went from attractive to … well, hot.

“Do you want to jump together or separate?” I ask him. I must focus on the task at hand and nothing else.

“Together, of course,” he says, giving me that slight smile again. “Wouldn’t do it without you.”

Together. Right. I can do this.

We make our way over to one of the lower rocks that we’ve seen plenty of people jump from. I keep my focus on not hurting myself as we climb up to the spot. I walk to the edge and look over. It’s a good twelve-foot jump. No big deal.

“Okay, let’s do this,” I say to Chase when he comes to stand next to me. “Three, two—”

“Wait,” Chase says, grabbing my hand and pulling me back from the ledge. “Where’s my kiss?”

“Kiss?” My mouth goes dry again.

He pulls his brows inward. “For good luck?”

“Oh, right.” I lean over and give him the barest of kisses. Like, he might not have even felt it, it was so light.

“That felt unlucky. Better do it again.”

“Fine,” I say, acting more annoyed than I really am. I lean in and kiss him on the cheek, this time letting my lips linger just slightly longer than I normally would. Somehow this is worse. It feels too intimate, and my brain is sending off thoughts that I’m not sure I want to be thinking right now. “Happy now?” I ask, making my tone extra sarcastic.

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