“We’re just friends, Beth.” Chase answered with a little more vehemence than Ashley would have preferred. It stung a little, as if the idea of the two of them on a date was that ridiculous. “Ashley gave me a ride home because my car wouldn’t start.”
“Oh no, where’s your car?”
“At a repair shop.”
A nurse came in and checked on Beth. “You ready to give us a urine sample now that you’ve gotten some fluids in you? I’ll help you get to the toilet.”
Chase blanched. “I should probably wait out front.”
Beth sat up slowly. “Just stay here, Chase. I’ll try not to scar you for life.” She hobbled off with the nurse to the small bathroom nearby, and Chase collapsed in the chair by the bed and put his head in his hands. “I hate medical stuff. I just want her to be okay.”
Ashley hesitantly patted his arm. “She’ll be fine. Don’t worry about this. Who knows? It could end up being a wicked case of gas.”
Chase chuckled. “Don’t let her hear you say that. She’ll give you one of her death stares.”
“They already ruled out appendicitis. That’s good.”
“Yep.” He looked over and gave her a small smile. “Thanks for being here.” He covered her hand with his, and she shifted to let him take it fully. She loved the warmth of his hand, the feel of his fingertips with hers. If only it wasn’t a friendly gesture. But she needed to be content with his friendship. She should be grateful that’s all he wanted. After all, she wasn’t ready for another relationship, was she?
Beth came back in with the nurse, and Chase and Ashley mutually released each other’s hands before his sister could see.
The nurse helped her back into the bed. “The doctor will confirm it, but this girl most likely has kidney stones. Unless they’re really big, we’ll send her home to let nature take its course. Lots of fluids, lots of rest. Hang out here until we have time to do an ultrasound and look at them.”
“Have you checked in with Gabby and Tyler?” Beth asked. “It sounds like we’ll be here for a while.”
Chase nodded. “Mike’s mom texted. She said she’s fine with keeping them as long as we need.”
“That’s good.” Beth sat up suddenly. “Oh, Chase. Did you miss your job interview?”
The panicked expression that overtook Chase spoke volumes, and it carried over to Beth, who quickly glanced at Ashley and put her hand over her mouth.
It wouldn’t have felt like such a punch to the gut if they both didn’t make it out to be some huge secret. Why wouldn’t Chase ever confide in her? Ashley felt like he knew everything about her, and yet, until tonight, she’d known next to nothing about him. Everything he revealed had to be practically dragged out of him.
So he was thinking of leaving AutoBest. Why?
