an adult. You see it differently now. You understand. Maybe after we die, it’s like that.”
Chase stared at her and she looked back at him, waiting. There was such openness and sincerity behind her expression, and that look on her face, combined with the words she had just said, suddenly made him feel like there was a lump in his throat.
He cleared it quickly, picking up his burger again. “Shouldn’t we be passing a joint back and forth while having this conversation?” he grumbled.
“Do you have one?”
He looked up to see her smiling at him.
“Not on me, I’m afraid,” he said with a small laugh.
Andie sighed, picking her sandwich up and taking a bite. “Oh, and Chase?”
He lifted his eyes to hers again.
“Will you be paying for lunch with cash, or credit?”
Chase felt a slow smile creep over his lips, and she mirrored his expression before picking up her drink and taking a delicate sip.
He sighed heavily, shaking his head in amusement.
“Cash.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Andie stood at the gas pump, her arms above her head as she twisted to stretch her back. The little beep sounded, signaling that her credit card was approved, and she turned to the pillar where the paper towel dispenser was mounted on the wall. Grabbing a few, she kept them in her hand as she removed the nozzle from the gas pump and inserted it into her gas tank.
Chase exited the small food court in the center of the rest stop with a white plastic bag dangling off his wrist. As he approached the car, he reached in and pulled out a bottle of water, holding it up in offering. She mouthed a thank you, and he nodded in acknowledgment before he slid back into the passenger side.
It was getting late, she thought as she yawned for the third time. She would have to stop soon. She had looked at the map of South Carolina a little while ago; if she could make it another hour or so, they could stop in Yemassee for the night.
A few minutes later, the sharp click of the gas tank reaching capacity snapped her out of it, and she placed the nozzle back on the pump before tossing the paper towels into the trash can. Using her knuckle, Andie pressed the button to decline a receipt and walked around the front of the car before sliding back into the driver’s seat.
She brought her hand to the ignition, freezing when she saw the way Chase was looking at her.
“What?” she asked.
“What the hell was that?” he asked through barely contained laughter.
“What the hell was what?”
“Did you just use paper towels to hold the gas pump?”
“Yeah, so?”
He looked down and pinched the bridge of his nose as his shoulders shook with laughter.
“Laugh if you want to. Do you have any idea how disgusting those things are? How many people touch them in a day? People who are sick? Who just went to the bathroom and didn’t wash their hands? No one ever cleans those things. They’re like disgusting little petri dishes.”
He looked back up at her, trying to straighten his expression, but that lasted about a third of a second before he burst out laughing again. She ignored him, starting the car, and just as she was about to put it in drive, she saw him reach for his door handle.
“What are you—”
But he was already out of the car. Andie put it back in park as she leaned over, looking out the passenger window. He walked over to the gas pump, running his hand down the front of the nozzle before removing it. After a second he glanced up at her, tossing it back and forth between his hands a few times before returning it to its place. And then, just for good measure, he ran his hands down the front of the pump itself, up along the sides, over the price stickers and the buttons to select the fuel grade. He turned then and got back in the car, shifting to face her with a tiny smile on his lips.
She rolled her eyes. “Point taken. You’re still alive. For now, anyway,” she added, looking at his hands with disgust.
Chase still hadn’t moved; he sat in the same position, watching her, his smile slowly growing more pronounced.
Andie pulled her brow together. “What are you doing?”
She saw him shift slightly in his seat, bringing his body a bit closer to hers, and she shot him a warning glance.
“Chase, I swear to God…”
She was