Free Ethereal by Addison Moore

that looks as though it’s made of glass.
    “Try this one, it might be a better fit.” He takes the pink monster ball with a serious mind of its own away from me. I’m surprised he doesn’t come after me for damages.
    “Thanks.”
    “Here, I’ll show you how to shoot it.” He walks me down the beginning of the lane and bends my arm back. I can feel his leg press in hard against mine. His arm entwines with mine, and his warm neck cradles in the crook of my shoulder.
    I never knew bowling could be such an erotic sport.
    “Neither did I.” He whispers hot in my ear.
    I laugh as we chuck the ball awkward down the lane. Only this time it’s not an automatic gutter ball. This time it rolls all the way down and knocks back half the pins.
    He gives a high five.
    I hop back to my seat filled with glee, even though Logan went back to answer some ludicrous question Michelle screeched over at him. I watch as he sits down at their table and starts filling in their computer board.
    Gage bullets his ball down the lane with a vengeance, and gets a strike right off the bat. I’d accuse him of beginners luck, but he’s probably bowled in the dark and achieved the same feat.
    I glance over my shoulder and catch Logan’s name popping up on the screen.
    “I thought he was working tonight.” I muse to Gage, as he takes a seat.
    “He’s the boss. Always doing what he likes.” He stretches his arm across the back of the curved bench, his fingers touching the top of my shoulder.
    Brielle screams and shouts with great exuberance from her second strike in a row, which I missed again. Some friend I am.
    “Congratulations.” I say without the required enthusiasm.
    “Is that what’s bugging you?” She clicks her tongue over at the next table. “Logan has a way of getting around.” She pulls a face. “Sorry. He’s just friendly that way.”
    “Is this true?” I ask Gage below a whisper.
    “I try not to affiliate myself with rumors. Judge for yourself.”    
    I try to look back without being so obvious. Logan has his hand on Michelle’s arm as she leans in, and whispers something to him. I know what he’s doing. He’s reading her mind. I’m sure it’s loaded with equal portions lust and lunacy.
    Logan looks up and sees me watching him. He gives a brief wink, a barely there expression of acknowledgement, before turning his full attention to whatever it is she’s saying.
    They openly share a laugh. If I didn’t know any better I’d swear they were a couple.

Chapter Seventeen
     
    Snake
     
    The sky has split open. It yawns long stretches of rain—torrential downpours— until the roadways look like muddy rivers polluted with battery acid, mud the color of rust rising up on its sides.
    Brielle called and asked if Drake and I wanted to come over, hang out and watch a movie, so we go.
    The house looks different. More structured, less carefree than the last time I was over. It’s been dusted and swept and the dishes are not migrating all over the counter, most likely courtesy of Brielle herself.
    She’s wearing a brand new black sweater with a peek-a-boo lace trim front. It’s embarrassingly apparent she’s not wearing a bra. Deductive logic reasons this, just by the way she’s bouncing around. Her face is done up kabuki style with too much makeup and not enough reality left for the discriminating eye. Something tells me I’ll be watching this movie on her larger than life plasma all by my lonesome.
    “So Drake.” She over annunciates his name. “Would you like a tour of the house?”
    “Really?” I ignore the opening credits and turn down the volume. “Is that where this is headed? Because I could leave, and you two can tour the world for all I care.”
    “No, no! Don’t do that, please.” Brielle makes a baby face by pursing out her lower lip in a dramatic fashion.
    “Fine I’ll stay.”
    They head upstairs. I pluck out my phone and start texting Logan.
    Where are you? I’m doing time at B’s.