by Magan Vernon
“Doesn’t have to be awkward, man. You can go in your car and take your artsy fartsy tattooed ass back to New York, and me and Abs can meet the others at the bowling alley,” Joey said. He tried to put his arm around my shoulders, but I ducked and veered toward Jordan.
Joey raised an eyebrow. “What was that, Abs? Do you have something going with this douche who left you? Left all of us because he was too damn good for Friendship, Texas?”
“What the hell, man? Weren’t you the one who cheated on Abbey and got another girl pregnant?” Jordan crossed his arms over his chest; the biceps in his arms pulled against his shirt, and I tried not to stare.
“What the hell, Abs? You telling everyone about our private lives now?” Joey yelled, sticking his arm out and pointing a finger at Jordan.
As if she sensed I needed her, my petite friend Christy appeared in the doorway with her almond eyes wide as she held up her perfectly manicured fingernails. “Whoa, what the hell did I just walk in on?”
Christy’s sky high heels clicked on the hardwood floor as she walked inside and stood beside me. Even in heels, she was still almost a foot shorter than I was and definitely more put-together in her blue off-the-shoulder top and shorts.
“Apparently, Jordan and Joey thought they’d pick me up for Rock’N’Bowl,” I said as calmly as I could, though my hands were shaking. This was one of the weirdest situations I’d ever been in. I didn’t want to get back with Joey, but there was no way in hell I wanted two guys fighting over me in my front entryway or for Jordan to think I was crazy and wasn’t worth the time we had.
Christy smirked then looped her arm through mine. “Well, it’s too bad, boys, because she’s riding with me. If you really want to impress her, make sure you put in an order for a cold pitcher and mozzarella sticks for when we get there,” Christy said as she pulled me out the door and left the two boys just standing there.
I didn’t let out a breath until I closed the passenger door of Christy’s SUV. “Holy shit, that was nuts.”
Christy looked in the rearview mirror, and I followed her gaze to the two boys walking out of the house toward their respective vehicles.
“I can’t believe Joey wants you back and that Jordan Webber is freaking back. And that you told me all this in a damn text!” Christy shoved my shoulder before starting her car. The luxury SUV purred to life unlike my car, which sort of sputtered before starting.
“Sorry. Life’s been a little crazy,” I muttered, not wanting to tell her about my lunch with Teagan.
“I’ll say. I can’t believe you were at Sofie ‘thick eyebrows’ White’s baby shower or that she locked down a hottie like Johnny Laughlin for eighteen to life.”
“You know she gets her eyebrows done now. She looks really good. Even while hugely pregnant.”
Christy scoffed. “I know. I saw her pictures on Facebook. Lucky bitch.”
“She’s actually pretty cool. I mean we’re practically stepsisters now. I always thought she hated me, but she’s been super nice.”
“Is she your new BFF now? I go away to school, and all of a sudden, you have a new almost stepdad, an ex-boyfriend coming back in the picture, and a new BFF. Gawd, maybe I should move back.”
“You’re being dramatic, Christy.”
She sighed. “I was just kidding, geez. Whatever. If Sofie’s your friend now, I can play nice. I’m not a complete bitch.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Really?”
She laughed. “No. But I can try. Especially since we’re going to spend all night watching two boys fight over you. Maybe four if Noah and Marcus get in on it. Then Teagan will have to go extra slutty to get the attention back on her, and we’ll probably see someone’s nipple, and then it’ll be a party!”
“Sounds like a really great time,” I replied sarcastically. This night was going to be interesting, that was for sure.
***
The bar at the bowling alley had been recently renovated with a million TVs around every booth, and the décor went from 1970s shag to Dallas Cowboy chic with silver tables and royal blue chairs with stars everywhere the eye could see.
Teagan, Marcus, and Noah were seated at a corner booth. The one we frequented in high school when Teagan was sleeping with one of the cooks so we wouldn’t get carded for drinks.
That was back when Christy was sort of kind of dating Marcus with his horse teeth and receding hairline that started in middle school and before we started hanging out with Noah.
