Chapter 6 Miles #2
Margaret looks over at the group she’s bowling with.
“His whole family is here to meet me because he told them he wants to date me. They love him. And usually, a person has to be a special if their family loves to spend time with them.” She points to a woman in her fifties. “That’s Gerry’s oldest daughter.”
Farmington’s daughter comes over and introduces herself to Lucy, equally enthusiastic about bowling.
“I’m sorry to steal him,” Lucy greets her, “but I thought maybe I’d ask the professional how to bowl.”
I watch as both of them are taken in by Lucy’s big smile and warm manner.
She has a way with people and making them comfortable.
But I notice something else too—something more.
Maybe she isn’t as comfortable as she pretends to be when chatting with strangers.
Her smile is a little different than when she’s teasing me.
After a quick bowling lesson from Gerry, Lucy promises him that she’ll kick my butt. He grins, shakes her hand, and returns to what we’ve learned is his party with his family.
Margaret gives me a wink and follows him. “I have a bowling game to lose.”
“Why don’t you just say yes when he asks you out?” I ask her.
“Because where’s the fun in that?” Margaret waves to Lucy.
I watch the confusion flit across Lucy’s face, and she turns to me. “Did Margaret’s boyfriend just teach me to bowl?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Lucy laughs, then picks up another bowling ball, pointing it at me, and says, “Prepare yourself for something awesome, then.”
I step back as she holds the bowling ball far back from herself, almost as if she’ll release it in the wrong direction. Then she goes up on her tiptoes and practically prances toward the alley, flinging her arm forward and releasing the ball with a squeak.
She nearly tumbles down the lane after it, but she catches herself at the last second. The ball makes a very slow, painful journey toward the pins.
It knocks down seven of them.
She turns around and squeals as she clenches her fists. “See? I’m a quick learner!”
I shake my head and grin. There was so much wrong with the way she just bowled, but she also has a point. It was better than last time.
By the time we’re done bowling, I’ve seen things no person should ever have to see in a bowling alley—Lucy on her hands and knees, begging heaven for bowling help.
Lucy placing bets with other people about what I will bowl.
And then, there was Lucy wondering if it was fair for her to have bumpers but not me.
I’m exhausted by the time we leave the bowling alley, but it’s the kind of exhausted where I know I’ve had the best time.
I can’t stop smiling.
I can’t wait to get home, crash on the couch, and watch a show.
I glance at Lucy, who is leaning back in the passenger seat with her eyes closed. She’s stretching her fingers, as though they’re sore from bowling.
“Is it going to bother you if I have the TV on tonight?”
She shakes her head. “I’d sleep through a wreck.”
“Okay, good. I was planning on watching Love & Lies. New episode is out tonight.”
She snaps her eyes open. “Is it Thursday already?”
“Yes,” I say slowly.
“I usually watch that show on my phone in bed,” she admits with a grin.
Love & Lies is a new show about true white-collar crime but filmed in a way that it almost feels fictionalized.
“Well, I’ve been watching it on my laptop in my room. I didn’t want to bother you by leaving the TV on at night.”
Lucy shakes her head. “We’re kind of ridiculous—you know that?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.
“I mean that we’ve been tiptoeing around each other ever since I moved in.
I want you to feel like you can live your life.
You don’t have to change everything just because you have a roommate.
And look at us.” She grins. “We’re fun. We have a good time together.
We both love the same TV show. We’re literally the most compatible roommates there ever were. ”
She says it in such a way—with zero artifice or ulterior motive—that I can’t help but agree with her.
“Why did you move in with me? Margaret said you needed a place.”
Watching her out of the corner of my eye, I notice that she freezes for a second before she studies her hands.
“Well, um…” She clears her throat, and I immediately feel guilty for asking.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. You don’t have to answer.”
“No, it’s okay. The main reason is that I have a big student loan to pay off. And another company just took it over and increased the interest.” She shakes her head. “I can’t afford to rent an apartment here and make those payments.”
Something churns in my stomach at her words. It’s outrageous that someone has to go to school for so long to become an important part of society, only to not be able to afford to live.
“Is rent too high? I’ll lower it. In fact, you can just live with me—”
“No!” she exclaims, cutting me off. “I’m paying you a quarter of what an apartment costs. You’ve given me such a good deal, you’re going to have a heck of a time kicking me out.” She grins at me, but it looks desperate, like she doesn’t want to keep talking about it.
“Then it’s a good thing I want to keep you,” I reply with a laugh. And something odd settles in my chest as I realize I truly mean those words.
When I pull into the driveway, I park the car next to hers.
I normally park in the garage, but it’s really messy in there right now, and I don’t want Lucy to break her neck tripping on something.
Actually, I don’t want her to realize that I’m a secret slob.
The organization and orderliness I have in the main spaces of my house does not extend to my bedroom and garage.
Lucy punches in the code to unlock the front door as she says, “Home sweet home.”
And I like the sound of those words coming from her mouth.