Page 50 of Collision

“I’ll go find him.” Chase disappeared up the stairs.

Tina stood from a nearby couch. She was in a red leotard with red horns sticking up out of her hair.

“Where’s your costume?” I asked, poking her pitchfork.

“Very funny. I haven’t heard that one yet.”

“How has it been working at the shop?” Kenzie inquired.

“It’s great. I’m finally doing something besides sitting in the house.”

“So, are you just done with school now? Are you dropping out for good?” Tina was never one to beat around the bush.

“I don’t know. I’m taking it one day at a time right now.”

“You can still work and go to school at the same time.”

“Yeah, right,” Shelly interjected. “She’s been working all day, every day!”

“I bet she is.” Tina gestured to Chase as he came down the stairs, with Brody in tow.

“I haven’t figured everything out, yet. I’ll let you know when I do.” I didn’t know how to explain the hours I had been working without spilling Chase’s secret. His father’s health was on a steady decline, and the Brooks brothers were determined to keep everything up and running in Tim’s absence.

Shelly ran to Brody and jumped into his arms.

“Happy birthday, gorgeous!”

“It looks great in here,” she exclaimed, looking around. “Let’s get everybody drinks.” She grabbed Brody’s arm with one hand, my wrist with her other, and pulled us into the kitchen.

“If you keep pulling on me like this, I’m going to need surgery on my other shoulder.”

“Here, hold this.” She pulled a tray out of the refrigerator and handed it to me.

I peered into the small gelatin cups as I placed them down onto the counter. As Kenzie and Tina entered behind us, Shelly handed them a shot. She gestured to Brody and Chase. Brody knew better than to argue, and took the shot.

“No shots for me.” Chase held his hands up. “I’m good with beer.” He reached into a cooler nearby and took a beer out. He reached in again and handed me a water bottle. I hid behind him and poured the water into an orange cup while Shelly threw back two shots.

“Why are you crouching behind me?” he asked.

“Shelly will be getting very drunk tonight. I will be holding a cup to give her the illusion I am drinking with her.”

He chuckled. “Very clever.”

“I don’t want anything spoiling her fun – especially not me.”

“Well, you’d better get out there then.” He gestured to the next room.

Shelly was already dancing in her favorite spot in the middle of the dance floor. We all danced around her, belting out the lyrics of each song that came on. Without even realizing it, I was having a blast, too. I was glad the sling came off in time for the party. It was a constant visual representation of weakness – of all the ways my life had been debilitated. Though my shoulder wasn’t fully healed yet, it felt good to have my arm free.

Several songs in and an unknown amount of alcohol later, Shelly, the Selfie Queen, was in full effect. We took countless combinations of photos until my cheeks hurt from smiling.

“No more!” I shouted to her.

“Just one more,” she insisted. “You need to take one with Chase. For your frame!”

I pressed my cheek against his as he wrapped his arms around me. I held onto his midsection and tried to steady the both of us. I didn’t know how many beers he had consumed, but he seemed a bit wobbly.

“You guys look adorable!” Shelly squealed and she captured the moment on her phone.

---