Noah was definitely a great addition to the group with his infectious smile and curly hair. The guy had also been deaf since he was five, and I had to admit that his husky accent was kind of sexy. Not that we had a drunken make-out session one summer night at Christy’s parents’ house. Or twice. Okay, maybe multiple times. But unlike Joey, the guy never treated me like shit afterward.
“Hey, y’all,” Christy said, scooting in as close as she could to Noah. I guess no make-out session with him for me tonight, and that was okay. I had enough boy problems and didn’t need to add another one to the mix.
“Oh my gah, you survived that heinous shower!” Teagan said. When she stood, her little pink dress hiked up, so I swore everyone in the place saw her underwear or lack thereof.
Teagan embraced me in a tight squeeze and already smelled like vodka and cheese fries.
“The shower actually wasn’t bad. I hung out with Lia and her fiancé for a bit after, and Sonny was heavy on pouring the wine,” I said as Teagan released me, and I slid in next to her in the booth.
“Sonny Conti? Teagan, didn’t you try to bang him that one New Year’s Eve when we went to dinner at Conti’s?” Christy asked.
Teagan smirked. “Real funny, Christy.”
“What? I thought it was true. It was that same night we met Jay, Johnny, and Scotty,” Christy said.
Noah looked at each of us, reading our lips I’m assuming, and smiled. “By meeting, I’m guessing it’s different than the way the rest of us met them.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that one and almost snorted, but instead, my breath caught in my throat, and I choked on air, having to beat on my chest as I watched Joey and Jordan saunter in.
“Jordan! You made it! Yeah!” Teagan pushed me out of the booth and ran over, throwing herself at Jordan.
He limply hugged her back, raising an eyebrow at me. “Uh. Yeah. Can’t forget this place. Though it’s changed a lot.”
“A lot’s changed, Jordy,” Joey said with a sneer, sliding into the booth next to Christy before grabbing a plastic cup and pouring a glass out of the half-empty pitcher.
“Abs, did you bring your camera for a group picture?” Christy asked.
I blinked, shaking my head. I usually never forgot one of my cameras. It was always attached to me. But I was a little pre-occupied trying to leave the house.
“I can take one on my phone, though, I guess,” I said, reaching into my pocket.
“It’s no K1500,” Jordan whispered, the low timbre of his voice vibrating so close to me my whole body quaked.
I raised an eyebrow as I held the phone up, fumbling to open my camera app. “How did you… do you know something about cameras and been hiding that from me for years? You know I’m not going to give you what you want for that box of cameras.”
Jordan laughed, and his whole body vibrated next to mine. “I learned a little something about photography in art school, but most of it was from watching you. I remembered the way your eyes lit up when you talked about the cameras and darkrooms you used in our high school photography class. I can’t forget that smile.”
“Are you guys done geeking out over whatever you’re talking about so you can take this photo? I can’t smile forever like this. It hurts my jaw,” Teagan grumbled.
“Yeah, from smiling not from other activities,” Marcus said with a laugh that sounded like a drunk donkey.
Jordan took my phone. “Why don’t you let me take the picture so you can be in it?”
Teagan snorted. “Please.
Abbey would rather be the photographer than the baby giraffe in the back of photos like she was in all our high school pics.”
I scrunched my nose, thinking about how much I hated that nickname Teagan gave me in high school, but it was what got me interested in photography in the first place. I hit six-foot in middle school and was always placed in the back of every photo, usually with my head cut off. After a while, I figured it was easier just to take the photo, and then I started to really enjoy taking group photos. From the group photos, I moved on to shoot the scenery in the background and just have an “oops” moment, or so I said when half the pictures were of the fields instead of our group.
“I think the tall, sexy bombshell deserves to be in the pic,” Jordan said with a smirk, holding up my phone.
Teagan frowned, and Jordan scooted toward the edge of the booth.
“Jordan, don’t you want to be in the picture too?” Christy asked, blinking slowly.
