Chapter 27

Cole

The call was from Rett. “The girls are at some thing, don’t know what exactly, but it’s a girl thing where uninhibited cussing, burping and farting are not allowed—your sister’s words—not mine. And we’re all bored, so we’re coming over to play. Dray is obsessing about the foam pit. Clutch sold a Chevy Nova today so he said he’d buy the pizza and beer. What do you say, bro? Can we invade your space tonight or do you have plans with that hot little Cinder wench?”

My mood and the fact that I’d downed six beers and another dose of aspirin was making my head just foggy enough that I couldn’t answer fast. I was on the fence about whether seeing them would help or worsen my mood. “Uh, well I’m kind of out of it because I got taken out today on the track.”

“What the fuck? Who took you out?”

“Nate Harkin. It’s a long, boring ass story, but I can verify that all the rumors about him being a mega-douchebag are true. But you know what—pizza with you guys sounds like a good way to piss away the evening. I’ll see you when you get here.”

***

Denver and Rodeo had planned to go out to a bar, but when they heard the words free pizza, they decided to stay. They were pulling the BMX bikes out of the shed while I sat on the small retaining wall that ran adjacent with the kicker and foam pit. We’d filled a cooler with ice and beers.

I pulled my phone out, checked it and shoved it back into my pocket. There were four new texts, but none from Kensington. It seemed I wasn’t even going to get a chance to talk to her.

My eyes drifted out across the dry landscape. The days were getting shorter, and the sun was already dropping low in the sky. The only part of the Modante residence I could see from the retaining wall were the grapevines and the top of the barn roof.

Rodeo pedaled past me on a bike. “Dude, if you’re not checking your phone, you’re checking out her house. Starting to look a little pathetic.”

“Fuck off. You caused this with your rambling mouth.”

“Yeah, yeah, guilty as charged.”

Denver rode up on a bicycle. “Give her a night or two. She needs a cooling off period.”

“Yeah? You think so?”

He shrugged. “How the hell should I know? If there’s one thing on this whole fucking planet I don’t understand, it’s women.”

Rodeo looked over at him. “Really? One fucking thing? Then how the hell do they get the ships into those little bottles?”

Denver stared at him. “That’s the question that’s been chipping away at your brain? Ships in bottles?”

“See, you don’t know it.”

“They collapse the sails and then build it back up once it’s inside. I’ve watched a couple YouTube videos on it.”

Rodeo snorted. “You would watch that.”

My phone buzzed, and I was glad for an excuse to pull my attention away from their stupid conversation.

“There he goes again, checking his phone.”

I held my middle finger up at Rodeo as I answered it. “Hey, Fin, what’s up?”

“Rett said you got hurt today. I was just checking in on my favorite brother.”

“Favorite, huh? Cuz Jude told me just last week that you told him he was your favorite brother.”

“Yep, you’re both my favorites. What happened?”

“Nothing. Rett has a big mouth. I’m fine. In fact, Rett and the guys are coming out here to hang because apparently you women have made other plans. The aspirin and beer has me feeling loose enough that I might just try a few tricks over the foam pit.”

“That sounds silly if you were hurt today. So that’s where they’re all heading.” She laughed. “They acted like they had some big exciting plans without us.”

“Coming out here to shovel pizza, suck down beer and fly into a box filled with cut up chunks of foam is exciting.”

“In your book. How come you’re not seeing Kensington tonight?”

I didn’t answer.

“Shit, did you blow it with her already? Shoot, I really liked her. Plus, now I’ve got to bake cookies for Jude. He told me you’d screw it up with her before the end of the month. I thought you’d make it until at least Thanksgiving.”

My siblings had had a bet about a relationship that I’d messed up because of a bet. Fucking ironic. “You both suck, just to let you know. What’s happening with Dad? Haven’t heard from him this week.”

“He was in Austria and was having trouble with his international phone plan. He emailed me some pictures. He’s living it up, as always.”

The front doorbell rang. “Rett’s here. I’ve got to go, Fin. Catch you later.”

“All right. And Cole, I’m sorry. It seemed like you really liked Kensington.”

“I did. Have fun tonight.”

I headed inside. Dray was leaned down staring through the front window. “Why are you walking like an old man, King?” he called through the glass.

I opened the door. “And why are you staring into my house like some weirdo, nosy neighbor?” I lifted my hand for a fist bump. “I hit the dirt today and my back is telling me that crouched over is better than straight, so fuck good posture.” I motioned them through. “I’ve got an ice chest of beer outside, and the bikes are out for anyone who would like to try some jumps and eventually join me in my beer slash aspirin therapy.”

Nix walked with me. “Thanks for letting us crash your beer aspirin party. How’s it going with the wine heiress?”

“It’s not.”

“Oh, sorry. Rett acted like it was a thing.”

“I thought it was, but I fucked up.”

Dray had already climbed on a bike. He was taking jump pointers from Denver.

Clutch had perched his massive frame on the wall. “I’m ordering the pizzas. How many should I get?”

“Let’s see,” Nix said. “There’s the six large pizzas that you and Rett eat, and the rest of us will probably be all right with four large ones. So ten.”

“I’ve never eaten six pizzas in one night,” Clutch argued.

“Bullshit,” Nix said. “But I did mention that you’d be sharing those with Rett.”

We pulled up some chairs to watch Rodeo and Dray do bike tricks into the pit. Dray’s first ride took him about two feet in the air followed by a nosedive into the foam. Clutch had his phone up.

“Did you get that?” Nix asked.

“Sure did.” Clutch replayed the video and his booming laugh echoed off the back wall. “What a dick. Gonna have to post it.”

Dray emerged from the foam. He handed his bike over to Rodeo and climbed out of the pit.

“Hey, Dray, it’s all about the air,” Denver called to him. “And you forgot the air on that jump.”

Rett stuck his legs out in front of him and leaned back with a beer. “So, King, how’d you blow it with that cute wine princess?”

“What?” Clutch asked. “I heard through the Scotlyn grapevine that it was turning into something.”

“Yeah. Thought so too, but I’m back on the side of freedom. So the rest of you can just keep your balls in the clamps and watch me have fun.”

“Right,” Rett laughed. “That’s why you look like the kid who just had his cookie stolen off his lunch tray.” He kicked the edge of my chair. “You should ask Nix here for some advice. He’s the woman pro, you know Heartbreak Kid and all.”

Nix bowed his head at Rett. “And it takes one to know one.”

Clutch shook his head. “First of all, sparkles here,” he pointed to Rett, “dated a gazillion women before he met Finley, the only girl who could keep his attention span for longer than the usual ten seconds. And this guy, my best friend, Heartbreak Kid, carried Scotlyn’s picture around for a year before he even met the woman. Weird, obsessive and a little creepy, if you ask me.” He tapped his chest. “I’m the one to go to for advice on women, and everything else for that matter.”

Nix leaned back and crossed his arms. “Well then, my all too wise, completely overgrown and thickheaded friend, tell us how it’s done.”

Clutch took a long drink of beer for dramatic effect. “If you like her, you go over there, knock on the fucking door. When she opens it, you grab her and kiss her.”