Chapter 16
Natalie
Tip #16: If your fake significant other decides to increase the PDA, match them. Losing isn’t an option, even if you aren’t certain what the game is.
“ W hy is it so hard to find a bowling ball that fits my fingers? I know I have a big thumb, but it’s not like I’m the Cinderella of bowlers.” I rummaged through the collection of worn bowling balls, then glanced over my shoulder to check on Samuel.
He stood behind me holding his plain black bowling ball.
“You can go join Owen at our reserved lanes,” I said. “You don’t have to wait for me.”
Samuel stared at me, plaintive. “These rented shoes are crusted with a substance I probably don’t want to identify.”
“Have you never been to a bowling alley before?” I asked him, bemused.
“Of course I have,” Samuel said. “I just don’t remember the possibility of getting infected with a foot fungus being part of the experience.”
I laughed. “Don’t worry. Cosmic Bowl sprays returned shoes with disinfectant spray every time.”
“I’m sure,” Samuel deadpanned. “That teenager behind the shoe rental counter looks like a paragon of hygiene and medical awareness.”
Cosmic Bowl was Fox Creek’s local—and only—bowling alley. It was a collision of retro and galaxy aesthetics, and it smelled like popcorn and greasy food with the faint odor of sweaty socks lurking in the background. The cinderblock walls were painted to resemble the night sky, while the flooring was a worn, neon-colored starry carpet that had seen better days.
I finally found a neon purple ball that fit my fingers and thumb. Picking it up, I led Samuel to our two lanes at the far end of the room, where Owen, Jenna, Isaac, and Logan were already seated.
Jenna entered our team into the ancient, clunky computer system so our names popped up on the TV display screens.
“The teams are Isaac, Sam, and Nat versus Owen, Logan, and me,” Jenna said.
“As long as I’m not bowling with Owen, that sounds great—he tries to give me pointers,” I said.
“That’s because you need pointers,” Owen said.
“I’d be willing to take advice from someone who bowls better than me, but we usually end up within a few points of each other, so you’re no pro,” I said.
Samuel and I added our bowling balls to the lineup, while Owen theatrically rolled his eyes.
“Younger siblings,” he said to Jenna. “You know how it is.”
Jenna—being the older sibling between her and Logan—giggled.
Owen cleared his throat, then glanced at me. “Thanks again, Nat, for inviting everyone out to bowl.”
I was tempted to smirk knowingly, but I was too happy for my brother to rub it in. He was thrilled to have this extra time to spend with Jenna. It had only been three days since my date to McBride Farm I’m just matching him in upping the ante.”
Owen shook his head. “Only you and Sam could turn PDA into a competition.”
“It’s all him,” I insisted. “I am an innocent party in this.”
“Except you take his bait and fight back.” Owen awkwardly scratched his side. “Don’t you think it’s a little odd that Samuel Warner—the guy you’ve spent your adult life arguing with—is acting like this?”
We both glanced back at Samuel as he took his turn, knocking down eight pins on his first throw.
“Not really,” I said. “It’s just a new way for him to annoy me.”
Owen made a noise of doubt in the back of his throat.
“That’s his thing,” I insisted. “Warner Print never gave to the Fox Creek Friends of the Library until I joined and Sam realized he could annoy me in my free time in addition to when I was on the clock.” I paused. “Right?”
Owen shrugged.
I mashed my lips together as I considered the issue. Historically Samuel only did things to annoy me, so I didn’t have any evidence that pointed to a different meaning.
No, I knew Sam. This was just Owen being my older brother and getting in my head.
I shook myself free of the paranoid thoughts. “By the way, you should know that Sam told me about a Warner plan that’s sure to make Grandma and Grandpa Mann blow their tops.”
“Oh? Why would I care about that?”
I pointedly stared at Jenna Warner, who was eyeing up the lane for her second throw.
“Shut up,” Owen said. “What is it?”
“The Warners want to purchase the old middle school and renovate it into luxury condos.”
Owen grimaced. “Yeah, that’ll definitely complicate things with our families. I’m surprised you can keep calm about it.”
“It’s probably because Samuel explained the idea to me straight instead of being overly charming, persuasive, and, frankly, manipulative,” I mused.
Owen chuckled.
“Owen, you’re up!” Jenna called, interrupting our conversation.
Owen gave his ladylove a thumbs-up, then turned back to me. He patted me on the shoulder in that insufferable way all older siblings possess. “Just don’t get in over your head, sis.”
With that, he walked back to grab his bowling ball.
“Hey, cuddle bunny,” Samuel called out to me. “It’s your turn too!”
I returned to our lane, finding Samuel waiting for me at the ball return.
“Is everything OK?” he asked with a hint of concern.
“Everything’s fine,” I assured him. “Owen just called a quick family meeting to question my sanity.”
Samuel chuckled as he took my hand and pressed a soft kiss to the top of it. The warmth of his lips and the scrape of his five-o’clock shadow on my skin made the hairs on the back of my neck tingle.
Maybe Owen wasn’t talking about the old middle school when he told me not to get in over my head.
“Y’know,” I said, needing to push back against Samuel’s invasion of my personal space, “I’ve been throwing a grubby bowling ball. My hand probably isn’t much cleaner than those rental shoes you despise.”
“I’ll take the risk for you,” Samuel replied, his voice husky and full of promise. “It’s worth it.
“Sam, stop accosting Natalie,” Isaac chimed in from the sofa, “or we’ll never finish this game.”
Samuel let me go with a laugh, and I picked up my bowling ball, determined to concentrate on the game. After all, at the end of this fake relationship, Samuel and I were just going to be friends.