Page 13 of Switch

Bella: Hey, Jax! Week’s been okay. Work’s busy, as always, but I can’t complain. How about you?

I smile at the reply, my fingers moving quickly over the keyboard.

Me: Busy’s good, I guess. Keeps you out of trouble. My week’s been… loud. Carnival crowds and drunk idiots don’t leave much room for peace and quiet.

Her reply comes almost instantly.

Bella: Sounds… chaotic. Are you surviving, or are you about to lose your mind?

I laugh, shaking my head.

Me: Surviving. Barely. What about you? Got anything exciting planned for the weekend?

It takes a few minutes for her to respond. I picture her sitting somewhere cozy, probably chewing on her lip while she thinks of what to say.

Bella: Not really. Might go bowling with my sisters, maybe read a little. Nothing too wild.

Bowling and reading. That fits.

Me: Wild. You’re living dangerously, huh?

Bella: Hey, don’t knock it! Bowling can be pretty intense if you take it seriously.

Me: I’ll take your word for it. Can’t say I’ve ever been much of a bowler. Not exactly my scene.

Bella: No? What is your scene, then?

I lean against the bike, staring at the screen as I think about how to answer. The truth is, my scene is whatever keeps the club running, keeps the brothers safe, and keeps people like Bella out of trouble. But that’s not exactly casual conversation.

Me: Let’s just say my weekends don’t look much like yours. But maybe I’ll give bowling a shot one of these days. If you’re up for teaching me.

Her reply comes quickly, and I can almost hear the smile in her voice.

Bella: Deal. But fair warning, I’m competitive.

Me: Noted. I’ll keep that in mind. You enjoy your weekend. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

Bella: What exactly wouldn’t you do?

I smirk, letting my thumbs hover over the keyboard for a moment before typing my reply.

Me: Now that’s a long list.

Her laughing emoji comes through almost instantly, and I pocket my phone, feeling lighter than I have in days.

Bella’s the kind of woman who makes you want to know more, even when you know better than to get attached. But as I fire up the bike and ride off, I know one thing for sure, I’m not about to ignore the pull I feel toward her. Not now. Not ever.

SIX

BELLA

The crashof pins and the cheers from nearby lanes fill the bowling alley as I lace up my well-worn shoes. The faint smell of popcorn and lane oil lingers in the air, and I can’t help but smile. Saturday night bowling with my sisters has been our thing for years, and even though we’re all busy now, we make it a point to keep the tradition alive.

“Okay, team,” my older sister, Brooke, says, pulling her matching bowling shirt into place. “This is our night. No gutter balls, no excuses. We’re going to dominate.”

“Uh-huh,” my younger sister, Brianna, says, rolling her eyes. “Because we’re totally playing in the pro league.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Brooke shoots back. “We look good doing it.” She strikes a pose, showing off the bright red shirts we’ve had since forever, the words Pin Sisters emblazoned across the front in white block letters.

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