Blitz (Blast Brothers #3) - Sabrina Stark Page 0,92

and leading me toward the midway.

When we reached it, he bought a whole bunch of tickets and took me on every ride in the festival.

It wasn't just me either.

As we walked, he handed out tickets at random, usually to teenagers or families lucky enough to cross our path. I loved seeing their surprise and excitement – not just for the free tickets, but also for the chance to meet Chase in person.

This wasn't the first night he'd done such a thing. But it was the first night I realized something. I was doing a terrible job of shielding my heart.

If I wasn't careful, he'd break it into a million pieces.

From now on, I decided, I would need to do better.

But only two nights later, my resolve was seriously tested when Chase dropped a bombshell that I hadn't seen coming.

Chapter 61

Mina

I stared from the passenger's seat. "Sorry, could you repeat that?"

It was near midnight on Sunday, and Chase was driving along the familiar country road that led to my parents' place.

With his face cast in shadows, I couldn’t tell for sure if he'd been only joking.

But to my surprise, he said it again. "Move in with me."

I paused. "You mean…at your condo?"

Sounding vaguely amused, he said, "That is where I live."

Yes. It was. I knew this, because I'd already spent several nights there, never multiple nights in a row, mostly because I didn't want him to think that I was pulling an Angelique, trying to move in without him noticing.

As far as my parents, in spite of what Chase might believe, they did realize I was an adult. They never hassled me about where I slept, as long as they knew not to expect me home.

When I made no reply, Chase asked, "So, what do you think?"

Boy, if that wasn't a loaded question. I felt so conflicted, I hardly knew what to say. It was incredibly nice to be asked, but not so nice that I'd ever take him up on it.

Chase was a heart-breaker, plain and simple. And although I loved spending time with him, I knew trouble when I saw it.

Carefully, I said, "Well, it's an interesting idea, but I'm not sure it's a good one."

"Why not?" He didn't sound angry, so much as curious.

I so didn't want to say. "I don't know. It just isn't."

This weekend, he was driving not the orange sports car, but instead, a big, luxurious SUV, probably because we'd hit four festivals in three days, and the SUV was roomier than any of his other vehicles.

By now, I'd ridden in at least four.

From the driver's seat, he said, "Care to elaborate?"

My gaze strayed to the tote bag at my feet. In the darkened car, I could just barely make it out. Still, its contents had been on my mind all weekend long.

The brunette had given me the book on Friday night, but I still hadn't removed it from the bag, not even once. It had taken all of my willpower to resist – not just reading it, but also mentioning it to Chase.

But I had my reasons. I wanted to read it alone, not in front of an audience, because whatever horrors it might contain, I figured they were best digested on my own.

Still, I was burning with curiosity, which was why I'd already declined Chase's offer to spend the night at his condo.

As his question lingered between us, I forced the book from my thoughts. "Well…yes, it would be nice if we were both staying in the same place, but it just seems a little risky, that's all."

"Risky how?"

"Well, the campaign ends in September, and it's almost July already."

"Yeah, so?"

"So that's only a couple of months away." I bit my lip. "And we don't really know what'll happen after."

He paused for a long moment before asking, "After what?"

"After the campaign." I hated to say it, but I plunged onward, anyway. "Let's say we go our separate ways when it's over. If I move in with you now, I'd just have to move all over again."

This time, he paused for so long that I started to wonder if he would ever respond at all. But then, in a tight voice, he asked, "Go our separate ways, how?"

"Well, for one thing, I might find a job in a different city."

This was undeniably true. And yet, it wasn't the primary reason I was declining his offer.

All too well, I recalled the vow I'd made to protect my heart. Already, I was doing a terrible job. But