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Chapter Fifteen

Natalie

My stomach dropped at what he said. I realized that I had jumped into his arms practically, and my face started to burn as a blush appeared. I pulled back from Zach softly and smiled in an embarrassed way, "I guess so, huh?" I managed out softly.

A slow and small grin pulled at his lips and his green eyes studied me, "yes. I'm always right, after all."

I ran a hand through my hair and walked off and over to Quinn, who was watching me with a raised eyebrow, "so a strike, huh? Good job."

I shrugged and didn't say anything at that. Mike was studying me too and I glanced at him, feeling his eyes on me. He smiled a knowing smile at me an then turned to the screen again, "you and I are tied, it seems, Sport. I've got to step up my game."

Quinn nodded, "that's right. You're really bad at this, Mike."

Mike smirked at her, "batman. My name is Batman."

Quinn shook her head and let out an amused chuckle, "in your dreams."

Zach joined us after he finished his turn. He'd gotten a strike, which wasn't surprising. He sat on the bench next to me and nudged me with his elbow, "so..."

"So yourself." I shot, glancing at him.

A grin spread on his face again and he looked just like he did the first day I met him, "Your elbow is really boney."

I felt my stomach flip a little at what he said, which was stupid because he had simply said something about my elbow. I crossed my arms and looked away from him, trying to not think about his knee that was barely brushing mine.

The issue is that there was a little voice in my mind saying that I liked him, and I don't mean like him in a purely friendly sort of way. And that would have been okay, I suppose, but ten another voice in my mind was screaming at me, telling me I was betraying Max. It was saying that the only reason I felt like this about Zach was because he reminded me of Max. It was telling me how disrespectful I was being, thinking this about Max's brother. The same brother that would have accompanied Max while they picked out tuxes for our wedding. It told me that I was wrong to be feeling feelings like this so soon after Max passing away. And that voice was louder than the one that made me blush when Zach hugged me.

Quinn bowled and got a spare. She came over to us and flashed a smirk at Mike. Mike raised an eyebrow, "if I didn't know any better, baby doll, I'd say you were trying to flirt with me."

Quinn laughed out loud, "no, I'm rubbing it in."

Mike's gaze lingered on Quinn and then he brushed past her, going to bowl. Quinn announced that she was going to use the ladies room and walked off. I watched until she was gone and then turned to Zach. This Quinn thing would distract me from my problem, "what's going on with Mike and Quinn?"

Zach glanced over at his friend and then looked down at me, "what do you mean?"

I rolled my eyes, "you're kidding, right? I know guys are stupid, but I didn't realize they were blind also."

Zach puffed his chest out in mock offense, "we're not stupid!"

I shook my head and smiled a little, "okay, then tell me what's going on!"

Zach shrugged, "I guess Mike likes her."

I rolled my eyes, "no, really? I never would have guessed." I said sarcastically.

Zach rolled his eyes, "well, don't sass me. He's never said it out right, but I assume that he sorta likes her."

I nodded eagerly, "yes, and does she like him??"

Zach scrunched his eyebrows together and moved a little closer to me, "why? Are you jealous?"

I glanced at Mike and then I let out a laugh. He was cute, I'll give him that. He had dark, dark hair and tan skin. He had a nice jaw bone and was tall and very fit. His smile was nice, too. But, he was no Wilard...

"nah, he's not my type."

"So, what is your type?" Zach pressed, sounding interested.

A pang shot through me as I thought of Max. Then I looked up at Zach and felt myself blush a little, "just not Mike."

"Talking about me?" Mike asked, walking over to us. His turn ha just ended, and he'd managed to get a spare.

Zach looked up at him and grinned, "sport here says that you're not her type."

Mike put a hand to his heart, pretending to be hurt, "after all my efforts to make you fall for me?! I'm hurt, Natalie. Very hurt."

I laughed, "sorry, man. It's not you, it's me."

Mike shrugged, "oh well. I've got my eye on someone else anyways."

I started to ask a question, but then Quinn came towards us, a grin on her face, "only a strike, Batman? I'm not impressed in the slightest."

Mike's smile answered my question better than any words would.