“You want me to try to selfie this? I have some pretty long arms,” Jordan said, turning so his back was to us as he held out the phone.
“Or I can take the pic,” a gravelly voice said, and Clay Carrington approached our table.
The guy was Brooke Carrington’s younger brother, and a few years older than we were. With his Mohawk and military tattoos, the guy looked like one scary mofo. But then I remembered the guy who lived behind me and cried after his first hunting trip.
“Clay? What are you doing here?” Christy stood, crossing her arms over her chest.
Noah stared at Christy then looked at Clay. “He drove me. He doesn’t like me driving at night.”
Christy rolled her eyes. “I forgot about the whole new roommate thing.”
“Are you done talking now, Princess so that I can take this picture? I don’t know who the hell hangs out in a bowling alley to drink anyway, but I’ll let you get back to it if I can just take your group shot,” Clay snarled, but under his tone was a hint of a smile.
From what I knew, Clay was working at Christy’s parents’ ranch and event center, and Noah had moved in with him after Brooke moved in with her boyfriend, Eddie. I should have known more, but I hadn’t hung out with anyone but Joey these past few months.
“Are you challenging me to a game?” Christy asked with a smirk.
“Princess, it ain’t a challenge when you know I’ll kick your ass.”
Christy pushed past Joey. “All right, Mohawk. Let’s roll.”
“It ain’t much of a game with just two people. Noah, you wanna join?” Clay asked, looking directly at Noah.
Noah nodded. “Yeah, sure.”
“I haven’t bowled in years. I wouldn’t mind it either,” Jordan said, looking at me out of the corner of his eye.
“I guess I’m in too then,” I blurted.
Joey downed his drink. “If y’all are in, I’m in.”
We all finished our drinks, paid, and then followed Clay’s Mohawk to the bowling counter.
The bored-looking teenager barely looked up from his lap. I’m guessing he was holding a cell phone because no sixteen-year-old boy stares at his member that long unless he’s gonna jack it. “How many?”
Clay counted all of us following in line behind him. Marcus, Noah, Joey, and Teagan reluctantly followed, though Teagan still said there was no way in hell she was bowling.
“Eight. With shoe rental,” Jordan said, pulling out a large wad of cash.
“Holy shit! What’s your ex been doing on the side, stripping? He probably could with that body,” Teagan whispered, not so quietly, her eyes going straight to Jordan’s ass.
“All right, you guys, come up and tell the man your shoe sizes,” Jordan said, turning around with a bright smile on his face.
“You guys? When did you become such a Yankee?” I asked with a laugh.
Jordan smirked, putting his arm around my shoulder. “I’ll show you a Yankee when we’re whooping these guys’ asses in some bowling.”
“That doesn’t even make sense.” I shook my head.
“It doesn’t need to. Does it? Isn’t that how trash talk works? I don’t know, was never much of an athlete.” Jordan shrugged.
Joey laughed from behind him. “Yeah, I remember when your ass tried out for the football team. You looked like a newborn baby calf out there running.”
“What can I say? I suck at sports,” Jordan said, nonchalantly.
“I’m sure you’re doing something to keep up with this body, though,” Teagan said, pushing her way in the middle of us and looping her arm through his.
Jordan smirked. “Yeah, I hung out with some guys in the village who were really into Parkour, and you can’t be out of shape for that.”
“Oh, like that jumping on buildings stuff! Tell me more,” Teagan said, leaning in and adjusting her dress, so her chest popped out.
Jordan’s eyes briefly went down to her dress before he started talking animatedly about his newfound hobby, and just like that, I was back to a baby giraffe in the background. So I grabbed my shoes, headed for the lanes, and sat down on one of the orange couches where Christy and Clay were already arguing about how to properly choose a ball.
“You know I can’t hear what you two are saying, but you already argue like an old married couple,” Noah said, plopping on the couch across from mine.
Christy glared, and Clay just laughed. “Yeah, like I’d marry my boss’s daughter.”
Christy turned her stare to Clay. “Technically, I’m your boss.”
