Chapter 13
ARE YOU SURE about this?” Dedra pulled to a stop at the red light.
Kenya tried really hard to keep from rolling her eyes. After all, her friend was doing her a huge favor.
Dedra shot a look at her before settling her eyes back on the road. “I really feel like you should take what Evelyn said seriously.”
“She just said that I had two weeks off work. She didn’t say that I needed to take time off of life. I need fun, Dedra. I need to get out of my apartment. Currently my only travels have been to therapy and then the lobby to get DoorDash.”
Dedra turned the wheel toward the midtown of Huntsville. “I get it, but I don’t know if I want to be an accomplice to what could potentially turn out to be another mistake.”
“Listen, I have several sessions of therapy under my belt and just another week or so left until I make it back to work. Consider this part of my therapy. I need to make sure my arms are still active, at least. I’ll keep my right foot as steady as possible.
My left foot is strong enough to support me.
I can even bowl from a wheelchair if they have one on hand. ”
Dedra rolled her eyes. “Come on, Kenya.”
“It makes sense. At least to me.”
“I don’t think it does, but as your friend and someone who does not want to see you suffer—emotionally or mentally—here I am, driving you. I will regret this. And I probably already do.”
Kenya grinned. “But what a perfect night to do this since your boyfriend is out of town, right?”
“I guess, but you know I’m always super happy to sit on a couch reading a book.”
“And that is why you are taking me bowling. Because that just sounds pitiful. I want to eat some greasy chicken wings, some oversalted fries, and guzzle down a large Coke while I attempt to take some pins out. I need to get out my aggression somehow. I still can’t stand the fact that Vance is taking over my role at the investors’ tour. ”
Dedra nodded. “I definitely understand that, but I feel like there are safer ways to do that in Huntsville besides going to a potentially sticky and chaotic bowling alley.”
Kenya rubbed her hands together. “Just the way I like them.”
“Yeah, as soon as I said the words, I knew you would disagree. This is right up your alley.”
“Look at you with the play on words. I’m impressed.”
Dedra shook her head with a laugh and pulled into a parking spot as close as she could find. “Wait. Do you want me to drop you off? Or do you get some kind of temporary parking sticker when you have an injury that makes you move as fast as a sloth?” Dedra snickered. She already knew the answer.
“Come on, I’m fine.”
“And you are also the one wearing the massive foot brace.”
SOLOMON SCANNED the area around the strip mall. “Should I be afraid to ask where we’re going?”
Ben ignored Solomon’s question as they walked past various storefronts in the outdoor shopping center of the MidCity district in Huntsville. “Have I ever steered you wrong?”
Solomon sucked his teeth like how his mother or father did when the kids had said something annoying. “I am already regretting my decision to come out today.”
Ben stopped and grabbed Solomon by the shoulder. “Nope, no take-backs.” He wagged his finger in front of his face. “You are all in. Plus, the guys are waiting.”
“What guys would you be referring to? The gym guys, the pub guys, or the aspiring entrepreneur guys?”
“Possibly a combination of all the above. But it doesn’t matter. Whoever was available tonight is coming, and we are going to bowl like it’s 1999.”
Solomon shook his head. He could already feel the stickiness of the floors, the lingering grease on bowling balls from french fries, and the heart-impacting fattiness of whatever else was served. He should’ve brought hand sanitizer with him.
“I already see your mind working, bro. You are getting a mental picture of every single germ that’s gonna be spread across every inch of the place.”
“You’re not helping.”
“That’s who you are.”
“Then why are you bringing me?”
“Because you need to live a little. And don’t worry.” Ben resumed walking down the sidewalk. “That is why the lights are dim. You won’t even be able to see the cesspool that you’re bowling in.”
Solomon sighed. No sense in backing out now.
“Robert, Elliot, Trey, good to see you guys!” He greeted the men with fist bumps and followed Ben to a lane. Wings and a few drinks were already set up on the table. He should’ve eaten before he came. This definitely felt like an experiment that he would regret later.
He pasted on a bright smile and shook hands with the group. They were already ribbing each other and cracking jokes that eased some of the tension from his shoulders. Yeah, he probably needed this.
“I’m going to get my shoes. Ben, what size for you? I’ll grab yours.”
Ben responded and gave him an order for more wings and a Coke.
Solomon hoped they had some sparkling water and maybe a crudité platter with ranch dipping sauce.
Nah, who was he kidding? He was gonna get something fried.
That’s just the way it had to be over here at the bowling alley.
As much as he tried to limit his intake of those types of foods, none of it mattered when he was with relatives at Nigerian gatherings. Those cheat moments were worth it.
After giving his request to the teenage counter attendant, he forced himself to ignore the germs probably swarming on the counter and leaned against its surface.
“Doctor?”
He turned around to see if there was a patient somewhere who had recognized him, or better yet, who he recognized.
As his eyes adjusted to the light coming in through the front doors, two figures came into focus—one with a curly bob hairstyle and the other with a dark ponytail.
One with freckles spilled across her pale face and the other with her mouth tipped into a smile, her cheekbones glowing against her copper skin.
“Kenya.” He hoped his voice didn’t come out as squeaky as it seemed to his ears. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been asking myself, and her, the same thing on our drive over.” Kenya’s friend looked amused.
Solomon chuckled, remembering the banter between these two in the hospital room. “Good to see you again . . . ?”
“Dedra,” she offered. “And you.” The freckles on her cheeks lifted as she smiled.
He wondered if she knew anything about his and Kenya’s agreement.
Kenya hobbled over. The way her hands were positioned at her sides made her look slightly penguin-like. “Can I not immerse myself in the nighttime activities of our great Rocket City?”
