Page 101 of The Accidental Text

“I do want to get my fill of my boyfriend, Oscar, before you leave.”

“Exactly,” he says.

We pull into the parking lot of my apartment, Chase taking a space next to my Jeep. The lot is fairly empty, as most of us living in this complex are single and out doing things on a Saturday night.

He puts the car in park and sits back in his seat. He turns his head toward me and then reaches over and grabs my hand, holding it.

“For our official last adventure before I leave,” he says, “I just wanted to say thanks for coming with me and keeping me company. I appreciate it, more than you know.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow too,” I say. Tomorrow is Chase’s big jump. What all this has led up to.

He has to attend an hour training since he’s going tandem for his first time. But I told him I would come and sit with him while he waited to go up. Sometimes the wait can be long. Then I’ll be on the ground when he lands.

“I’ve had a lot of fun,” I say. “More than I’ve had in a long time.”

“Do you—” he says at the same time I say, “I was thinking—”

He chuckles. “You go.”

This is it. I reach up to grab on to my necklace but then remember I didn’t wear it tonight. “I was thinking that … I could come visit you, in London.”

It’s hard to see Chase’s expression with only the dashboard lights of the car and the streetlamp giving us light. He looks … surprised.

“Yeah,” he says, his voice emphatic. “I’d love that.”

“I’m going to miss you,” I say.

He squeezes my hand. “I’ll miss you too.”

I take a breath. “I know how we met is strange. But don’t you kind of feel like it was supposed to happen?”

I see the corner of his mouth lift up as he nods his head. “Yeah, I’ve had that same thought.”

“I don’t want you to go to London and forget me.”

His eyes shoot to mine. “I could never. You … you’re …” I will him to keep going with his line of thinking. “We’ll still text, and you can come see me.”

That wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for, but I forge on, ignoring the not-quite-pleasant feeling swarming inside me.

“I just need you to know, before you go, that you’ve become more to me … than just a friend. I … I want you in my life, Chase.”

I keep my eyes on him and watch as his gaze moves from my eyes down to my lips and then to our adjoined hands.

“I know you’re leaving, but I need you to know how I’ve been feeling lately.”

I wait for him to say something, to tell me to continue. He doesn’t, though—he just keeps his focus on our hands. How much more is he going to make me spell this out for him? And if I have to, does that mean he doesn’t feel the same? My stomach does a sinking thing.

Chase’s eyes jerk up to mine and I feel something like hope wash over me. This is it. “Jump with me tomorrow.”

“What?” I say, confused. I try to pull my hand away from his, but he tightens his grip.

He changed the subject. He just did to me what he does when I bring up his mom. An unwelcome feeling starts to swirl in my belly. He doesn’t feel the same.

“Come with me and do the jump tomorrow.” His words have a desperate sound to them. Like he’s pleading.

I shake my head, slowly. “Chase, I … I can’t.”

He lets go of my hand and angles his body so he’s looking forward. “Why?” He wipes a hand down his face.

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