Page 84 of Chasing You

“Okay,” she mutters as she follows my instructions. “This feels super unco.”

“You’ll get used to it quickly,” I say, a small smile forming at her uncertainty.

She’s usually all confidence and mettle, but not in this moment. “Okay, now you’re going to move the gear into neutral, and then switch on the ignition.”

She follows my directions and the car rumbles to life. Marina has a quietly proud look on her face, but we haven’t tried to drive yet.

“Slowly let up on the clutch,” she does. “And release the handbrake.”

“But then we will start to roll forward,” she says.

“That’s the idea, princess.” She just looks at me, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. “I’m right here, you’ll be fine.”

She nods before releasing the handbrake and like she said, we start to roll forward ever so slowly.

“Okay, now left foot back on the clutch.”

“Mmhmm,” she mutters as she presses it all the way to the floor.

“Good,” I say. “Now move it into first.”

She has her hand on the gearstick, but she freezes. I reach across and place my hand on top of hers, switching into first gear.

I reluctantly take my hand away so she can get both of her hands back on the wheel. “Now slowly release the clutch and press your foot on the accelerator simultaneously.”

She looks down at her feet and I keep my eyes on the empty street ahead of us. “This always looked so easy in the movies,” she says.

“You’re okay, you’ve got this,” I say. “Go slow, go slow!” I wince as she pulls her foot off the clutch too fast and the engine cuts out.

She looks down at her feet in confusion as we continue to roll forward slowly, with gravity alone. “Pull over,” I say, trying not to laugh. “And don’t forget to brake.”

“What…” she mutters as she steers us off the road.

“Foot on the clutch, and into park,” I say, putting my hand over hers again when she reaches for the gear stick.

“What just happened?” she asks. “I did everything you said!”

A chuckle falls from my lips. “You stalled, baby.”

If the term of endearment that just slipped off my tongue bothers her, she doesn’t show it. She just adjusts herself, sitting up straight in the driver's seat. “We’re going again.”

chapter thirty-five

MILES

PRESENT

“I want to show you something.”

I look up from the book in my lap with a jolt, my gaze shooting to where Marina stands in the doorway to my room at the Lost and Found.

My heart doesn’t stop its racing when I see her, it just changes its rhythm.

“What are you doing here?” I ask with a little smile, wondering what she’s doing here at ten p.m. “And how did you find my room?”

She just shrugs. “Donna told me.”

Okay, so no sense of security here, then.

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