Pieces of Summer (A stand-alone novel)(25)

I stand there feeling stunned and a little horrified. Aidan f*cked her? He helped her cheat?

“Yet last night, when you walked in, Chase couldn’t take his eyes off you, and he nearly punched his own best friend who hadn’t even touched you. I realized Chase James can’t fall in love with someone else because he’s still in love with the only girl he’s ever wanted. So I came here, and told Aidan I wanted him to help me end things with Chase, that way there was no way of ever going back. He obliged because he hates the man you love.”

“I don’t… You don’t understand, Whit. I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. Let’s just say that loving Chase is very unhealthy for me. And I’m already not very healthy.”

Before she can speak, Aidan interrupts us like a rabid dog in attack mode.

“End this conversation or I’ll drag you back home whether you like it or not. You promised me this was just for closure. You swore you wouldn’t let yourself go there ever again, Mika. Don’t you get it? This could destroy all the hard work you put into healing. You’re sick, Sis. This is just going to make it worse.”

Whit’s eyes grow confused, and heat rides up my neck in waves of embarrassment. I turn away from both of them and rush up the stairs to escape it. I’ll never speak to him again if this town finds out.





Chapter 15


CHASE



It’s not surprising when Whit walks into the shop, but it is annoying. You don’t call a guy and tell him you spent the night screaming another guy’s name in bed and expect a warm greeting. She even has the audacity to look pissed.

I recline back in my seat, enjoying my ten minute break before the next client shows up, while she crosses her arms over her chest. Beth whistles between her teeth before slipping out the door to give us privacy.

“You’re an *,” Whit snarls.

“I’m not the one who f*cked someone else,” I point out.

“No. You’re just the one in love with someone else. At least I had the balls to end this.”

I laugh under my breath while shaking my head.

“Whatever you need to tell yourself to make you feel better, dear. Feel free to leave.” I wish I could say I wasn’t relieved it’s over.

“I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for Mika.”

My head snaps up, and my eyes narrow on her. That name is getting too common to hear. I spent years not hearing it uttered, and now it’s on the tongue of everyone, and constantly driving me insane.

“Mika sent you? I don’t think so.”

I grab my sketchbook, trying to mock up a design for a client I have in a few days.

“No, but she’s… I think she’s sick or something. And I don’t think she should have to suffer whatever it is alone.”

That has my sketchbook falling to the floor when I stand abruptly.

“What the hell does that mean?”

Why does it look like she’s about to cry?

“She bought that bowling alley for closure. I didn’t know what that meant, but this morning, she and Aidan were having some cryptic conversation, and her health was mentioned. She also bought her father’s house… It seems like she came here to make peace with something, if you know what I mean. It’s definitely not normal. None of it. It would only make sense that she essentially came here to die.”

It feels like a blade is ripping up my spine and slamming into my chest at the same time. Dying? Fucking dying?

“Beth!” I yell, grabbing my keys.

She darts back inside, eyes wide.

“Cancel my appointments.”

Whit follows me out to my truck, grabbing my elbow. “She mentioned that bald eagles mate until one dies, also,” she says quietly. “It… It broke my heart, Chase. She seems so… I don’t know. I never noticed how broken she was until today, yet she seems so distant and detached, almost like she’s afraid to feel anything. And Aidan is very anti-you. You should definitely let me call him and get him and Hunter out of the house before you go over there.”

“She’s at home? Not at the bowling alley?”

She nods and pulls out her phone. I wait very impatiently as she calls someone, probably Aidan.

“Hey, it’s me. Thought maybe you and Hunter would want to meet for some lunch or something.”

She eyes me and nods.

“Now sound good? Great. I’ll see you at Vera’s Diner in ten.”

As soon as she hangs up, I feel awkward. What the hell do you say to your ex who is trying to help you go see your other ex because she’s… I can’t. I can’t even try to process that. Whit has to be wrong.

“Make sure his car is gone before you go in there. He’ll end up kicking you out. You’re a trigger for Aidan.”

“Learned a lot about him in one night, did you?” I quip.

Aidan always seemed disinterested in me and his sister when we were younger. No idea what has his panties in a wad now.

“I learned more this morning than I did last night. Other than the fact he was phenomenal in bed. Guy has stamina for days.”

I cock an eyebrow at her, and she rolls her eyes. “Just wanted to see if you had one ounce of jealousy in your body. Guess not for me.”

I almost feel guilty, but I consider us even since she f*cked a guy before breaking things off.