Chapter 24
Derek
I hold out a bouquet of wildflowers when she opens the door.
Her smile widens the moment she sees them. Reaching out, Allegra wraps a hand around the thick lace tying the stems together. “These are so beautiful, Derek.”
“So are you,” I say, unable to tear my eyes away from her beauty.
She rolls her eyes, but I note the pink that brightens the apples of her cheeks. Allegra steps back so I can slide past her and enter her place.
She moves to the kitchen and fills a vase with water before artfully arranging the flowers. “Wildflowers, huh?”
I glance at her. “They reminded me of you.”
“Unable to be tamed?” she guesses.
I grin. “Bursting with color and beauty.”
“Damn, Reign.” She smirks, draping a hand over her chest. “You practice these lines before?”
I chuckle and close the space between us. “You never get basic lines, Stellina. You get my truths. Even more so now.”
Surprise sparks in her irises, but she doesn’t press for more of an explanation. Instead, she wipes her palms along her hips, drawing my attention to the simple denim miniskirt. “You ready?”
“Ready,” I confirm.
As Allegra moves to the door, I can’t help but check out her ass. She slips into a pair of Jordan dunks and slides on a lightweight leather jacket. She looks cool and laid-back. Put together but not trying too hard. I like that her confidence is still intact, her fire still burning bright.
I follow her into the dusk, and we slide into my Camry. Allegra relaxes in her seat, watching me as I drive to the bowling alley.
“Where are we going?” she asks.
“Bowling.”
She snorts. “Wait, you’re serious?”
I glance at her and grin. “As a heart attack.”
A frown draws her eyebrows together.
“Have something…fancier in mind?” I guess.
“No,” she says. “I, bowling is perfect.” And then, softer, “It’s something my family used to do. On the weekends. Levi…” She trails off.
Ah, shit. Did I mess this up? I reach over and place a hand on her thigh, my palm settling on the denim of her skirt, my flingers flirting over the bare skin of her leg. “We could go somewhere else,” I offer.
“No.” She shakes her head. “Really, bowling is perfect. Makes me…nostalgic, is all.”
I squeeze her leg and she relaxes under my touch. I like that I can still soothe her. That after the way things went to shit between us, my presence still has a calming effect on her.
I pull into the bowling alley parking lot and park my car. “You ready? Because I’m pretty fucking good,” I taunt.
Allegra laughs, the sound light and airy. “I’m a big deal on the lanes, Reiner.”
I grin, loving her smack talk.
We enter the bowling alley and I direct us to the lane I reserved. It’s already set with a bottle of wine chilling, a six pack of beer, and a bunch of appetizers and finger foods.
“Wow,” she comments. “You actually planned this out.”
I give her a playful wink. “I’m trying to impress this girl I’m crazy about.”
“Shut up,” she scoffs.
“I’m serious,” I tell her. “I’m crazy about you. And tonight, this, it means something.”
Allegra pauses, her eyes scanning mine. She must see the truth in them because her shoulders drop and a small grin plays at the corners of her mouth. “I’m going to grab shoes.”
“I’m a size eleven,” I call out.
She nods and returns a few moments later with shoes for both of us. While she was collecting bowling shoes, I set up our names on the screen.
When Allegra reads hers, she laughs. “Stellina?”
“My little star,” I remind her.
“And Reign?” She gives me a look.
“Gonna rein your snark in,” I mumble.
“Please,” she huffs. “I’m gonna smoke your ass.”
I snort. “Want to make a friendly wager?”
Allegra’s eyes sparkle, sage green expanding into pools of chocolate. “How friendly?” She bites her bottom lip and I nearly groan.
I expected more shit talking, not her enthusiastic participation in making things dirtier than they need to be.
I smack my lips together. “If I win, we spend the night together. It doesn’t have to be sexual; we can stay up talking and watching movies. Like old times. But we spend time hanging out together.”
Her gaze softens and she nods. “Okay.”
“Okay. And if you win?” I raise an eyebrow.
“If I win,” she sighs. “If I win, you come visit Levi with me. I’ll get you on his list. And you talk to him, for real. Try to heal this rift between you. For the sake of the band and for me.”
