Pieces of Summer

So they’ve been sitting around discussing Mika?

“Mika really likes you, Whit. You just going to talk shit about her with someone who doesn’t know her because you’re pissed at me?” I growl.

Whit’s eyes widen, and Jessie scoots closer to Blake as she cowers. A waitress comes over and drops off a drink for all four of us.

“Damn, Chase. You’re crazy protective. I wasn’t talking shit, asswipe. I like Mika. A lot. She’s good to me, and pays me more than I’m worth. But I am curious. Sheesh. Just asking logical questions.”

Her words aren’t slurring, but she’s struggling to wrap her lips around the straw in front of her. It slaps her nose and cheek twice before she finally manages to get it where it goes.

“I don’t have those answers. Even if I did, I wouldn’t give them to you. Ask Mika if you want to know.”

“I have asked her,” she groans.

Deciding not to entertain this conversation, I shift it to the new camping grounds. It’s a boring and safe conversation.

After guzzling down two more drinks, Whit can’t sit upright. I still have half a beer in front of me, and she’s draining those fruity drinks like there’s no tomorrow.

“You’re going to have to give me a ride,” she mumbles as she drops her head to my shoulder.

“Yeah, sort of figured that one out already,” I grumble.

Blake rolls his eyes when Jessie’s head collapses to hi

s lap, and he flips me off.

“What’d I do?”

“She wouldn’t be sitting here if you hadn’t dated Whit. Now I have a boner from an unconscious chick’s head.”

I huff out a laugh while slipping out of my chair, carefully picking up Whit. She wraps her arms around my neck, and I hold her behind the knees and back.

“I’ll get Jessie home,” Blake groans.

He’s had about as much to drink as me. Not fucking much at all.

The two of us carry them outside, and Whit nuzzles her head on my chest. I feel absolutely nothing. The only thing it makes me think about is how it feels when Mika touches me. It’s nothing even close to the same.

I never should have dated Whit. It wasn’t fair to her.

I should have gone over to Mika’s and talked to her, tried to figure out what was going on instead of meeting Blake.

Carefully, I unload Whit into my truck, and I walk around to the driver’s side. Whit leans against the door while fumbling with her seatbelt, finally getting it to click.

“Why are you drunk?” I ask her as I drive her to her apartment.

“Because getting drunk seemed like fun at the time. I was going to find a hot tourist boy, but none of them are as hot as Aidan.”

I almost laugh at that, and she slaps my arm. “He is hot. Really hot. He just doesn’t seem to want to talk to me. I’ve called him three times now.”

“He’s out of town, Whit.”

“What kind of guy is he? You know him, right? Because you’re in love with his sister.”

I don’t acknowledge that last part. “Never really talked to him while growing up. He was a typical rich douche. He usually had whatever latest tech gadget was out, and he was consumed by it or partying with the rich lake fuckers that came during the summer. He never seemed to really care about Mika. Guess he grew up, since he wants to keep me away from her. Seems overly concerned about her these days.”

“He doesn’t see the way you love her or he wouldn’t try to keep you away,” she sighs dreamily.

Again, I don’t acknowledge that.