“The only thing I’d let you be the boss of is my dick in the bedroom, and that’s if you could even get it up,” Clay said with a laugh.
Noah laughed too, obviously catching that one as Christy stared at him red-faced.
“They’re gonna fuck, you know?” Joey whispered, taking the seat next to me.
“Who? Clay and Christy? No. They’re totally just trying to get a rise out of each other,” I said, shaking my head.
Joey smirked. “No, I meant Teagan and Jordan.” He tilted his chin to the side where Teagan and Jordan strutted to the lanes arm in arm with Teagan still laughing and running her hand down her cleavage in her signature come-hither move.
Jealousy seared within me something fierce. Growing up, Teagan and Christy were always the pretty ones who got all the guys’ attention. It was always fine by me because the jocks and cowboys weren’t my type. But Jordan was different. Not just because he was my ex, but he was also the person I still had feelings for. The one I thought I was going to get a second chance at love with.
Well, fuck love and fuck Jordan Webber.
I stood, grabbing a pink ball from the rack, and made my way to the lane.
Without worrying about all the proper steps or techniques, I hurled the ball down the lane, letting out a loud growl as the ball whirled down the wooden planks and earned me a strike.
Everyone erupted in applause behind me, and I felt a hand clasp my shoulder. “Nice job, partner.”
I whirled around to see Jordan smiling at me. “Sure you still want me as your partner? Wouldn’t you prefer Teagan? I’m sure she doesn’t need flowers or attention. She’ll just take your back seat,” I growled low so he could only hear my words.
I shouldn’t have said those things about one of my best friends, but the girl had a way of pissing me off.
Jordan grimaced. “Ah, no. First off, Teagan isn’t my type. Second off, she was just going on and on about how she just got her period, and it had been a while, but she wouldn’t mind having me earn my red wings with her.” Jordan shook his head.
“Gross,” I muttered.
“And third”—he stepped closer, lifting my chin up with his fingers—“the only girl I want as my partner tonight or any night is you.”
I swallowed hard, looking into the depths of his endless blue eyes. I wanted to say something profound or even kiss him, but instead, Christy interrupted us when she came up to the lane with her ball in hand. “Out of my way, love birds. Mama’s in for a strike.”
�
�Okay then,” I said and turned toward the couches. Clay and Noah stood near the lane line, heckling Christy, but Joey, Teagan, and Marcus were nowhere to be found. I guess they went back to the bar.
“Why do you let your so-called friends treat you like shit?” Jordan asked bluntly as we sat down.
“What? Why would you even say that?” I asked, widening my eyes at his choice of words.
He smirked. “I noticed it in high school, but I always thought it was just girls being girls, but now, seeing it all as more of an outsider, Teagan is a real bitch, and I can’t believe you even considered letting Joey put his dick in you.”
I grimaced, looking down at his choice of words. “They were here when you left …” I said in a voice barely above a whisper.
Jordan put his hand on my cheek. “Just because they were here physically doesn’t mean they were really here. It makes me regret leaving you even more.”
“You know I really have done just fine without you.”
“Are you happy?” he asked bluntly.
“Are you?” I raised my chin and met his eyes.
“I’d be happier if you agreed to come to New York with me at the end of the summer.”
I opened my mouth then closed it before shaking my head. “What? What are you even talking about? Literally, we just saw each other for the first time in years, and now you want me to drop everything and go with you to New York?”
“What do you have to lose? Your career as a barista and school photographer? Hell, you could go to culinary school in the city or take photos and sell the prints at the Brooklyn Flea alongside me.”
“It’s not that simple,” I whispered.
“What are you so afraid of, Abbey? You were scared all those years ago to leave, and I know you were going through shit with your parents fighting, but what’s holding you here? If it’s financial support, I can help you. Hell, you can stay at my apartment until you get on your feet.”
It was almost the same conversation we had when he left the first time. He gave me a million reasons to go to New York with him, and I had an excuse for every one. Now, the only excuse I had was my fear he’d leave me again.
