Pieces of Summer

“Can we not talk about that?”

He clears his throat. “Right. Sorry. My bad. Hate that, though. Milton was a good guy.”

“Yeah. He was. Even though he told you to stay away.”

Conflicting emotions wash over me, and Chase blows out a harsh breath.

“It wasn’t like that, Mika. Anyway, I like what you’ve done with the place.”

He motions around at all the upgrades. Stainless steel appliances, newly stained cabinets, and a few other things have modernized the space.

“It’s not finished. Hunter is just taking his time doing things since I’m living here. He tries to accomplish more when I’m not home.”

“Why’s that?”

Deciding not to answer, I sip my coffee as a reason to stay quiet, and then deflect the conversation when I lower my cup again.

“Whit will be at the bowling alley,” I remind him, hoping that deters him from going.

“Yeah. I figured. She won’t mind me coming there, though.”

Jealousy sucks. Does that mean they’re back together? Does that mean he wants to see her? Is that what this is?

The hell am I doing? I’m obsessing again. I can’t do that.

It’s not like I can be with him… And I don’t want to be with him. Sure you don’t, Mika.

“I should get dressed,” I tell him, leaving the table. “Probably best if you’re gone when I get done.”

I don’t say anything else, and he doesn’t either.

By the time I finish getting ready and come back downstairs, he’s already gone, and I breathe out in relief. Now I wonder if I should really go to the bowling alley. Not that it matters. I committed to it now, so I have to go, even if it’s only to step inside and turn around and leave just so I can feel satisfied I was there.

See why I can’t be with anyone? I’m a fucking mess.

Chapter 20

CHASE

I’ve never been out of Georgia before now, and after travelling all this way, I’m exhausted, hungry, and really fucking nervous. I stare up at the ranch house I’ve only ever seen in pictures.

I came all this way, but now it feels like I can’t take another step forward. Mika is in there, and I’m stuck out here because my feet are cemented to the ground.

An old man walks out, hobbling down the steps. I’ve never seen him before, but he’s eyeing me like I’m doing something wrong.

“Can I help you, son? You’ve been out here staring for a while. It’s making me itch to grab my shotgun.”

I swallow down the nerves that have wadded up in my throat. Mom just died, and the first thing I did was come out here. What the hell am I thinking? Nothing has changed. I’m still not good enough f

or Mika.

“I… uh… I… I’m a friend of Mika Dalton’s…”

Yeah, fucked that up.

His eyes widen. “Oh, well, that’s not going to get you shot. But she’s not here. She and her brother moved out to New York or something. I bought this place a few years back. Haven’t seen the Dalton girl since she graduated.”

He frowns as he studies me.