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“Whatever,” he pouts.
Deciding to change the subject, I speak up. “So bowling then? Girls against boys?” I keep my head down, pressing my lips together as she turns away from CJ. She smirks, watching me with the same mischief I’m rocking. We both rock at bowling. Having lived next to a bowling alley in our hometown, we spent most of our school years hanging out there after school.
“You’re on,” she boasts. “Hope you aren’t afraid of losing, boys.”
“Like you two could beat us,” CJ argues.
“Just wait and see,” Allie sings. “I’m going to grab my shoes from my room.”
“Let me grab my shoes too,” I tell Cole, and he lets me up from the sofa, a triumphant smile on his face. He brought up going out to distract me, and it’s worked.
*** *** ***
The bowling alley is packed with students and families. Loud music bounces off the walls and lights flash in multiple colours all over the place.
“Woah!” CJ shouts over the music. “I’ve never seen the place this packed before.”
“Me either,” Cole grunts, not looking impressed by the huge crowds. I’m with Cole on this one; crowds are no longer my thing. When the woman leading us to our lane takes us to the far end, I begin to relax a little.
“At least we won’t be in the centre of it all,” I yell. Cole stays close to my side, keeping a protective hand around me. It’s comforting, and I can’t help my body’s reaction to having him so close to me. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the feeling. It’s like electricity zapping between us.
“So then, you pair against us two. You feeling lucky?” Cole whispers against my ear.
I turn my head slightly and find his lips a breath away from mine. “Very lucky,” I tell him, a small grin tugging at my lips.
“Is that so?”
“Mmhmm,” I mumble, lost in his gaze.
He runs his nose along my jaw. “I’ll have to see what I can do to make sure you don’t win then.”
I tap his cheek. “Oh, it’s on like Donkey Kong.”
He takes my hand and pulls my body against his, and the air whooshes out of my lungs. I tilt my head up and sigh, melting against him when I notice the teasing gleam in his eyes. This side of him is one I’m not used to; the easy, flirty behaviour, but when he shows it, I can’t help but feel something more for him.
“I hope you aren’t a sore loser.” He runs his nose against mine, and my eyes close momentarily, a sigh slipping past my lips.
I blink up at him and stand up on my tiptoes so that we’re eye level, and he pulls in a breath. My lips hover over his, teasing him with a quick touch before pulling away slightly.
“Only one person is going to lose,” I promise, and pull away before he can say anything. His mouth hangs open in shock, his eyes filled with desire and lust, so I make sure to add an extra swing in my hips as I walk over to Allie, who is busy arguing with CJ.
“You can’t add me as Cupcake,” she growls.
“But that’s your name,” he argues, his eyebrows pinched with confusion.
“No. My name is Allie. A.L.L.I.E, you idiot.”
“Look,” he starts, holding up his hand, ready to argue. I take a step forward, interrupting.
“Let’s just play. Allie, let the cupcake go,” I order, arching my brow.
“But—”
“Nuh uh,” I warn, waving my finger at her.
“He started it,” she mutters, glaring at CJ.
“You got the board set up then?” I ask CJ, and he nods, looking pleased with himself. I glance up at the screen and snort. He’s put my name as ‘Willow Tree’. Cole, I presume, is ‘The Hulk’, and he’s the ‘Sexiest Man Alive’. “Really?” I ask dryly.