Pieces of Summer (A stand-alone novel) (27 page)

Chapter 53

CHASE

3 weeks later…

“Mika, I really don’t know why you insisted we come here, but this isn’t where I want to be,” I grumble, even though I try not to sound angry.

I hate this fucking house and being here makes me sick. I suggested a day out, because I’ve been working on a surprise for her today. This is not what I meant about getting out of the house for a few hours.

Mika ignores me as she goes to the back of my truck, climbing up and leaning over to grab something from the bed of it. My gaze returns to the abandoned house no one in this town has wanted to buy. The nearest neighbor is at least a mile away. It’s almost as though this home has shamed the land and no one wants close.

My hands go in my pockets as I study the collapsing porch. All the windows have been broken now, courtesy of the kids running loose in town. The weeds have grown up to be knee high in some places, and the grass is completely dead in other spots. The paint is almost completely peeled away, and the rotting wood is on the verge of finally caving in.

“Mika? Why are we here?” I ask her, still staring at the house from my past as that familiar pit of disgust forms in my stomach.

Suddenly, she’s in front of me and jabbing a beer bottle in my hand that has a rag hanging out of it. My eyebrows go up in confusion when I get a whiff of something that suspiciously smells like gasoline.

“Mika…” I let her name trail off as she pulls out a lighter and grins up at me.

“It’s okay. I researched this. For a book, of course.”

She lights the end of the rag, and my eyes widen in shock when it blazes up.

“You should probably throw it before you get burned,” she points out.

I toss the bottle as hard as I can and the glass explodes against the side of the house. The fire shoots out in a streak, but doesn’t send the house in a blaze or anything the way it does in the movies.

“Are you crazy?” I ask her as she pushes another bottle in my hand.

She blinks before saying, “Yes. Yes, I am.”

When she lights the rag this time, I throw it immediately, and the bottle crashes into the house through the broken storm door. An actual fire starts when the glass shatters, and I roll my eyes.

“Wrong kind of crazy, baby.”

She shrugs before bending over and grabbing yet another bottle, holding it as she studies me.

“You’re helping me chase away my demons, so I’m helping you chase away yours. Actually, I’m helping you burn your demons to the ground. Get it?”

She grins at me before thrusting the next bottle into my hands. There’s a decent blaze flickering from inside the house now, and when she lights the bottle this time, I don’t hesitate to throw it. In fact, it actually feels good when fire spreads.

“I also had Hunter pick you up several extra belts and install a belt organizer for you, but I thought this surprise was the most important,” she adds, causing me to smile despite the fact I’m throwing yet another bottle toward the house.

We’re both fucking crazy.

Bottle after bottle smashes into the house, and when the last one is thrown, the house is burning hard. Mika stands at my side, and my arm goes around her shoulders as we watch all the bad memories burn—metaphorically.

I’m not sure how she knew I needed this, since I didn’t even realize it, but it feels like a weight is being lifted off me. The
whoop
of a siren has me cringing, and Mika and I both turn around as Dusty pulls up in his patrol car.

He and I went to school together, but we were in different grades. I expect him to break out his handcuffs, considering we’re committing arson and I’m a James. However, he takes one look at us then glances toward the house, and grabs his radio, radioing in to the station.

When they answer, he says, “Tell the chief it’s just the James house burning down. Don’t worry about sending anyone for a few minutes. I think it’s time this house was gone.”

The dispatcher mutters something that’s too static-ridden for us to understand from our distance away from him, but Dusty says something back before walking toward us.

He nods once at me, then tips his hat toward Mika, before joining us as we stand and watch. As the blaze drives on and takes the house down little by little, more weight lifts off me.

“You two watching the whole thing burn down, or can I call the guys out here before the field catches fire?” he asks.

My smile turns up before I glance down at Mika, but she stares at me like it’s my decision.

“I’m good. Thanks, Dusty,” I tell him, clapping him on the shoulder as I turn to leave.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure to speak with the fire chief.” He gives me a look of understanding, and I kiss the top of Mika’s head as I guide her back to my truck.

I guess small towns aren’t always a bad thing.

Holding open Mika’s door for her, I turn and take one last look at the house as it folds in on itself. When I look back at her, she’s staring at me.

“I love you,” I tell her, leaning in to brush my lips over hers.

She throws her arms around my neck as she pulls back. “I love you too.”

When she smiles, I forget we need to be getting out of here. Until I hear the sirens wailing in the distance.

“We should probably get home. I have a surprise for you too.”

Her eyes light up. “Do I get to burn something down?”

I laugh while shaking my head, and she winks at me as I shut the door and round the truck to my side. After getting in and heading down the road, we pass the fire trucks that aren’t in any hurry to go put out the flames. I’m guessing they want that house to completely burn as much as I do.

I reach over and grab Mika’s hand, lacing our fingers together as I drive toward her house. I only let go when I have to start shifting gears.

We pass by the bowling alley, and I watch as her grin spreads. I’ve made two changes since she signed it over to me. One change was having her name added so that we’re both owners—just like we’d always said we’d do. The other change is that horrible fucking name she picked out to replace the corny one we chose as kids.