That pulls me up short. I freeze and look at her curiously. “That’s what you want? It means that much to you?” Is it because she knows this thing between us is for real? Or is it because Levi’s giving her a hard time and she wants to appease him?
“Yes,” she says simply.
“Okay,” I agree. Hell, I’ll do nearly anything she asks of me if it means another shot with her. “You’re up first.”
Allegra grins wickedly and picks up her bowling ball. I sit back in my seat, ready to toss out some words of encouragement. But my girl executes perfect fucking form as she lets the bowling ball go down the alley, just right of center, and knocks a damn strike.
“Shit, Allegra!” I call out, clapping.
She spins toward me and does a little shimmy. “Told you I’d smoke ya!”
I snort, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against my chest. “You were serious about this being a family pastime.”
Her eyes dart to mine, serious and solemn. She lifts her chin in a silent challenge. “I don’t lie, Derek.”
That cuts because I’m a big fucking liar and we both know it. But, “I know. It’s something I admire about you.”
She sighs, her expression easing. “I’m not going to go easy on you.”
I grip her tighter. “I expect nothing less from you.”
She smiles, I grin, and we play three games.
Allegra wins them all.
“A clean sweep!” she announces after the final game concludes.
I groan. “I thought I’d win at least once.”
“Presumptuous.”
“Come here,” I say, tugging her toward the back of the bowling alley. “Let’s have a go at darts.”
At that, my girl freezes.
I glance over my shoulder and grin. “Not so fucking confident now, are ya?”
Allegra smirks. She wrinkles her nose and it’s so adorable I tap my finger against it. “I’m not good at darts,” she admits.
“Let me teach you,” I offer, my voice low.
Between our bowling, we polished off the bottle of wine and I had two beers.
We’re not drunk, but we are veering toward tipsy.
That type of buzz when everything feels great.
Lighter than normal, brighter than it should be, and happy on a scale that borderlines giddy.
I’ve already made arrangements for a driver to meet us here and take us home in my car.
My hand slides from her waist to the soft swell of her ass. I pinch lightly and Allegra squeaks.
“Fine,” she agrees.
Grinning, I take her hand and guide her to the dart board.
I grab the darts and demonstrate a round before pulling them out again and passing them to her.
“Here,” I say, placing a hand on her hip.
“Widen your stance. Put your right foot forward.” I tap my foot against hers and position her.
“You wanna use these three fingers.” I show her how to properly hold a dart.
Wrapping her fingers around the dart, I relax her grip.
“Then, aim and throw. Just have fun, Stellina.”
She nods and closes one eye as she focuses on her aim.
I don’t bother telling her she can keep it open. It’s fucking cute as hell to watch her squint and take aim. She lets the dart sail and when it snags on the board, albeit not in the scoring range, she tosses her arms in the air.
“I did it!” she exclaims.
I laugh. “You did. Try again.” I hand her the second dart. I give her a few more instructions and watch as my girl gets better which each throw.
I win but after witnessing her happiness playing darts, don’t bother rubbing it in her face.
Instead, I wrap her in a hug, kiss her cheek, and murmur, “You did real good, love.”
She looks up at me, her eyes open. There’s a vulnerability, a layer of trust, I haven’t witnessed since the summer. The mask she’s been sporting slips and she looks like the girl I first fell in love with again. The girl who wears her heart on her sleeve.
“I know I won at bowling,” she says.
I snort. “Yeah, me too.”
“But will you still spend the night with me, Derek? Can we still hang out and watch movies?” Her voice is soft, her eyes wide. Beautiful and beguiling.
I nod. “It would be my honor, Stellina.” Then, I brush my lips over hers. Softly. Gently. “Want to go to the arcade?” I whisper against her mouth.
She smiles and shakes her head. “I’d rather you light me up instead of a game board.”
I snort and dip my chin. My eyes find hers and hold. “I’d prefer that too,” I admit, right before I kiss her again.
This time, I wrap my arms around her waist. Her fingers cling to the material at the back of my shirt. Our mouths collide, our tongues dance, and we kiss passionately. Like it’s been too damn long since we’ve tasted each other.
Because it has been.