“What’s got you thinking so hard over there?” Asked Chase, breaking the somewhat awkward silence. We’d managed a relatively easy conversation on the ride over, but now things felt a little awkward.

“I’m thinking about how peaceful it is out here,” I replied. “And how perfect this spot is for a romantic date.”

Chase swallowed his food, and turned to me. “I didn’t think it would be considered romantic. I figured girls only liked the fancy expensive restaurants when going on a date.”

“Good thing we’re not on a date,” I replied with a giggle.

“Damn, that hurts.” He feigned hurt, and then threw me a playful wink telling me he was kidding.

I slapped his arm, and took a bite of my fries. “I can’t imagine you go on dates. From what Grady told me you’re quite the playboy.”

He chuckled, and the sound somehow helped me relax a little.

“Don’t believe everything my brother tells you. He has a flare for being over dramatic, and tends to exaggerate where I’m concerned.”

My brows rose in skepticism. “So you’re saying he’s lying?”

Chase thought about it for a long minute, and then replied, “No.”

I laughed, and threw my napkin at him. “I thought so. I guess it’s part of the territory though, right? Being the star football player and all.”

Chase sighed, and looked pensive. “People expect it of me, you know? Sometimes it’s easier to live the image people give you, rather than pretending.”

His answer surprised me, and I caught the wistfulness of his tone. “Don’t you get tired of it though? Don’t you want to meet someone and settle down?”

Chase turned his gaze, and stared at a couple across the field who were dancing like no one was watching. “It’s better than getting hurt. And besides, I don’t want to be tied down any time soon. I like my freedom.” He grinned widely, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. That was such a guy thing to say.

“What about you?” He asked. “Why’s a pretty little thing like you single?”

The way he asked me made it sound like the idea really confused him. Like me being single was unfathomable. My thoughts immediately drifted to Dane, and I wished they hadn’t. I’d been doing well not thinking about him, and had enjoyed the reprieve after what happened on Saturday night in my bedroom. I hadn’t told Jade about that, and I wasn’t sure I ever would. I was too embarrassed, and not because it was Dane, but because I liked it, and there was no way I’d be able to keep those feelings from Jade.

“My life is…complicated.” I sighed. “I’m not really interested in dating right now. I have enough on my plate with school, and trying to figure out my major.”

Chase’s cool green eyes regarded me, and I found myself hoping he didn’t take any offense to what I’d said. We both knew this wasn’t a real date, and that he only offered because he felt bad about hitting me in the head with his football.

“So there’s nothing going on between you and Dane then?”

My eyes widened with shock. I hadn’t expected that.

“Nothing, I mean we can’t stand each other. Why?”

Chase pursed his lips. “I saw the way he was looking at you at the coffee shop, so I was curious.”

Instead of replying, I took a bite of my burger, and looked away. I was starting to feel uncomfortable. Chase placed his hand on my knee, and squeezed, making me jerk my head back towards him.

“I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable,” he said quietly, reading my thoughts. “It’s just that, well, I like you, Kennedy, and I want to make sure I wouldn’t be stepping on anyone’s toes if we were to become friends.”

I swallowed my food, and thought about how to respond. My head was stuck on the ‘I like you’ part, but also on the insinuation that Dane would be pissed if Chase and I were friends. Or possibly more. So I chose honesty.

“Dane and I have a bit of an ugly past, but there’s never been, nor will there ever be, anything romantic. I doubt we can even make to friends. He hates me too much.”

Chase’s brows puckered, but much to my relief he didn’t say anything more. Instead, he gathered up our empty food wrappers, and hopped from his truck to throw them away.

With his back to me, I had the chance to get a good look at him. It made perfect sense why the girls swooned over his classic, clean cut looks. He was dressed in designer jeans that looked like they’d made to fit his legs. The denim hugged his thighs and his butt, and only made his gait look sexier. His navy blue shirt remained untucked, with the first few buttons open, and his sleeves rolled up. His blond hair was stylishly messy, and he had light stubble covering his strong jaw. So why wasn’t I salivating at the sight of him? Why wasn’t my belly swarming with excited butterflies because this gorgeous guy had taken me out to dinner? Even if it was an apology.

I saw Chase making his way back, and plastered on a wide smile, hoping it would defuse the slightly tense atmosphere. He walked to the drivers’ side of the truck, opened it, and flicked on the radio. I heard Taylor Swift playing through the speakers, and laughed when Chase reached his hand out to me.

“I didn’t think you’d be a fan of Taylor Swift,” I said, following him a short distance away from his truck. He turned and wrapped one arm around my waist, and took my hand in his. He started swaying, and I fell into his easy rhythm.

“I’m not. Her music is terrible.”

“It is not!”

“It is too. It’s complete dribble!”

I swatted his chest. “I happen to like the dribble, thank you very much.”

“Well,” he coughed, “If I had known you had such poor taste in music, I would never have asked you on a date.”

“I have great taste in music. Taylor Swift is a lyrical genius, and to be clear, you asked me on a date because you threw a football at my head.”

“For the record, I didn’t throw it at you. You walked into it.”

“Oh my God,” I laughed. “You are impossible, Chase Ambrose. Has anyone ever told you that?”

A chuckle made its way up his throat. “All the time, actually. In fact, my brother likes to remind me that I’m a pain in his ass on a daily basis.”

I laughed at that, imagining how Grady busted his chops the way only a big brother can. Before I could think about Charlie, and how fiercely I missed him Chase spun me around, and then dipped me. I squealed in surprise, and held onto him a little tighter before he righted us.

“This reminds me of senior prom,” Chase mused, his lips forming a gentle smile. “Before we got drunk, of course.”

I snickered. “Why does that not surprise me?”

Chase shrugged sheepishly, his beautiful green eyes meeting mine. “You can’t tell me you didn’t misbehave at least a little when you went to prom.”

I looked away, fighting the sudden lump that his comment had put in my throat. “I didn’t go.” My voice was soft, and it betrayed the sadness of the memory.

“Why not?”

The question was innocent enough, since prom was considered a rite of passage for most seniors, but the answer was far less pleasant, and not one I was prepared to give. It was too personal.

“I guess I didn’t see the point in going.”

It was a small truth, and only part of why I never attended my senior prom. I didn’t want to embarrass myself by telling him that no one had asked me because Dane took it upon himself to tell everyone I had a disgusting case of genital warts. It was another low point in my high school years, and there was no point in reliving it.

“I’m sorry.” Chase breathed into my hair, and his hold tightened slightly. That small gesture shoved the ugly memory away and prompted me to say, “It’s okay. I survived.”

We fell into an easy silence after that, the need to talk unnecessary. There was something so simple about being with Chase, and talking to him. As we moved to another song, I found myself wishing that I felt more, that I wanted this to be a real date. So I closed my eyes, and pretended.