Chasing Red (Chasing Red 1)

“So, Kar.” Beth started. When Kara didn’t answer, Beth called her again. Finally, Beth reached forward and tapped Kara on the shoulder.

“Yeah? Sorry.” Kara sighed, raking her fingers through her hair. She sounded tired.

Beth whistled. “You got it bad for the ex, girl.”

She scooted closer to Kara. Now that she was sure Kara wasn’t moving in on Theo, Beth was warming up to her. “If he doesn’t give a fuck about you, why do you still love him?”

Kara looked at her seriously. “Would you keep loving Theo if he didn’t feel the same way about you?”

Before Beth could say anything else, Theo came back, smiling and holding beer. A lot of beer. Beth scooted between the front seats again. She pulled the keys from the ignition, rolled down the window, and passed them to Theo’s outstretched hand. He walked back to open the trunk and put the beer in, then got in and started the car. They seemed to have a routine. It was so cute to watch.

We were a block away from the liquor store when the car shuddered to a stop.

Theo groaned. “Man,” he moaned, resting his head on the steering wheel. “I’m so sorry.”

“I told you to sell this piece of shite, Tee. What is it this time?”

“It’s just the battery. I need a boost.”

“My dad owns a car repair shop,” Kara offered. “You can bring it in, and I’ll give you a discount.”

Theo looked at her gratefully. His smile was embarrassed.

Beth tossed a set of keys to Theo. “Grab my car so you can give it a boost.” She turned toward us to explain. “I live just a couple blocks away. He can run it. Go, Tee.”

Theo stepped out of the car and hesitated before closing the door. “I don’t want to leave you girls alone here. It’s late.”

“This is not the time for that caveman crap, Theo,” Beth chided. “I’m hungry, and I have to pee. Go!” She made a shooing motion with her hand.

Theo looked worriedly at us, and I gave him a smile so he knew I was okay with it.

“Lock your doors, and keep your phones with you. Dial 911—”

Beth reached for the handle and closed the car door in his face. Theo just shook his head, waved, and left.

“He is suc

h an old-fashioned nerd.” Beth huffed. “He thinks guys should take care of everything. It’s stupid.”

“I think it’s sweet,” I said, smiling at her.

She pouted. The car was parked under a streetlamp, and its light created a halo around Beth. With her blue hair, she looked supernatural, like a sea fairy.

“You’re so in love with him,” Kara commented, turning to stare at her.

“What?”

“You heard me. Does he know?”

Beth was silent for a moment before she answered. “No. Yes. I don’t know.”

I could tell she was debating whether she should trust us or not. I guessed she’d decided to trust us, since after a minute she said, “He’s pretty dense, and I don’t want to tell him. It’s going to…ruin what we have, you know?”

She cracked her knuckles and turned to Kara. “So what happened to you and your ex?”

I glanced at Kara, worried. She looked pale and subdued.

“I was going to wait until Ver and I were alone, but I think we can welcome an ugly face like you into our little group. What do you think, Ver?”