I feel as though maybe he needs a win.
Tory saunters back to us and his brother steps out from behind me with his hand outstretched to congratulate his brother. After they shake, Tory comes in close and pats Hayden’s chest with a heavy palm.
“Better hope you get tips at Two-fers,” he says, his eyebrows lifting just before his gaze sinks down to where I’m sitting. “Unless you wanna make another deal? Double or nothing?”
The smile on my face flattens under the heat of his eyes. I don’t get the sense he’s bargaining with dollars anymore, and the insinuation pisses me off.
“I’m not on the table,” I interject, turning to the side and crossing my legs. My bare knee pops through the ragged hole in my jeans and my green sweater falls down on one shoulder as I cross my arms over my chest.
A slow laugh brews in Tory’s chest, soundless at first until it comes out loud as he holds his stomach.
“I don’t know what your obsession is with me having you on a table, but that’s not appropriate now, Cortez. You went and picked the wrong brother.” It’s a typical barb from him, the kind I’m used to mostly, but there’s also an extra bite to it, and I can tell it’s made everyone uncomfortable. Hayden shoves his brother, pushing into his shoulder and knocking Tory off balance.
“Not cool, Dude. Knock that shit off,” he says, throwing the twenty dollars at his brother’s chest. Tory catches it against his sweatshirt, crinkling it up in his palm. “I owe you thirty.”
Hayden moves toward the balls to take his turn, brushing into his brother’s shoulder, clearly on purpose. Tory’s body twists from the force and his half smile lingers on his lips as he looks down at the money in his palm. His mouth finally shuts into a tepid straight line and he pushes the money into the back pocket of his jeans, the prize apparently no longer worth bragging about.
“Glad this isn’t awkward or anything,” Lucas says from behind me.
“He’s just going through things,” June adds, her eyes softening on mine. She’s trying to communicate to me without words, using our friend code, hoping I understand. I do. Hayden is a talker, and he’s opened up to me about how hard his parents’ split and the ugly way it all came to a head has affected him. Tory locks it all inside. I identify with him more than he thinks.
Hayden takes his turn, only knocking down nine. When June vacates the seat next to me to get her ball, Hayden slides in, a tight look on his face from the reaction from his brother. I can tell by the way he avoids his brother completely that it bothers him, but I’m not sure I’m the person who should step in to ease the situation. I tend to inflame things with Tory.
“Of course she bowled a double,” Hayden mutters as June spins on her heels and holds both hands up in the air to gloat.
“I mean, she does kinda work here,” I say, leaning into him. He leans back, meshing our shoulders together.
“Gotta love it when your girl kicks your ass in a sport,” Lucas grumbles teasingly, cradling his ball in both hands and bending forward to dust a kiss on June’s lips.
“That was sexist, but the kiss was sweet, so I’ll forgive you,” my friend says. Hayden and I both laugh, but stop at the sound of Tory’s feet slapping against the floor in his slick bowling shoes. I glance over my shoulder, expecting to see his goofy grin or his hand up to high-five June for putting Lucas in his place; but instead, my gaze locks with his and there isn’t a smile to be found. His mouth is pure nothingness, a lifeless line. He’s in a dark place.
I wait for him to wander down the row of balls and out of earshot before I mention my thoughts to Hayden while Lucas takes his turn.
“Do you think you should go talk to him?” I spare another glance as I lean in closer to Hayden. His hand flattens along my thigh, his fingers curling to scratch at the frayed threads of one of the holes in my jeans. It tickles, and I let out a little giggle that catches Tory’s attention.
“Nah, he’s just moody. Probably stressed about therapy next week.” Hayden’s words conflict with my gut and the look on Tory’s face, but I don’t need to poke my nose