Chapter 7 #2
“You think?” I grinned and stepped onto the platform.
“Now watch what I’m doing. I’m turned just slightly to the right, and I’m far enough away to make about four steps before I let the ball go.
Now, to try for a strike, the ball needs to hit the pocket between the first and third pins.
That’s the one in the front and the one to its right.
So that’s where I aim.” I backed up and then followed the instructions I’d just laid out for him, and a few seconds later, the ball smashed into the pins, sending them scattering.
Reid put his hands low on his hips. “I’m pretty sure that’s how I was doing it.”
“You let go of the ball so late there’s probably a dent in the lane. Come here.”
He hugged the ball to his chest, and when he moved closer, I put my hands on his shoulders and guided him to where he needed to stand.
“See those arrows down there? You’re right-handed too, so you want to aim for the second arrow on the right.
And make sure you get low enough to let the ball slide out of your hands. ”
“Oh, so you don’t throw it like a baseball?” Reid said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, and had he been mine, I would’ve been tempted to kiss that smirk right off his face.
“No, smart-ass.” I tried to ignore how close we were, his back brushing against my front.
I tried not to breathe in the scent of the shampoo he wore or run my hands down his shoulders to his biceps.
I didn’t need to think about the way his skin would feel beneath my hands, or imagine the quiver of his stomach as I reached for the button of his pants…
“You want me to drop it where?”
I let go of him and stepped to the side to give him room to move. “Take about four steps, keep your eye on that arrow, and then sweep it through like this once you get about here,” I said, showing him the follow-through.
Reid switched the ball to his other hand and then mimicked my movement. “Like that?”
“Yeah, except turn your arm a bit.” I reached for his wrist, felt the steady thrumming pulse beneath my fingertips, so much stronger than the last time I’d touched him that way, and then angled him the right way.
When I looked up, Reid’s dark eyes were watching me with interest, and something in his expression made my heart skip a beat.
“Try that,” I said softly, and then let go of him and backed away to watch.
Reid focused back on the lane and took his time lining himself up, and when he let go of the ball this time, it fell from his hands and smoothly rolled down the lane before knocking out over half the pins.
“Hell yes,” I said as Reid grinned. “So much better.”
“You’ve given up your secrets now. Just a matter of time until I overtake the master.”
Feel free to overtake me anytime, I thought. “Seven pins down and he turns cocky bastard.”
He laughed and retrieved his ball. “Now what do I do about the rest of these?”
I gasped. “You mean you don’t know?”
“Of course I do. I’m not some amateur. I’m just curious what you would do.”
“Mhmm, sure,” I said, enjoying the tease as I once again directed him where to stand and where to aim to knock down the remaining pins. “All right, Bluebird. Show me what you got.”
I could’ve sworn I felt him tremble faintly beneath my hands before I let go, but I had to be imagining things.
He took an unsteady step forward but then recovered and sent the ball sailing down the lane. When he knocked down all the pins but one, he gave a loud whoop before spinning around and pointing at me.
“See that? I’m coming for you.”
I certainly hope so. “I do like a challenge. Bring it on.”
Reid laughed until his eyes shifted past me, and then his smile dimmed. I turned to see red-shirt guy standing by our chairs, his head cocked to the side as he gave me a not-subtle-at-all once-over.
“I hope you don’t mind,” he said, slowly bringing his gaze up to my face, “but I noticed you were giving your friend pointers, and I thought…maybe you could help me as well?”
Pointers? The only thing that guy wanted pointers on was the best way to suck me off.
“Actually, I’m a little busy—”
“That’s okay. I’m a quick learner,” he said, a seductive edge to his voice. “It won’t take long.”
“I don’t think—”
“You should go,” Reid said, and when I shot him a look, he gave me a tight smile. “It’s selfish to keep you all to myself when you could be helping someone else.”
So? Be selfish, I wanted to say, but when I started to protest, he inclined his head toward the concessions.
“I’m gonna grab some fries or something,” he said. “Take your time.”
“Reid—” I went to follow him, but red-shirt guy stepped in front of me.
“Where should we start? I think I might be using the wrong size ball. Maybe I could use yours instead?” He looked down at the zipper of my pants.
Jesus, really? I glanced over at Reid, standing alone in the concession line.
I couldn’t think about some other guy, even an in-your-face guy like red shirt.
Not when I could still feel the way Reid’s arm brushed against mine every time he moved past me or sat beside me, and not while the intoxicating cologne he wore filled my nose and made my head spin.
“Look,” I said, “I appreciate that you want my…help, but I’m not interested. Find someone else’s balls to play with.”
And before he could say another word, I hightailed it up to the concession stand just as Reid moved to the counter.
“I think I’m in the mood for nachos,” I said, sidling up next to him and scanning the menu.
Reid did a double take. “Where’d your new friend go?”
I shrugged and handed the teenager behind the counter a ten-dollar bill to cover both our orders. “Away.”
“Why? Because of me?”
“Because I’m busy and not interested.”
Reid sighed. “Look, Ollie, I don’t want to interfere in your life any more than I already have—”
“You’re not interfering—”
“—so if you want to talk or…whatever, then you can. It won’t hurt my feelings—”
“Reid,” I said, and waited until he looked at me. “I’m not going anywhere. I know you think I want to be anywhere but here with you, but I can assure you that’s not the case.”
Reid’s eyes widened slightly.
“Stop trying to get rid of me or palm me off on someone else,” I continued. “I know you’re nervous about how badly I’m gonna kick your ass in this game, but I believe in comebacks. Don’t you?”
His mouth quirked up on one side, and when a plate full of fries was pushed his way, he picked one up and popped it into his mouth. “Guess I can’t let you off that easily,” he said, munching away.
“Damn right. I need someone to give me a run for my money.”
The teen handed me a plate of nachos and my change, and as we headed back to our now-empty lane, Reid said, “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Batshit bonkers,” I agreed, and then figured I’d pass along some Alice in Wonderland advice. “But all the best people are.”