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But…
I want someone else.
I already knew this, but it’s clear in this moment.
Both of these men are making things work so I can spend time with Christian. They’re letting me call these shots. They’re going with the flow of the evening.
Christian is passing the tests.
But, I still want someone else.
“SoI’mpassing the bowling tests?” I ask. “The ones you gave to Torin without him knowing it?”
Jonah gives me a smile that makes my stomach swoop. “Of course you are.”
“How? I haven’t helped anyone change a tire and you haven’t flirted with anyone I want to flirt with.”
“Duchess,” he says, in a warm tone that sounds likeare-you-kidding-me.“You were with Tami and her friends for thirty-two minutes and talked Tami into auditioning for the community theater part she wants and convinced her mom to sell her homemade earrings online.”
My eyes widen. “Did youhearTami sing? She’s amazing. Of course she should audition.” I pull my long ponytail to one side. “And these earrings are beautiful.”
Jonah laughs. “And they know nothing aboutyou. But you have their stories.” He leans in, his eyes filled with affection that makes my skin tingle. “And you told Tami not to go to the director who only wants to cast women under the age of thirty, but to go to his best friend and sing forhim. Because there’s always someone behind the main guy who can convince the main guy to do the things he’s not doing.”
I lick my lips, my gaze falling to Jonah’s mouth. “I’m right.”
He nods. “You are. You know firsthand about talking to the people behind the scenes to get shit done.”
“I do.”
“Andyou bask in finding ways to make other people shine.”
My gaze lifts to his. “I do.”
“Of course you passed the tests. The test of seeing people for who they are no matter what the circumstance. The test of not needing to have any attention on yourself and not caring if someone else has the spotlight or is better at something than you are. The test of being genuine and amazing and beautiful inside and out.” He pauses and lifts his hand, dragging the back of his knuckles over my cheek. “But we didn’t need to go bowling. I already knew all of that.”
My breath catches in my chest and I open my mouth to reply.
“Linnea!”
Christian’s call interrupts us, and I swallow hard. Jonah’s hand drops away from my face and I pull in a breath.
I turn as Christian approaches.
Despite this turning into an obvious PR event, I do believe that Christian’s smile for me is genuine as he steps down from the upper level where he was talking to some other bowlers—a group of men standing around a tall table with beers and all wearing green shirts that say Balls Deep—and comes to sit on the plastic chair on my other side.
Just like I believed that his greeting was warm and sincere when Jonah and I arrived at the bowling alley. He gave me a friendly, but not too friendly, kiss on the cheek and squeezed my hand and said, “It’s good to see you. I’m really looking forward to this.”
I believed him. I also believe he’s actually having fun.
“I’m glad you’re on my team and not the other,” I tell him as he leans back against the plastic chair.
He chuckles. “I haven’t bowled in years. This was a great idea.”
Itwasa great idea. I am learning exactly what I intended to learn.
He has been friendly and genuine with everyone.
The staff who has come around and asked to refill drinks have all gotten direct eye contact and thanks, he has greeted everyone who approaches him with handshakes and warm words, he’s posed for photos, and he helped some veterans down the short steps to the lanes where they are bowling next to us, then stood and chatted with them for several minutes.