Mallory was silent for a long moment. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper,she said—
"Yeah. I’ll do that." Mallory swallowed.
They both knew she wouldn’t. Because he wasn’t ready to reach out. And Savannah?
She wasn’t ready to hear his name.
Another stretch of silence.
Then—
"You still traveling for work?"
Chase exhaled, shifting gears. "Yeah,. Actually—I’ll be up that way in a month. I've got a project to scope out."
Mallory’s heart jumped. "Wait, your coming to Asheville?"
"Yeah."
Mallory grinned. "Well, well, well. What a coincidence."
Chase huffed out a laugh. "Mal—"
"I’m just saying," she interrupted, grinning. "You might as well grab a drink with me while you’re in town."
Chase smirked. "You never change."
"And you love me for it."
Chase chuckled. "That’s debatable."
A pause.
Then, softer—“Mal—do me a favor?”
Mallory paused. "Depends on what it is."
Chase exhaled. "Same thing that I asked of you, a year ago—make sure she’s okay."
Mallory’s breath hitched. Because Chase wasn’t asking for updates. He wasn’t asking her to push Savannah in his direction.
He just wanted to know she was alright.
That was all.
Mallory smiled, her chest aching. "Yeah, Montgomery. I can do that."
A pause.
Then—
"Thanks, Mal."
She swallowed past the lump in her throat.
"Anytime."
And for the first time in a year? Chase Montgomery didn’t feel like he was drowning.
