Page 36 of The Save

He blinked. “You sure?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Right. You’re sure.” He scratched it out.

Ten minutes later, both guys packed up, thanked me, and grabbed a treat.

Then it was just me and Chase.

I hid my balled fists under the table. “I need to talk to you about something.” Better to get it over with.

Chase looked up. He was in a pale-green button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled. It brought out the flecks of tourmaline in his eyes, and that wasn’t helping. Rip off the Band-Aid.

“I told you I had a crush on you. At Ranchman’s.”

Chase’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “You did.”

“Well, I think my biology is still attracted to . . . your biology.” His mouth quirked, and I swallowed hard. “Just a purely physical thing that I can’t control, and because of that, I think I’ve been trying to—” I paused, trying to catch my breath. “I wanted to impress you, I think, not you specifically, but really any guy.”

“Okaaay.”

I pressed my palms into the table like I was flattening a ball of dough. “Like I was helping other people in the hopes that you—or someone—would notice me and make me feel accepted. Worthwhile. You know?”

Chase blinked.

“Again, that’s a me problem. So I was feeling used by you, but really I was trying to use you. As proof.”

“That . . . you’re lovable.”

“Yeah, or like, hot or something. Because I’m smart, which I know isn’t a thing?—”

“It’s a thing.”

I scoffed, my cheeks so hot that I thought they might burst into flames. “Not a thing. Maybe for guys it is, but for girls it’s better to be funny. Or . . . happy.”

Chase fought a smile. “Happy?”

I nodded. “You know those girls.”

“I do know those girls.”

“Like—”

“Melody.”

I wet my lips. “Exactly.”

Chase leaned back in his chair, flipping his pen between his fingers. “You know that doesn’t always mean they’re happy. For real.”

I shrugged. I didn’t know because the only girl I knew like that was Sharla and she was indescribably happy.Now.I considered that thought. She hadn’t been fully happy with Logan. “Maybe not, but they’re more attractive.”

Chase rubbed his chin. “Maybe.”

I gave him a look. “Maybe? Those are the only girls you date.”

An exhale of breath, a drop of his eyes, and that smile split his face. “You don’t know who I date now.”

“I mean?—”

---