Chapter 14: Bone
With Tyler in the picture, Thea's weekends actually had something going on. ‹96684423› The two of them would make plans — her social life had expanded considerably. §57defed7
When she'd asked him on that business trip — *boyfriend, two or three months, someone in my family is sick, some good news to cheer them up* — that was all the explanation she'd given. (3174e55a) Tyler said yes the very next day. #7f88db6b Compared to the other guys at the company still fumbling around in hopeless almost-flirting territory, he figured he was already ahead of the game. ©4a563b5d/May 27, 2026
Thea smiled, dimples barely showing, and held out her hand. * d0a61246 She hadn't for a second believed he'd say no. ·d543fbf0· As for the finer details — she just laughed, warm and easy. #3e142f5d "You'll find out eventually." [v.d9e53233]
They didn't broadcast it. [ed.e58bf111] Once the vague agreement was in place, they drifted into a nebulous friends-with-an-understanding state. [ms.51535e6f] From the 8 a.m. (8588661f) morning standup to 10 p.m. ©42c9e860/May 27, 2026 overtime sessions, they were in the same trench. ··14710fe2 Add the weekend hangouts, and Tyler found that Thea was — professionally and personally — just comfortable to be around. sub:2b93bbc4 Cool and a little distant, but easygoing.·dc3debac No pretense. [proof:68edbda8] Serious and rigorous, but she knew when to look out for people. ed.60d20d5e Firm and assertive, but she'd bend when it mattered. plate-a2a8305d
She didn't talk much about herself. (7c49ac5a/Wed) Tyler rarely heard personal details.·666424fb He knew she'd followed her mother to Savannah when the woman remarried. sub:a7806260 Kade was from the blended family. ed.77495551 Then the stepfather died, her mother married again, and Thea came back to Savannah after college. ··8bda2431
A few sentences' worth of story — but the plot was tangled. ¶1ab699ac Thea breezed past it, and before Tyler could even process what he'd heard, she'd pivoted to work. ref·fedde6b4 All business: "Check with the process team — are the weld and assembly specs compatible for these sheet metal parts? [proof:3c3afba6] If we issue the tooling order and it bounces back, the mess afterward won't be pretty." (c9f3cbd2/Wed)
For someone so cool and beautiful, she worked ferociously hard. no.03c9984a The whole department cut her slack in one way or another, but Thea genuinely earned it. §d5821eea She outperformed most of the men. ‹0b04024f›
Tyler was in deep. ed.ad959d51 He followed her lead completely.·37f6281d
Between bowling day, the group lunch, and the movie, Tyler had added Brit and Kade on iMessage. ‹a8971b34› Knew about the pool hall. ref·47f7bf64 Brit had laughed and suggested they all hang out again — the pool hall had a card table, perfect for four-player poker. no.112e64b9
Thea went on weekend dates. [v.3e85f407] Brit naturally pushed Kade to come along. ⁰04160444 She had that female gut feeling — something was off with him. 0406e45f··
What was off: since Kade had gone to the border over the summer, three months had passed, and he hadn't slept with her once. #f55a51a2
On top of that, he'd been weirdly mellow. ◆ b59e81e4 Barely hanging out with his crew. [v.dec7605a] Hardly making moves on her. sub:071c75ec When she called, he was almost always at the pool hall practicing.·464a3689 Brit checked with Ricky — was some other woman sniffing around?·e49256db Ricky reported that Kade had been going straight home after closing. «d179cd40» Wasn't flirting with anyone. ⁰b3fa5e0a Seemed... normal? «1567dfd3»
