Promise Me This(60)

“That’s one of the reasons why I told you,” I said. “It’s time we all . . . God, I don’t even know what I’m saying. I just know that I was tired of holding it in. I had a shitty childhood and that’s that, time to move forward.”

“So sorry, man,” Kai said. “I’ll admit that my mom has worried over the years. I’d hear her talking with my dad sometimes. I think she thought your father was . . . I don’t know. Not someone she approved of for your mom.”

“Well that’s the understatement of the century,” I said, giving a humorless laugh.





Chapter Twenty-seven


Nate



I headed toward the bowling alley where friends were celebrating Quinn’s birthday. I’ve never had a best friend, not really, but Bennett probably came closest. The guys from the shop were cool and I’d gotten drunk at one too many parties with Quinn’s fraternity brothers. Not that he lived at that house anymore. He mainly stayed with Ella at her place, but he remained close to a frat guy named Brian and his girlfriend Tracey, who were probably here tonight.

I pulled into the full lot. This place was old school and popular with the locals, plus it had good beer and decent food. I couldn’t tell you the last time I’d been bowling but Ella had rented out a few lanes, maybe in an effort to allow Quinn to live out his childhood or something. Once, I overheard her say that he’d always travelled with his politician parents as a kid and was virtually ignored by them.

Everyone had their shit to deal with.

Ella was someone I used to try to stay clear of. She worked a hotline, was almost done with her psychology degree and had helped Quinn through a tough time. I always had this fear, a habit Dr. Drake told me would be hard to break, that if I talked to her too much, she would guess everything about me.

When I stepped out of my car, I noticed Jessie’s red pickup truck parked one row over and my heart vaulted to my throat.

My gaze immediately travelled to her front passenger tire—which was now sagging low. Goddamn it, Jessie. I knew she should have bought a new tire, I should have insisted. Well now I would. I’d follow her home to make sure she got there safely if she wouldn’t let me drive her.

I walked in and saw my friends gathered at the end lanes where there were balloons tied to every post. I smirked at Cory and a couple other tattoo artists, who were lacing up their red and blue bowling shoes.

Another couple of guys I recognized from the frat house were playing pool. Brian was with them and he waved to me. I paid my admission and told the dude behind the counter my shoe size all while I scouted out the room for Jessie.

It took me a moment because her hair had changed again—back to the way I like it—but I finally spotted her near the bathroom hallway talking to Dex. From what I remember of their history, they had hooked up briefly. She had been the one to call it off and then swear off dating anyone else from the shop. Smart girl.

They now looked to be in heated discussion and to make his point, Dex had placed his hand on her arm. Everyone could see he was still into her and whenever he was drinking, he always made his intentions known. The guys always laughed it off, as did Jessie, but now my chest burned hot with lava.

I’d been up to the bar a couple of times when Dex had become sloppy drunk and whined to Jessie about breaking up with him. I didn’t know how much they had done with each other and my gut tightened imagining that he had been the one with the handcuffs mentioned in the never have I ever game.

Where in the hell was this insane jealousy coming from? I’d never felt this possessive over a girl before. Ever. Fuck.

Her eyes met mine across the wide expanse of space, and as I moved toward them, ready to pulverize him, she shook her head as if to call me off. She yanked her arm away from Dex and headed back to the lanes.

Bowling shoes in hand, I sat down on one of the benches and clapped Quinn on the back. “Happy birthday, man.”

“Thanks for coming,” Ella said and gave me a hug. “We just ordered pizza and wings and a round of beer. Pick a lane to bowl and make yourself comfortable.”

I tipped my chin to Bennett who was helping Avery encode the names on the nearest machine and then looked over to Kai and Rachel.

“Wanna bowl with us?” Kai asked. His eyes still seemed haunted from our conversation this morning. It would probably be that way for a while.

I looked up at the board and saw that Jessie and Emmy’s names were already there. “Yeah, sure.”

“Hey, Blue,” I said, finally glancing at her. Her hair was that dark brown color that I loved with blue tips and as if she knew I had noticed the change, she twirled one end around her finger. “Your tire is low again.”