Page 150 of Collided

Marie and Sebastian are good, winning points after points and increasing their total score. Between Heath and I, it’s obvious he’s great and I’m not. That luck I had for my first shot, disappears for the rest of the game. The rest of them are either gutter or cheap shots which drop our score.

Heath doesn’t remark on how we’re losing. He only gives me tips to get better. Even when I hit a few pins he gives me a nod which in Heath’s language is a proud thumbs-up—I think.

Soon it’s time for the last round and we already know who’s going to win.

“Watch this, James,” Sebastian tells Heath.

STRIKE!

I’m next and I knock down a few pins which makes me very happy.

When it’s Heath’s turn, he effortlessly lands a strike and pushes up our total score.

The game ends and the four of us stare at the scoreboard with various expressions. Marie grins, Sebastian smiles at her, Heath looks annoyed, and I feel bad for being terrible.

“We won!” Marie wraps her arms around Sebastian and hugs him hard. Then they share a sweet kiss that prolongs making me look away.

I turn to Heath. “I'm sorry that we lost.”

“Did you have fun?” he asks, instead.

I grin big. “So much fun.” It’s true. I did have fun.

“Then it’s a win,” he says softly.

My lips part in surprise. That was not what I was expecting from him. Not at all.

“We are the winners, you are the losers,” Marie sings.

Heath scowls in irritation and glares at her. “No need to rub it in our fucking faces.”

“Let's go, the food is here,” Sebastian states.

30

Heath

We lost.

If there’s one thing about me, it’s that Ihatelosing.

I can’t recall a single time when I’ve been beaten at a game, much less by my best friend and his girlfriend. But I don’t even fucking care that I lost. All I can focus on is the smile on Hope’s face. She looks happy. A look that I want to stay on her face forever.

I watch her talking to Marie who’s listening to her and eating fries.

“You can’t seem to look away from her,” Sebastian mumbles from beside me.

“I’m making sure she’s okay. I'm being a good friend.” Even my words sound shit to my ears.

“Yeah, sure.” He rolls his eyes.

“You don’t believe me.” I steal from his plate, and he glares at me. He hates it when I do it. More reason for me to do it.

“Not one bit.”

“What’s there tonotfucking believe?”

“Everything.”

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