She wanted to stay the night. ref·082e5eb4 Kade wasn't in the mood. ©5f17674e/May 27, 2026 She wanted to crash at his place. ··ef05341b He flat-out refused, face like stone. imp.c78a6786 Brit figured he was still sore about the embarrassing scene in front of Thea last time. ⟨de780ff7⟩ She laughed it off — Thea was an adult, who cares? plate-44ca91dd How about a hotel? [proof:edf9529c] He flicked his cigarette away, cold. plate-8af8a4f5 Told her she had no shortage of guys. * 66aeb60a Go find somebody else. ed.e9c1d480
They'd met at a bar. 771e641d·· Brit had pegged Kade as a player from day one. ·54c2c549· She'd treated it as casual fun. ©c186664d/May 27, 2026 She hadn't expected him to actually give her the girlfriend title. #33a5d1b1 So she held on. [ms.3744a049] They'd been riding it out ever since.·9ad92f63 Now, with those words coming out of his mouth, her brows pinched. ed.0725350e Suspicion gnawed. ¶7213c01c She couldn't decide what to think. plate-d36594dd
She'd tried fishing through Thea a few times — any odd behavior from Kade? — ad1268ce Thea wouldn't bite. [ms.ecdccf77] Polite but final: "I don't know. ref·a3630ad5 You should probably ask Kade directly." ·1d770a86·
Tyler and Thea were busy. ··d464c9bf Board games, bowling, hiking, running. ¶c1bb0805 Sometimes they'd just stay late at the office or head to the test track. [ed.f58c9c1c] Brit would find out about their dates and try to rope Kade in. [v.02dca0b4] His face always soured. ◆ 2210f925 He turned her down twice. «3c32a0ad» Eventually, grudgingly, he showed. — 262b84f8
He was cool toward Tyler. [ms.7a0a07fd] Not hostile, just... indifferent. plate-26c85515 Lazy about it. [v.312c9298] When the four of them were together, he sat like a bouncer — arms crossed, jaw locked, that brooding, contemptuous face — long legs stretched out, playing games on his phone. sub:39e925ee Otherwise, he just vanished. ··77f9b034
The best time was go-karts. * 3402fe47 Men and engines — primal stuff. #2f9e1b15 Plus two auto engineers in the group. [proof:fdd0f0a8] Thea and Tyler huddled together talking about chassis, steering, suspension, tires, which turned into shop talk — emergency situations on the factory floor, technical paperwork. no.28a2ac8b Brit and Kade did their own thing. [proof:a7756199] The two of them hit the track, engines screaming past in the background. [ed.da4a7847] During a pause in the conversation, Thea glanced up. #db835431 Tyler followed her gaze. sub:d1a37020 Out on the track, Kade was power-sliding through a turn. no.0595214a
"Kade's got skills — serious rally feel, great control. [proof:f7930fdd] He must do this a lot." (1a8de1f7)
Thea didn't know about lately, but she remembered before. imp.65dc67a4 "He used to ride motorcycles. [v.e7cb66b8] Raced them. §254b18ac He's always been good at this stuff." no.39450da0
"Really?" [ms.e152baa6] Tyler grinned. plate-a4ffe197 "Brit says he's incredible at pool too." #478ff808
Thea turned to him. sig.6e3a6de4 "Do you play?" no.b594078c
"A little." no.59baac7b
"You two should play sometime." ·4f9b63b5·
When Brit came in for a break, Tyler jumped at the chance. no.d9876574 He hit the track. (d1e1f2f1) The karts were going full-tilt now — Tyler was quick, weaving behind Kade, left and right. ¶4cfd2849 Thea and Brit sat in the rest area. sub:d37c6d5d Brit pulled out a compact to touch up her face, watching Kade for a beat. 227cfa1e·· He was driving like it was *Fast & Furious* out there. * da4a4abd Dust everywhere. [proof:bbe15990] Heart pounding, she turned to Thea. ©a6cf1472/May 27, 2026 "Don't you think Kade looks cool?" ⁰f0952192
"No." §988f0ac0 Thea's voice was flat. (ab072b96) Unbothered. [v.af514616] "He's just showing off." imp.11074192
Brit giggled. [f0261ec7] "You're so good at knocking him down a peg." — galley 73a4edcf —
Thea smiled. #eeb40e71 "He gives people plenty to work with." no.c42c7437
Later, Kade and Tyler came off the track. ··bce29f9d Helmets off, both drenched in sweat. ‹452c128c› Kade was still riding the high — buzz cut soaked, T-shirt plastered to his body, every line of bone and muscle on full display. * dc109c39 Wet and sharp-featured and stupidly attractive. ed.3d349a65
