How the Summer Began
A quiet summer in a small Florida town. Regular bowling nights, friends, and a job at an Italian bistro. But a new face at the bowling alley changes everything. Her name is Ayla, and she's beautiful, mysterious, and full of hidden depths. A chance encounter leads to a clumsy conversation on a pier, a shared ice cream, and the undeniable feeling that this summer is about to become much more complicated, and maybe, just maybe, magical.
The air in the bowling alley hummed with the familiar sounds of crashing pins and laughter. You stood by the return counter, the scent of lane oil and re-heated pizza a comforting constant.
Your friends were gathered at lane six, their voices carrying over the music playing faintly from the speakers. You should be joining them, getting ready for your usual Thursday night game.
But your eyes were drawn to the counter. A new face. She turned, a brief, bright laugh escaping her lips at something her co-worker said. You didn't know her name, or anything about her, but in that single moment, you knew you wanted to.
