Page 85 of Chasing You

“We are going to need your truck though,” she says. “So I hope you trust my driving skills.” She’s avoiding my question, a little smile on her face as she leans her hip against the doorframe.

I don’t trust her driving skills one bit, not after she stalled a record number of times on our drive from Hotel Dolce back to Marina’s, but I'll take any excuse to be near her right now.

I’ve been enjoying this little friends game we’ve been playing lately. This dance of being close but not too close, just teetering onthe edge of those boundaries. It makes me feel light, like the weight of our past is being lifted little by little with every small smile I pull from her, every quiet glance shared between us in a crowded room.

But I'm not naive enough to believe it will all just disappear. I know we need to talk more, but the time for that will come when it’s right. I don’t want to push her or put pressure on this.

“Are you coming, or what, hotshot?”

I just shake my head, sliding my bookmark in between the yellow pages and pushing off the bed. Of course I'm going.

Marina just smiles a proud little smirk. “Oh and bring a jacket,” she says before she turns and escapes down the hall.

Consideringher track record for her driving skills, we’ve had a somewhat smooth drive since we left Ruby Cove, that is, until we drive through an open gate and into a grass paddock. The car wobbles from side to side as Marina drives us up a slope.

I just chuckle when my head nearly hits the roof of the car. “Where are you taking us?”

“Just a couple of minutes,” she says, a glint in her eye as she looks over at me. I lap up every single look that she sends my way, my heart begging for any attention she’s willing to give me. It’s pathetic, but I’ll gladly be that for her.

A flash of white appears out of the corner of my vision. “Shit! Watch out!”

Marina’s wide eyes jump forward before she swerves, the car bouncing over bumps in the paddock, my ass coming off my seat before she slams on the brakes. Fear surges in my throat as both of us fly forward.

My heartbeat booms in my ears, and it sounds far too fast. Near misses always send dread pumping through my veins. It’s like a sick reminder from the universe to pay attention.

I blow out a breath, my mind replaying the blurry memory ofjust a moment ago. Of how quickly things can switch. Of the look of terror in my girl's eyes.

My hand is on the dashboard as I catch my breath. I look over to see Marina, her head against the headrest and her eyes closed as she breathes deeply, her hand on her heart.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

Her chest is rising and falling with pace, her eyes still closed. “Fucking sheep.”

A laugh bursts from my throat, the adrenaline falling from my tongue. Marina just shakes her head, a smile on her lips as her shoulders shake.

She lifts her hands to the steering wheel after a moment, and she grips the worn leather to stop the trembling. My heart cracks as I watch her try to calm down.

I reach over, taking one of her hands in mine and squeezing it tightly. “You’re alright,” I say, half expecting her to slide her fingers out of my grip, but she doesn’t. “I can drive the rest of the way if you want.”

Even if I have to do it one-handed.

She just shakes her head. “No, we can just do it here.” She squeezes my hand in return before letting go and opening her door.

I stay stuck there for a moment, relishing in the feeling of her skin on mine. She’s been letting me get away with touching her more than I thought she would, and I revel in it every single time.

I follow suit, jumping out of the car and letting the cool evening air hit my face. I breathe in the smell of animal droppings and listen to the sound of birds and insects chirping around us. “Why are we out in the country?”

A small smile picks at the corner of Marina’s mouth as she reaches into the back seat, pulling out a blanket she had packed without me noticing.

It reminds me of the quiet smiles she used to give me when we first met, like she wants to grin but she’s holding it in, letting her eyes sparkle with her amusement instead. I’m aching to see herwide smile, the one she used to beam at me all the time, but I know I need to earn it.

“We’re at the outskirts of Heath’s farm,” she says as she lowers the tailgate, laying the blanket down in the bed of my truck. “I like coming out here sometimes when I need a quiet moment.”

I just nod as she hops up, her feet swinging just off the ground. I use my good arm to lift myself up next to her, watching her as she looks down at her feet. She seems quiet tonight. I don’t know if it was the near miss or something else, but I can feel her uncertain energy wrapped around me.

“You needed a quiet moment tonight?”

Her gaze finally meets mine. “Yeah, and to watch the stars.” She lies back on the blanket, resting her arms over her stomach as she looks up to the sky in wonder.

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