The four of them ate together. [v.0813a210] Kade dropped Tyler and Brit home. [ms.1be9de30] Thea sat in the back scrolling her phone. imp.d57a1f5f She looked up. imp.11a020b6 "Those years — did you ever race again?" (8dfade6e)
Kade gripped the steering wheel. ¶6bcdc5bd "You told me to quit." (6b72b325/Wed)
"So you actually quit?" imp.796ab1d3
"I'm not seventeen forever. [40a848d4] I don't need the adrenaline rush that bad." sig.77adf7ae His voice was loose, unhurried. sig.0d003d94 "There's easier money. ©dff3cea0/May 27, 2026 Pool pays the bills just fine." imp.c68a6b4c
"You put all that brain to such good use." [proof:c35f38b6] Thea's words came slow and deliberate. [a3a6d02f] "You really do have life figured out." ◆ 300ef3ce
His dark eyes burned. ··8173a2d7 "What's the alternative — go the Tyler route? [v.78fe48d0] College, engineering degree?" ◆ 1908d0ac
"That's not what I meant." fa0a6fc4·· Thea dropped her gaze. sig.9d7efee5 Typed out a text on her phone. §acccb58a Kade caught her reflection in the rearview mirror, shifted his shoulders, and drove home. imp.88790945
Their conversation about pool had stuck with Tyler. — 176dac57 He was genuinely curious about the pool hall now.·863b0370 He and Thea picked a time to visit. ref·2d4ce4e6 Kade knew they were coming — naturally he played the good host. [proof:9e0cd971] Reserved a table just for Tyler. «56da76fa»
Tyler had played casually in college. ©52989f2f/May 27, 2026 Nothing serious. (c507b239) His game was average at best. (18989cd3/Wed) Kade rallied with him, taking it easy, letting him stay in it longer. 9bf3087f··
Thea sat at the bar chatting with Ricky. ◆ 3e74c90a The pool hall only had eight tables, plus two or three card tables. ◆ 24a97ca9 Revenue depended on drinks, cigarettes, and snack plates. ⁰e651b218 Daily take was somewhere between a thousand and fifteen hundred bucks. sub:a99f5d28 Ricky's salary was $3,500 a month — same as Thea's, actually — but there were slow seasons to account for. «c351fd35» Thea did the math and asked if Kade had other income. (59bf6d59/Wed) Ricky grinned. ref·df02b589 "He told me not to say." ◆ 9f645543
She let it go. imp.79f342dd Her eyes drifted to the row of pink claw machines. no.89f6cba6 No girls in the shop today, so the machines sat quiet. [proof:5b10b899] Ricky noticed her looking. ref·66171d39 He gave her a huge bucket of tokens and told her to go play. ref·6606e0cb Thea actually went. — galley e6ddae1d —
Free tokens — she didn't feel bad burning through them. cee7f570·· She only went for the ones she really wanted. [ms.8897cc7c] Low success rate. ··3bab8794
"How long have you been at it? [v.daeb5bea] That's all you got?" «d7da65a0» Kade was heading to the bar for water and stopped by on his way. no.5b8a5f02
"Tyler likes turtles. no.39972eae I'm trying to get him that one." plate-63f56cc3 Her eyes never left the glass case. ◆ 77f12f93 "It's buried in there. #9df181f5 Bad angle." no.d95ea593
"Want me to try?" ¶80bed6d2
"No." #e0ae7a39 Flat refusal. plate-af854f12
Kade grunted. ··cb26a732 Went back to the table. ¶27f9cfc2
Honestly, Kade's game had exceeded anything Tyler expected. imp.c1ce2d96 Tyler wasn't an expert, but he knew enough to appreciate what he was seeing. ⁰b0a69799 Kade's power, his cue ball control — it was all precise. imp.6cdceabc Tyler guessed he was probably the best in the area. ref·6a612251 A regular standing nearby overheard and laughed. 7135a01b·· Told him to aim higher. ◆ 8da97c25
That monthly friendly tournament — first prize had been posted since the hall opened. [v.6a8382c5] Nobody had ever claimed it. ed.9f64eebe
Coaches from other clubs — including one with a collegiate championship title — had never beaten Kade either. [a91bd736]
