Promise Me This(61)

“I know, Square,” she said, quietly. “Quinn already pointed it out to me.”

“You should’ve—”

“Don’t even say it,” she practically hissed and then her eyes darted to Cory and Bennett, and then back to me. Quinn gave us a quizzical look.

What the hell? Was she afraid they’d question us about our weekend together?

I nodded and then stormed off to grab a beer even though I had no clue what the heck my problem was. It wasn’t like I had told people about our night together, either. But somehow her hiding it had made me feel cheap.

What a fucking mess.

The lights were turned down, some moody seventies music piped through the speakers and one of the employees announced that it was Moon Rock Bowling time. All the balls glowed neon pink and blue and green and Ella was clapping and squealing, like she was five. It was kinda cute and Quinn was grinning at her like some lovesick puppy.

Hell, I wondered what that felt like, to be so into somebody that you looked like some damn goofball. I snickered until I recalled how I’d just stormed off like an impetuous kid in junior high. I looked up and met Jessie’s remorseful eyes. Had that been me? Was I that into Jessie, even though we weren’t in a relationship?

Despite my initial reluctance to this ridiculous bowling theme, I’d admit an hour later that we were having a good time. Kai and I told Quinn about our time on the racetrack this morning and invited him to come along next time.

We were laughing and singing along to all of that great stoner music. Cory and Dex had started some kind of stunt bowling game, which was like that game horse that people usually played with a basketball. Except these two clowns were trying to one-up each other on how they threw the bowling ball down the lane. They were performing under-the-leg and spinning shots, which was ludicrous but amusing to watch.

Jessie was cracking up with Emmy and I couldn’t help checking out her nice ass in those tight jeans every time it was her turn in the lane. She was a terrible bowler and after a couple of beers, I finally got the courage to walk over to give her some tips.

“Watch me,” I said, grabbing the lightweight pink ball from her hands. “Aim, pump your arm back, and then let it sail in an arc—like this.”

When I released the ball, it cruised down the lane headed toward the center. I knocked down a strike and she whooped for me. As we waited for the machine to return her ball, I said softly, so no one could hear, “I’m going to follow you home to make sure you get there safely and then I’m going to do the same in the morning to the garage so you can get a new tire.”

I saw her fingers tighten into fists when I mentioned the idea of spending money on a new tire. “I know it sucks, but it’s got to be done.”

She nodded and then grabbed her ball as it rolled onto the machine. A determined look on her face, she turned toward the pins, but then looked back at me as if trying to remember what I’d just taught her. “Let it go before my arm swings back?”

The bowling alley was dark, the neon spheres emitting the only soft lights, which were reflected into a million more pieces by the huge disco ball spinning from the ceiling.

I stepped up behind Jessie, which was probably not a great idea in hindsight, but I felt compelled to be nearer. She startled from my closeness and then sucked in a hard breath and I couldn’t help feeling relieved that she was still affected by me as well.

My hand slid down her arm to her fingers and they stilled. I considered grasping her stomach and pulling her against me, but instead I helped her arm make the back and forth motion.

“Got it?” I said against her hair and then stepped away. I was too nervous to look behind me to see if anyone had noticed our closeness. Besides, my pants were getting tight from the contact alone.

She looked momentarily unsteady on her feet but then her ball went sailing in an arc and miraculously did not result in a gutter ball. It went down the center of the lane and knocked over a few pins.

She was so proud of herself that she released this cute squeal I’d never heard before and then turned and threw her arms around me. I wasn’t not expecting that, but her excitement was contagious, so I lifted her easily and swung her around.

When I set her down we high-fived and turned toward our friends. Nobody was paying us any attention except for Bennett, Avery, and Emmy.

Bennett arched his eyebrow in a questioning look and then the moment passed and he took a long pull of his beer.

We bowled another game and then headed toward the bar to play some pool. Dex and Cory were already acting stupid and making bets on their game.

Emmy left early along with Kai and Rachel, which didn’t surprise me.