Second Chances // Chase Elliott

the one you need

six

CHASE ELLIOTT

It's been a week and a half since my date with Caroline. After she texted me asking if we could meet, I got super busy with media interviews and photoshoots, so we haven't been able to meet yet, but the plan is to meet tonight once I get back from Charlotte. We've been texting randomly here and there over the last week - nothing too extreme but just checking in on each other, talking about work, and exchanging some small talk.

I'm excited to see Caroline. After our date, she's constantly been on my mind; wondering what she's doing at any given moment, jealous of the people who get to see her every day. Something about her hooked me and I was crushing hard - a feeling that I haven't been used to in quite a while.

"Chase, you want to go out for drinks tonight with me, Willie, and a few other guys? I think Ryan said he may stop by for a minute." Alex asked, while we were waiting for our meeting to start.

"I can't tonight man. I gotta get back home after this meeting. Maybe later this week though!"

"You got a hot date or something?" Willie chimed in.

"Something like that," I said barely above a whisper, hoping they wouldn't hear me.

"Wait, seriously?" Willie asked, almost in shock.

"Kinda." I admitted. "I'm meeting up with this girl that I went out with last week."

"Wait, you went on an actual date?" Alex asked, using the same shocked expression I got from Willie a few seconds ago.

"Yes. I know it's so hard to believe that I, Chase Elliott, would go out on a serious date with a girl." I joked.

"Well, how was it? Where'd you meet her? What's her name? Is she cute?" Willie asked.

"My god, you've been hanging out with Erin for too long." I laughed. "But to answer your questions; it was really good, we met back in high school through mutual friends but then once this whole racing thing took off, I never saw her again until the date, Caroline, and she's beautiful."

"Well, I can't wait to meet her." Alex and Willie both said.

"If things go alright tonight, maybe she'll be at a race soon."

"Who's gonna be at a race soon?" Jimmie asked as he walked into the conference room.

"Chase has a girlfriend." Willie said smirking and Alex was beside him snickering.

"She's not my girlfriend." I corrected Willie. "I went on one date with a girl from back home and these two are making it a bigger deal than it needs to be." I said to Jimmie.

"Well, I think it's great that you're getting back out there again." Jimmie affirmed.

"Alright boys, let's get started." Mr. Hendrick said, walking into the conference room with his entourage of people.

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As soon as our meeting was over, I headed straight for the airport and flew to Atlanta to meet Caroline at her store. Once I made it to the boutique, I parked the car in the lot that was across the street and made my way over. When I walked in, I instantly recognized the Tyler Childers song that was playing through the speaker system in the store. The store was filled with customers - mainly girls who were either in high school or college but there was the occasional guy who was there with his girlfriend. A few moments later, I was greeted by a black lab, who I assumed was Caroline's dog, Chief.