The corny name is now proudly displayed:
Endless Summer.
And two fucking bald eagles greet you at the door.

When we reach her house, she hops out first, and I slowly get out, looking up at the home that changed my life. It’s only right we stay here. It only makes sense that this is where we finally get our second beginning.

Mika is watching me when my eyes come down, and she cocks her head.

“Sorry. Just having a moment.”

“As long as that moment isn’t considering doing the same thing to this house, then we’re cool. Take all the time you need,” she says, smiling over at me.

Two days ago, she had a small episode after someone messed up the price at the restaurant and tried to change the tab. It wasn’t a huge deal, but plenty of people called her crazy. Not that I care. I’ve been called worse around here.

But I finally got a chance to prove to Mika that I don’t care, because I raised as much hell as she did. It really was a stupid thing to do, after all. I’d have bitched even if the numbers changing didn’t affect her.

One day, there will be a bigger episode. Dr. Stein has warned us both that with Mika’s emotions unleashed, it makes it much more likely for the agitated moments to make her more irrational.

I’d rather see a whole lot of crazy than a cold and indifferent shell of her. But I’ve also decided to put my own plan into action.

I move toward her, and she turns and walks in, leading the way. Hunter walks by with half a sandwich hanging from his mouth as he texts a mile a minute.

“Is it ready?” I ask him.

“Yeah,” he mumbles with the sandwich still in his mouth and his attention still on his phone.

“Is what ready?” Mika asks.

“This way, and I’ll show you,” I tell her, tugging at her hand.

Aidan is passed out on the couch after just flying back in today from a shoot somewhere across the country. Mika pauses at his side and pulls out a marker from her pocket. I have no idea why she’s carrying around a marker.

After she draws a 1920’s handlebars mustache on him, she puts the marker away like nothing happened and follows behind me. When we reach the old room that was used for storage, I push the door open and flip on the light.

I end up biting back a laugh when confusion covers her face.

“You… put a chair in here… with your tattoo stuff. This is
my
surprise?” she asks, turning to face me.

I smile while walking her toward the chair, and I move aside some of the sterilized packs.

“I think I’ve found a solution to your biggest concern,” I tell her, watching her face grow even more confused.

“I don’t think I understand…”

“Sit down.”

She does as I say without protest, completely trusting me, and I get my equipment ready in record time. I’ve done a few trial runs to make sure I can set up as fast as possible.

When I push her shirt up, she watches me. She doesn’t try to hide her scars from me anymore, even though I can tell she hates it when I look at them. She tenses when I brush my fingers over a few scars, but she doesn’t bat my hands away.

After I clean the section, I pull out a pre-made stencil I drew up, and press it to her skin. After temporary ink settles in, I remove the stencil and let her see the small eagle imprint.

“What are you doing?” she asks as I pick up the gun.

There will be times where I have to free hand this, considering how quickly an attack hits. I’m good at free-handing though, so I’m not worried.

“Giving you a tattoo,” I tell her as the gun starts up.

She doesn’t try to stop me, which is one of the many things I’ve always loved about her. Mika is spontaneous, and she trusts me.

When the gun makes contact, she doesn’t even flinch, even though the skin has to be tender. I take my time, going over the outline, permanently marking her skin. When I get done with the outline, I turn off the gun and look up at her.

“Feel that?” I ask her.

“Um… Yeah. I’m not numb.”

I laugh lightly while dabbing away the excess ink and blood.

“I mean do you feel what it does? It’s not as painful as cutting, but I think this could work for the worst times. To relieve the pressure, you know?”

Her eyes water as she stares at me, and I half wonder if I’ve fucked up by bringing this up. She swallows audibly then clears her throat.

“Yeah. I think it would work,” she says in a rasp whisper as a tear falls from her eye.

I smile at her before changing out the ink, but she catches my hand before I can resume the process.

“Something wrong?”

She shakes her head before tugging at me, and I lean in to press my lips to hers. She doesn’t kiss me hard, but the kiss is one full of everything she feels, and I half consider fucking her in the reclining chair.

When I pull back, she nods at me, and I flash her one more smile before resuming shading in the eagle. It might sound crazy, but maybe this is why I learned to be a tattooist.

Life is a bitch, but sometimes that bitch knows what she’s doing.

Epilogue

MIKA

Ten years later…

“Aunt Mika! Make him stop!” Kayla squeals while wrapping her little arms around my leg.

At seven, she’s freakishly strong, because I can’t pry her off me enough to pick her up. Laughing, Chase lunges, but she squeals and buries her face in my leg as though that’s going to protect her.

He wrangles her off me with very little effort, and a shrill scream pierces the air when he tickles her. She finally dissolves into giggles when he stops, and she breathes out in relief before racing back toward the house.

She loves spending the summers with us.

Aidan is locked upstairs in his room with Whit. Never would have thought they’d end up together, but I couldn’t be happier they did. They gave me a beautiful, precious, sweet niece, after all.

