Not Alone Any More {Chase Elliott || Sequel to Only the Lonely} ✔️

x.

chicagoland speedway

"you good?" alek cast a sideways glance at kathryn claire as she entered the garage.

kathryn claire felt her cheeks heat up, knowing that he was asking about the heated exchange between her and chase the day before. "oh yeah," she mustered up a smile. "ready to get to work."

alek nodded, "right." he opened his mouth to say something else but stopped, his eyes were trained on someone behind her.

"hey." chase's voice rumbled from behind her. "is the car ready?"

kathryn claire tensed up at the sound of his voice. even though they had talked about their disagreement, she still felt uneasy around him, almost like he was a stick of dynamite that could be detonated at any time.

alek shrugged, "yeah man. is there something we should be looking at?"

chase shoved his hands in his pockets, "honestly, i just needed an excuse to get away from the reporters."

alek chuckled, "how many times have you been asked if you're okay?"

chase rolled his eyes, "i lost count. but the car is good?"

alek nodded, "yeah. it'll be good to go for practice."

chase smiled but his smile didn't quite make it up to his eyes. "perfect." he fidgeted for a moment. "if y'all don't mind, i think that i'm going to just stay in here."

"no problem at all." alek handed a tablet to kathryn claire. "kc can show you the specs of this setup, it's a little different from last time." alek patted her on the shoulder as she walked off.

chase stepped forward, close enough that she could smell the musk of his cologne. she couldn't help but be hyper-aware that they were in public.

"so uh..." her voice trailed off as she opened the program. chase leaned closer until he was hovering over her shoulder, his hot breath in her ear. having him in that close of proximity that she forgot everything that she knew about engineering.

in all of the things that had happened in the last week, she had forgotten the effect chase had on her. it hadn't taken much to remind her. he made her heart pound, her knees weak. it was totally cliche but she couldn't help it.

after a moment, she handed chase the tablet, deciding that would be better than her stammering like a fool in front of the whole garage. she knew that everybody was watching them, anxiously waiting for her to give him another tongue lashing. kathryn claire was not sure what was worse -- the garage thinking that she had only gotten her job because of chase or being known for being the person that chewed chase elliott out in front of everyone.

chase studied the tablet for a moment before leaning over, "this could be written in french and i might have a better chance in understanding what all of this code means."

kathryn claire frowned, leaning over chase to see the tablet. "sorry about that." she tapped a few buttons to change the program so it was in plain english.

"you smell nice." chase noted, his hot breath in kathryn claire's ear, his voice low.

ever aware that they were in public and all eyes were on them, kathryn claire jumped back. glaring at chase. "don't say stuff like that to me in the garage."

chase frowned for a moment before his lips turned upward into a smirk. "why not?"

"because..." her voice trailed off. "because i said so."

chase widened his eyes slightly before letting out a chuckle. "whatever you say. you know, most girls would die to hear me say anything to them, much less a compliment."

kathryn claire rolled her eyes, "i guess i'm not most girls, now am i? now, here are the specs." she motioned towards the tablet.

chase laughed, shaking his head before his eyes locked onto his tablet, reading the screen. kathryn claire couldn't help but study him and the way his brow furrowed in concentration. her heart skipped a little at the quick glances he'd make in her direction, followed by small smiles. she loved chase elliott, there was no doubt about it.

so much had happened in a week-- the crash, the confrontation, a start to chase and ryan's reconciliation -- that it had felt like whiplash. a day ago, she had been sure that things between her and chase were over, but now?

now, her heart filled with love for the last person she thought she'd ever have it for. she wasn't sure where this would take them, maybe, in the end, she would be heartbroken but standing in the garage, staring at him she knew that it was worth the risk.