This woman. “You can, but as an adjacent-to-your-care physical therapist, I would have recommended that you participate in something a little less active, and greasy.”
Kenya waved his words away. “Let me live, people.”
“We are trying to help you remain uninjured.” Dedra shook her head but still walked to the front of the shoe rental counter, a hesitant but willing participant.
“After you, Doctor. You were in line before us.” Kenya extended her arm toward the counter.
“I’ve been helped already.” He grabbed his and Ben’s bowling shoes off the counter.
“Oh, well, I guess we’ll be seeing you.” Kenya’s face held what looked like disappointment, but she recovered it behind a bright smile.
“It’s okay, I’ll wait. I’m curious to see what size bowling shoe will fit over your ankle brace.”
“Har-har.” Kenya tossed his comment away with a flick of her hand. She turned to one of the attendants and ordered an ungodly amount of food. The appetizer tray alone made his heart pound faster.
“Are you sure about this?”
She gave him a look over her shoulder that felt very reminiscent of the looks his mother leveled at him from time to time. “You can be my pseudo physical therapist, my emergency chauffeur”—she lowered her voice—“and even my extended fake second dater, but you are not my food administrator.”
Solomon covered his laugh in a cough. For all her attempts at feistiness, she seemed to buzz with excitement as she drummed her fingers on the counter in anticipation. He wouldn’t steal that from her for the world. But he was still a doctor of physical therapy, so . . . “I’m just saying.”
“Say less and live.” She smirked, batting her eyelashes. Challenge written all over her face.
Okay, he could match that energy. “Do you guys have a lane yet?”
Dedra turned, carrying her shoes and a single one for Kenya’s uninjured foot, he presumed. “Not yet. We thought we would just eat and wait for one to open.”
“Why don’t you join us? There’s five of us guys, and a few didn’t show up. We have room for two more.”
Kenya clapped her hands together. “Now look at what God provided through you, Dr. Solomon. This night was just what he knew I needed.”
Solomon laughed. “Our lane is to the far right. I’m going to head to the bathroom, and you can meet us there.”
Before he walked off, he noticed Kenya lift both hands to form what looked like the letter W when her thumbs touched. She dropped her left and kept her right hand up.
He chuckled and headed to the restroom.
The ladies joined them a few minutes later. “Well, well, what do we have here? Recruits?” Of course, Ben would be the first to notice the ladies, walk—er, and limp—up. “Haven’t I seen you somewhere?”
Kenya grinned, giving everyone a little bow. “Yes, I think I remember you from my cousin’s wedding, right?” She flashed her grin around the approach area of the lane. “It’s not every day that I get to bowl with almost strangers, my bestie Dedra, and my doctor-chauffeur.”
Ben’s eyes bounced between Kenya and Solomon.
Solomon closed his eyes and shook his head. Too much to explain. Kenya greeted the other guys while Dedra gave a shy wave.
Solomon stepped up to Ben. “Maybe I should have thought this through. What is the relationship status of these guys? Am I going to stir up trouble because I invited the ladies to join us?”
Ben shrugged. “Nah, the only one who is married is Elliot, and his wife pushed him out of the house so she could have a ladies’ night of her own. But for the rest of us, the field is open.”
Solomon squinted at his comment. “What are you talking about, bro? You have a girlfriend.”
“Exactly, and you don’t. But looks like I made you jealous enough to care.”
The rest of the crew stayed respectful, engaging the women in conversation and helping Kenya polish off the massive amount of food she ordered.
Solomon wondered if she’d planned it that way from the beginning.
There was this generous streak in her that he was noticing.
Even with her mobile limitations, she engaged with the guys as if they were long-lost cousins.
At least, that was the box he assumed she put them in—or hoped she did.
When her name came up next to bowl, she pumped her fists, eliciting chuckles from the group. She brushed off their efforts to help and hobbled to the lane with her six-pound ball. Solomon wasn’t quite sure when he’d made the move toward her until he was standing next to her.
“You know, I should send you to the principal’s office for being here.”
Kenya barely turned to him. She positioned the bowling ball in her hand, her stance slightly comical with her foot propped out. “Please don’t do that. I’ve been in that office plenty of times.”
“Oh, so you were a problem child, then.”
“I guess you could say that. It was hard for anyone to fit me into the box of a normal school day.”
She swung her right arm, practicing her motion. “Not to mention the fact that my mom is actually a principal. So, no, please, for the love of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, do not send me there. To her, I should be in bed for the next four weeks.”
“Well, then, at least let one of us help you.”
“This goes against my MO.”
Solomon stayed silent.
She sighed. “Okay, Doctor, this is not part of our deal, but if you want to stay there just in case I tip over, go right on ahead. Just remember that they are watching.”
She paused, slanting her eyes at him. “But I guess that’s the point of this, isn’t it?”
To be honest, his main concern was his parents, not his peers. But he didn’t confirm or deny her words, just stayed by her side.
They must’ve made an awkward-looking pair—her hobbling toward the lane, him shuffling after her. Standing behind her like a shield. That position felt too right to be comfortable. He took a step back.
Kenya cleared her throat.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“I am, but I would rather you not be so close behind me as I show off my bowling skills.”
He took a larger step back and to the side to give her ample room to bend and bowl.
As soon as the ball rolled off her fingers, he knew this was a mistake. Bowling was not the same with one foot out of commission. She released the ball, but the momentum was too much, and she gasped.
He moved quickly.
Instead of toppling over to the floor, she grasped his arm, steadying herself in the strength he offered.
So much for keeping his distance. And too bad he hadn’t been able to, because the relief on her expression when she fell against him would be his undoing.
He shook off those implications and chose to focus on the moment in front of him.
“How about I stay here and help you turn that pitiful attempt into a spare?”