We’ve added on to the house so everyone had their own rooms. Aidan and Whit only stay the summers here, and visit on holidays. Hunter and his wife have their own room, and their son has his own room as well. We’ll have to add on again if they pump out any more babies.

Chase grins at me as he comes to wrap his arms around my waist, tugging me to him as his lips brush mine.

“Ever wish we could have had children?” I ask as I wrap my arms around his neck.

He shakes his head rapidly, and I try not to laugh.

“I love her, but every time summer ends, I feel like I need to sleep for a month to rest.”

I can’t stop my laughter this time, and he waggles his eyebrows at me.

“Besides, I still like having you all to myself instead of sharing you. I’m selfish like that.”

“Oh?”

He nods, but just as he lifts me from the ground, a wet spray slams into us, and Chase groans while I snicker and run away from the spray of the garden hose. Kayla giggles wildly as Chase goes to snatch her up from the ground, even though he gets soaked in the process.

Smiling, I wring out my shirt around my waist then head inside to change while Chase deals with the little girl who is still squealing and giggling like she couldn’t be happier.

When I reach the bedroom, I pull my shirt over my head and toss it aside. My eyes flit to the mirror, and my gaze lands on the numerous colorful tattoos. Chase found a way to deal with the worst days, but instead of leaving behind scars, he leaves behind something beautiful.

The high from the pain isn’t as intense, but I was never chasing the high cutting gave me. It was always about the relief, and there’s just enough pain to relieve the pressure when it hits.

That’s thinking outside the box.

I get a little better every year, so the roughest times are few and far between. The best part is that I don’t have to live without emotions in order to actually live. I even get to hug my brother whenever I want to—when he’s here. I get to snuggle with my niece when they visit, and watch movies I haven’t seen.

Chase, of course, makes sure there’s no major cliffhanger ending that would result in a minor attack.

I’m in control. Well, we’re in control. None of this would be possible without Chase. I’d still be holding everyone at arms’ length and going through the motions of survival.

“Son of a—” Chase cuts his words off before he says something in front of Kayla’s small ear as he stumbles into the room. He closes the door behind him and locks it, and I hold back a laugh as he shakes his wet hair like a dog.

“She’s relentless,” he groans when Kayla starts knocking and calling out for him.

His eyes fall on me when I start laughing, and he licks his lips as he stares at some of his artwork. Kayla persists, pounding on the door, and I move closer to him until he grabs me at the waist and pulls me to him the rest of the way.

His forehead presses against mine, and I sigh happily while hugging him.

“Uncle Chase! Aunt Mika! We’re going swimming. Come on!” Kayla says while pounding the door.

“Yeah, Uncle Chase and Aunt Mika, let’s swim!” Aidan goads, laughing like the ass he is on the other side of the door.

Chase groans miserably, while I snicker against his chest, but he grins at me when I pull back. We both change quickly into our swimsuits, and we head downstairs, lacing our fingers together as we walk.

On a side note, I’ve learned how to swim again. I still don’t know how to ride a bike—the irony.

Hunter and Megan walk up with Trey—their four-year-old son—and I go to hug them all, finishing with Trey who clings to me. When Kayla yells for him, he takes off toward the lake, and Aidan catches him before he can jump in the water without a lifejacket.

Chase gets conned into taking both little ones out into the water, and I watch like I can’t look away as he plays the doting uncle like a pro. I have something I lost, and he has something he never had—a happy family.

There’s food—some of it I even cooked. The adult drinks are locked in the rolling bar outside, and the kid drinks are overflowing from the coolers. I watch in awe at how different my life has become.

This is a life I once only dreamed of, but now it’s my reality.

I was wrong about love. I once said it wasn’t worth it to love and lost than to have never loved at all. Well, if there’s a chance to find that love again, that is.

Tonight we’ll sit on the roof where it all started… The same rooftop we got married on ten years ago. Everyone thought we were crazy, considering Chase just made a few calls with no times, and everyone showed up to see us standing on top of the roof while someone called out our vows from below.

It was just the beginning of our best days.

The greater the struggle, the greater the reward.

My reward is wet and climbing up on the dock right now, and water is running down his chest and abs. It’s definitely something I like watching.

He winks when he catches me ogling him. It sucks that guys just get hotter with age.

My bikini shows the scars and the art he’s done, but I don’t hide it anymore. That’s because of him.

When he reaches me, he wraps his arms around me from behind, and rests his chin on top of my head as we watch the kids play in the lake. Whit and Aidan laugh with Kayla and Trey, while Hunter and Megan sit on the dock and kick water at them.

My head falls back against Chase’s chest, and he hugs me closer when we hear a car honk. Sounds like Blake just got here. It’ll be a busy first week, just like it is every year.

Chase waves at Blake as he walks by with a little curly-haired girl on his shoulders. He sits down and seems to daze off with a smile on his face.

I lower myself to his lap, and his arms wrap around me before he nuzzles my neck with his face.

“What are you thinking?” I ask him as he holds me tighter.

“I was thinking… I really love summer.”

THE END…

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