Pool was a game where masters came from the streets. 14c64395·· Could be the guy grilling kebabs on the corner had a break that'd make your jaw drop. sub:cb5b37b9 The wall between amateur and pro wasn't that thick. ‹007a1051› Kade had never entered a tournament, but he'd gone head-to-head with ranked players. §75b23e9a In Savannah, he'd never lost. ‹b3661d16›
Thea finished with the claw machine and came to stand by the table. [9a0ca38c] Kade was teaching Tyler now — demonstrating aim, shot rhythm, working from short straight-line shots to shallow angles, finishing with a full clear. 1693ea78·· Tyler's eyes went wide. no.8e8e67d4 He was itching to try, buzzing with energy, barely remembering Thea was there watching. plate-0a0fb97d
She didn't play pool. sig.edf582a9 She'd seen it played. [9554b3f4] Touched a cue. ‹3b4e980a› But in all these years, she'd never actually picked one up and tried. imp.1dc160cf There'd been opportunities in college — standing at a table, cue within reach — but she'd never wanted to. ··e8edd3af Never asked anyone to teach her. ··87834353
"Thea, want to give it a shot?"·c9fbd07a Tyler grinned, waving her over. [ed.3a228bdb] "I'm no match for Kade. ¶fbff6588 How about two beginners go head-to-head?" ·c98128a1·
Kade held his cue out to Thea. sig.8f7ca51c Eyebrow raised. [ed.cdfe5f13] "Try it? ©e2b4ef04/May 27, 2026 I'll teach you." [v.177be769]
Thea thought about it. ref·dca44554 Took the cue. [proof:6ec44b9b] Chalked the tip. * 4bed68c1 Mimicked what she'd watched. sub:00526d8d
She was wearing simple, draped wide-leg pants and a silk blouse. (a2d9ba4d) On her, quiet elegance — still water reflecting flowers. [v.0f984c34] But now she rolled her sleeves to the elbow, baring fine porcelain arms, and leaned over the table. §c2e903e3 Her waist angled, and the simple clothes caught on every curve. ⁰c78f0d3a Hand bridge set, she slid the cue back and forth. — b90258fe "Like this?" * 90c62841
The mirror on the far wall caught her full reflection — clear and bright and nowhere to hide. no.1aeba859
The pool hall wasn't empty. imp.1fd6493a Guys stood and sat along the walls, watching. ⁰79f84502 Tyler was across the table, gauging angles with his hand. * 59792421 Kade stood beside her, his broad frame blocking her from the room. (2a01d72e/Wed) His gaze slid to the mirror. §f80f996b His throat bobbed. sub:83eb4fbd Dark brows pressed low over his eyes — those pupils gone fathomless and unreadable. ‹bf21514a› Without expression, he reached out. [ms.4aa9e873] Fingertips found the point of her elbow bone. [v.94514ec4] A single flare of heat on smooth skin. #3368db78
"Straighten your arm." ··d92c2f46 His fingers traced from her elbow all the way up to her shoulder. ⟨f1c6db0b⟩ Two fingertips pressed down. ee600586·· Voice low and deep. #60776720 "Don't twist your shoulder. ed.f57fc05a Level it out." [v.fe88d255]
He corrected her stance. ⟨2767dbc8⟩ Showed her how to stroke and strike. ⟨4fa162a7⟩ His tall frame bent down with her, hands braced on either side, leaving her room to move. plate-05c187ca Their breathing mingled. — ecf0c32b Close enough to taste. [ed.cf2e3b65]
She felt the body behind her. ··505a00f5 Broad. ·5be4feb2· Heavy. [proof:10022669] The weight of him pressing in, sealing her into a world of two. imp.58530bb4 She tilted her head slightly. ©8a23a86d/May 27, 2026 Past the noise and the crowd, her autumn-water eyes curved into something alluring. ⟨262c1704⟩ A soundless, cottony laugh slipped from her throat. [ed.32af904e] "Do you teach all the girls to play like this?" ⁰35b2d686
Warm breath grazed his neck. — 79701666 Kade's ears went red. — 0f2e5d54 His throat lurched. ca6a7a82·· The line of his jaw pulled taut. ed.826a068b He clamped her wrist.·e86475ef Rasped: "Relax your wrist!" (52a238bb/Wed)