Pieces of Summer

I snort, trying not to laugh. “Funny, Whit. Real funny. Blake asked me out. I didn’t realize it was some sick joke to the two of them. I thought I was going to make a friend. One whom is in town, and one whom isn’t dating the guy who tore me in two.”

Surprise flits her face, then a touch of sadness. “It’s like the universe is trying to slam you two together, but there’s a wall too thick for either of you to bust through.”

No idea what that means, so I don’t say anything.

“Blake is his best friend, but he didn’t know about you, Mika. He was completely clueless until last night. He’s actually a really nice guy. Chase lost his shit when he found out Blake planned on dating you.”

This time, I’m the one surprised.

“It’s why I left the carnival,” she goes on. “Chase doesn’t get jealous. I’ve been trying to get a rise out of him for months. I could straddle a guy and shove my tongue down his throat, and Chase wouldn’t care. I called him this morning to tell him I spent the night fucking your brother, and all he said was that I could have at least dumped him first. That’s it. No anger, no passion… nothing. He just hung up after that.”

I stand there feeling stunned and a little horrified. Aidan fucked 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 asshole,” Whit snarls.

“I’m not the one who fucked 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.”