Pieces of Summer (A stand-alone novel)(42)

Ignoring the guffaws behind me, I try to shake out my arm and my nerves. I used to be good at this. Admittedly, a lot has happened to me since the last time I bowled. A brain injury tends to do that. I’ve forgotten how to actually line up a shot correctly.

Basic learning skills don’t apply to someone like me, and my brain doesn’t process all motor functions the way it used to. You know the saying about it being like riding a bike? I can’t remember how to ride a bike.

Blowing out a breath, I throw the ball, and it lands in the gutter once again. At least it zooms down that baby this time.

“That was so much better than I was hoping,” Chase says, still laughing so hard that he’s holding his stomach.

I glare at him, but I’m smiling when I do it, so it has no effect.

When he walks by me, he slaps me on the ass, and I grimace. Whit arches an eyebrow, but doesn’t react any other way than that.

By the eighth frame, Chase is rolling strikes and my ball is still humping the gutter. I’m starting to realize that bowling may not be in the cards for me anymore. Not that I mind. It’s still fun to watch Chase laughing as I suck. Suck at bowling that is.

“What happened to you?” he asks jokingly, laughing when my ball actually hops—yes, it freaking hops—into the gutter on the ninth frame. Nine frames and I have a big fat goose egg on the scoreboard.

Bright side? The numbered frames don’t bother me… Well, at least not unless we don’t play all ten frames. I’d probably have an issue with stopping before finishing. Also, my mind doesn’t take issue with the pins not all falling over, since they get knocked over by the arm before resetting a new frame.

If I told him what happened to me, the life would be sucked out of this room in no time. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready to have that conversation. It’s nice having someone look at me the way he does… as though I’m not broken. Just like Whit does, even though she sees me as fragile.

I like people treating me like the old Mika instead of the damaged one.

“Next game, I will kick your ass. Watch this comeback,” I quip, loving the way he winks at me.

He, of course, goes on to bowl three strikes on his tenth frame, and he flexes like he used to back before he had any muscle at all on his arms. I laugh lightly while shaking my head, and I get up to take my turn.

Desperate to hit something other than the gutter, I granny roll that bad boy. Yes… I pull it between my legs and roll it forward while staying bent over. When it crashes into the pins and knocks seven over, I squeal like I just bowled a perfect three-hundred.

Turning around, I launch myself into Chase’s arms, and he laughs while hugging me against him. My lips brush his cheek, and his laughter slowly fades as his grip on me tightens, holding me closer. My arms wrap around his neck and stay that way as I rest my head against the crook of his neck.

“Finally something other than the gutter,” I say, feeling the toes of my shoes nudge his shins.

“Gutter whore,” he jokes, reminding me of the days when we were younger and he’d call me that after I hit the gutter once or twice.

“Asshole,” I mutter, unable to come up with something wittier.

“You want a drink?” he asks me, shifting me a little.

“Water,” I tell him, but he doesn’t put me down and I make no move to let go. After a few more minutes, he clears his throat and slowly lowers me to the ground.

He bends and presses his lips to my forehead, a chaste action that wouldn’t do much for anyone else. But my heart hammers my chest in reaction to the simple, sweet gesture.

When he walks away, I turn around, and immediately feel my stomach sink when I see Whit sitting and staring straight ahead with her back to me. Her shoulders are hunched, her body is tense, and I feel like an absolute ass.

I go to sit beside her, and she gives me a weak smile before turning back to face the lanes.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking,” I say quietly.

She laughs humorlessly. “Don’t apologize, Mika. I think I finally understand something I didn’t fully comprehend until this moment.”

“That I’m an insensitive bitch who shouldn’t have been hugging a guy I used to date in front of you so soon after your breakup?” I ask, hating myself.

She exhales heavily. “No. I realized he was never mine. He was always yours. I’ve never seen him laugh like he has tonight. I’ve never seen him smile so much. I’ve sure as hell never seen him watch anyone the way he watches you… As though the universe hangs in the balance of your every move. I was so worried he was going to break you. Now all I can think about is how easily you could break him.”

My heart clenches in my chest, but she just smiles before standing up. “I think it’s time for me to leave you two alone. It seems like you have a lot of catching up to do.” I start to speak, but she turns around before I can. “Oh, and one quick question. Do you care if I see your brother again? Really wouldn’t mind a round two or three with him.”

Gross.

“Aidan can date whoever he wants. I’ve never interfered. And I would give you a glowing recommendation if he asked my opinion.”

She flashes a genuine smile at me before winking and walking away, drawing the attention of almost every man in here on her way out. But Chase doesn’t even notice her when she passes him. He’s too busy staring directly at me as he makes his way back with two bottles of water.