Chase wondered how Brooke was dealing with the gossip. On Monday night, after he’d tucked Maddie into bed, he sat in the screened-in sunroom alone. He had his cell phone in hand. He brought up Brooke’s contact information. Was he being a fool to think that she’d felt the connection between them?

She answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

“Hi, Brooke, it’s Chase.

“Oh, hi, Chase.” She sounded breathless, and nervous. “I didn’t save your name in my phone.”

“Hey, I wanted to call and apologize for getting involved Saturday night.”

 “Involved?”

 “Yeah. When Ben started in, I should have left it alone.”

 “Oh, okay.” Her tone was disappointed. “I thought it was nice that you stood up for me.”

  That was a relief. “You did?”

 “Yes, I did. But it seems to have become the news headline.”

 “I know. That’s why I called. I was hoping you were handling it okay.”

“I don’t like that they have blown it all out of proportion. Especially when my sister told me Megan said you had your hands all over me in the pickup.”

“Technically, it was just your waist.” He realized how stupid that sounded, and was glad to hear her laugh.

“Who would have thought we would be linked? Valedictorian and homecoming king.” Brooke sounded like she could not believe they could go together. “Makes quite the tabloid headline.”

He laughed. “If we’re in the tabloids, then Megan is the paparazzi.”

It sounded like Brooke choked and then laughed. “I’ll tell her you said that.”

Chase grimaced. He did not want to give Megan any more to gossip about.

“No, don’t. Not that it matters. The damage is done.”

Now she wasn’t laughing. “Have you told anyone that I invited you in for coffee? I didn’t tell Megan that, or anyone else. I mean, if you already told people, I guess that’s okay. But I’m not sure what they will say when they hear that I invited you into my house.”

At the worry in her voice, he quickly told her, “The only person I told was my younger brother, and only because he asked me outright. He wouldn’t have believed me if I’d lied.”

Brooke sighed with relief. “I’ve lost count of the times I’ve lied and said you left after you dropped me off.”

“I haven’t told anyone else, because I was worried about your reputation. I’ve been the subject of gossip before, but you just came back to town. I hate that Ben caused a scene and started this whole thing.”

“It will all blow over, eventually.” Brooke sounded hopeful, but not convinced.

He leaned forward and rested his forehead in his hand, feeling the shakiness in the hand that held the phone. “What if I don’t want it to blow over?”

“What do you mean?”

 “Would you go out with me this Friday night?”

 “On a date?” she squeaked.

 “Yes, a date.” He felt his heart pounding in nervous anticipation.

 “Why?” Brooke asked in disbelief.

 He was going to have to explain something he didn’t understand himself. He took a breath and steadied his nerves.

“I enjoyed our conversation.” And the dance, and the coffee, he wanted to add, but left that out. He would tell her that when he could see her face and gauge her reaction.

“Well, that won’t put any rumors to rest.”