"That's a good idea."
"I've been waiting to tell you my idea since I heard you were coming to Texas. I've had time to go over my advice with Rafael, so you're hearing the edited version."
"Glad I didn't call right away then."
"How are you handling spending time around Sawyer again?"
"I wish she didn't hate me," I say like a dumb kid.
"You hurt her. Sawyer spent her whole life protected from the ugliness in life. Do you remember that asshole who roughed you up during the paintball matches?"
"Sure."
"Her immediate reaction was to make the problem go away. When she didn't like school, her family kept her home. When she wanted something, she got it. Sawyer is tough in many ways, but she's never had to survive. You ending things was the first time life didn't bend to her will. She never really coped with that because she didn't need to. She wallowed in her anger. Now, she's lost her dad, and the pain might eat her up. Unless she learns life won't bend to her will like people do. Once she learns to accept things, she'll get over her anger at you."
"She's not wrong to be angry at me though. I never warned her I wanted out."
"I'm not going to explain why that is."
"What does that mean?"
"You always want to belong. I'm curious how you'll handle being in a place where you don't."
"I liked it better when you were analyzing Sawyer."
"Of course you did, little man."
I laugh since a decade has passed since I got tall enough to stand over Harlow. Hearing voices in the background of the phone, I realize my nieces and nephew are home from school. I love imagining my sister happy in her suburban McMansion. Harlow found the right man and tossed aside the pain of her past. I figured I'd do the same eventually. Except the only woman I ever wanted was Sawyer, and I'd let her go.
Chapter 11
Sawyer
One More Last Chance
Dust Harbor is a bowling alley and ice skating rink. The siblings ignore the former, making a beeline for the pizza restaurant near the latter. I follow behind them silently. They're not speaking, but no doubt sharing silent insults. Colbie shoves Bodie at one point while Zane ducks out of their way.
My mind on Jace, I keep checking the side door for his arrival. An elderly couple enters and a man with his teenagers. No Jace though.
"Pizza toppings," Colbie says suddenly next to me.
"I don't care."
"I wonder what color shirt he'll wear," she says and sighs. "I hope it's tight." When I glare at her, Colbie smiles back at me. "Can you blame me for wanting pretty things to look at?"
"Friends don't ogle friend's ex-boyfriends."
"That doesn't sound like a real rule. So what kind of toppings do you want?"
"Pepperoni."
"Was that really so hard?" she asks, nudging me playfully. "Wouldn't it have been easier to just pick the topping without me making you jealous first?"
"I'm not jealous."
"Sure, kitten," Colbie says, winking before returning to the pizza counter.
I'm so busy glaring at the back of Colbie's head that I miss Jace entering the building. My first thought when catching sight of him is that his tee is gray. My second thought is he purposely picked a tight shirt to make me miss him.
"Sawyer," he says, nodding at me before focusing his gaze on the siblings. "Are we bowling?"
"Afraid?"
"You're no better at it than me," he murmurs, smiling easily. "I'm guessing the twins are great bowlers."
Colbie smiles from a nearby table where she sets down her drink and one for me. "Of course. We won the league championship two years in a row."
"Our team name was Unicorn Rainbow Tears," Bodie says without a hint of humor. "We crushed everyone in our paths."
"We decided to quit," Colbie whispers as if sharing a secret.
"Why?" Jace asks.
"Dad pointed out how the people on the other teams were losers, so winning the league championship might be the best moments of their lives. We have so much and really shouldn't steal away their chances to shine."
"We retired for the betterment of mankind," Bodie adds.
"Did mankind appreciate your efforts?" Jace asks.
Colbie stares at him with her pretty eyes, and I want to punch her.
"No, it really didn't. Of course, mankind is notoriously bitchy."
Jace shares her smile, and my hand forms a fist. Even unsure who to punch, I can already feel the sweet pain of my knuckles meeting one of their faces.
"What kind of toppings do you want on your greasy pizza?" Colbie asks Jace.
They walk to the counter together, leaving me with no one to punch. I glance around and find Bodie grinning at me.
"If you were smart," Bodie says, "you'd punch him. Jace won't fight back while Colbie always goes for the eyes."
"I'll remember that."
We sit at three small tables. Jace joins Colbie. I'm with Zane who ignores me. Bodie sits with her Doberman. When I ask how she can bring Lynyrd into the skating rink, she informs me she's visually impaired and dares me to prove otherwise.