Page 66 of The Accidental Text

“You seemed to spend a lot of time with that guy, Chase,” he says.

So he noticed that. I thought I’d caught him glancing my way a couple of times.

“Yeah,” I say. “We have a lot in common, it turns out.”

“Oh?”

“Uh … his mom also died recently.”

“Oh,” Dawson says, giving me a sad smile.

“So we had a lot to talk about.”

“Right,” he says.

“Well, I guess you and Natasha are …” I let that sentence trail off because why would I even say that? And because I don’t think I want to know the answer. Apparently, my subconscious did.

Dawson doesn’t seem that taken aback by it. “It’s complicated.”

Ah, yes. The old “it’s complicated” line.

“I hope it gets … un … complicated.” Oh, wow. I should just bring the conversation back to Chad. Right now.

He places his hands on the tops of his thighs and stands up from the chair. “See you later, Maggie,” he says.

My phone beeps as I lie in my bed later that night, staring at the heart shape on the ceiling, thinking about so many things. The party, the conversation with Dawson … Chase.

I pat around the side of the bed where I’m pretty sure I set my phone and pull it up to my face once I find it. I see Chase’s name and I smile.

Chase:I have an idea

Maggie:Should I be scared?

Chase:Maybe

Maggie:Let’s hear it

Chase:Well, I’m texting you right now, so you’ll have to read it.

Maggie:You’re an idiot

Chase:Okay, so … you need to jump out of a plane in May, yes?

Maggie:Correct. The 15th.

Chase:And I’m leaving for London on the 14th.

I send him a sad face.

Chase:Yeah. I’ve already pushed off the date. They wanted me to go last month but postponed so I could have more time with my family after my mom …

It occurs to me that I would have never met Chase if my mom hadn’t died. And we wouldn’t have gotten to know each other if his mom hadn’t. In fact, he would be in London right now, training. And I’d just be living my life here in Scottsdale. Never to even know who he was. Life is strange.

Chase:So … I want to jump out of a plane.

Maggie:??

Chase:I want to do something daring.

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