Page 45 of This Time Around

“Uhhh,” Andy said, spurring me into action.

“Oh no. You’re not taking it back, Andy,” I said boldly then kissed him on his mouth while I did a happy shimmy that would’ve made Peach proud.

“Is there something you’d like to say to me, Milo.”

“Uh huh,” I said coyly.

“And?”

“It’s Ollie’s turn to bowl.”

Andy growled lightly in his throat and nipped my ear, but I wouldn’t allow him to distract me from sizing up my competition. Ollie’s first attempt knocked down eight pins but left a wide gap between the two remaining pins. Andy, and I suspected the goober triplets across the way, could’ve knocked them both down to pick up the spare in the situation, but Ollie wasn’t up to their level. Hell, he wasn’t even up to my level. He just didn’t know it.Yet.His second practice bowl was much better because he picked up a spare. There was a touch of smugness in his smile when he looked at me.

“You’re up, Slugger.” I rose off his lap and gestured to where the rest of the guys were waiting. Adam, Brent, and Tyler wore matching dopey grins watching our exchange while Oliver looked resigned.

“Milo,” Andy said in a warning growl when he stood up. “I want to hear the words later.”

“If you force them out of me then how will you know they’re sincere?”

“I’ll take my chances,” Andy quipped as he confidently approached the thingy with the bowling balls on it. I admired his swagger and the way his firm ass looked in his Levi’s when he approached the lane. Andy’s moves were smooth and well-practiced as he sent that ball speeding down the lane and crashing into the pins, knocking them all down with conviction.

“I’m damn good,” he boasted then came to me for a celebration kiss.

I glanced over and caught the pastor struggling to peel his eyes off Andy’s ass. Just what kind of godly man was he? Clearly one that ogles my guy and is cocky about his mediocre bowling technique. Wasn’t he supposed to be humble, kind, and celibate? Oh wait. He’s not a priest. Well, save himself for marriage at least? All right, I had ventured into Petty Town, and I didn’t like it. I couldn’t fault the guy for being attracted to Andy, and he obviously cared about the man I loved. Therefore, I would need to get over my unwarranted jealousy, fully embrace the fact that Andy Mason still loved me, and focus on kicking the shit out of Larry, Curly, and Mo across the lane.

“Let’s get this party started,” Adam said.

I sat quietly doing my best to look worried as I watched the three of them bowl strikes. They high-fived one another, pointed in our directions as if to say we were going down, and other juvenile antics. Well, I had every intention of going down on Andy later, but it would be a freezing day in hell before this queen lost to them without a fight.

I could feel the difference in my demeanor as I approached the ball return thingy. I was confident of my ability; I was graceful and elegant. I was Peach. I held the ball in front of my chest and visualized where I wanted it to go then I did my graceful step sequence, releasing the ball with flourish. I kept my long leg stretched for balance as I watched the ball sail down the lane and knock down every-single-mother-fucking pin.

I stood up and faced the guys. “Oh my God!” I jumped up and down like a little kid. “Do you believe it? That’s good right?” Five astonished faces stared back at me with gaping mouths and bulging eyes. “Must be a fluke.”

“Yeah,” Ollie said quietly as he rose to his feet.

“Don’t I get another turn?” I questioned. “I thought we got two chances.” I looked up at the scoreboard. “Hey, why don’t we have any points?” Of course, I knew the answers, but it was better to keep up the charade as long as I could.

“We bowled strikes,” Tyler explained patiently. “They’ll add our score from the next two rolls to our first frame.”

“Got it.”

“I guess it’s your turn, Oliver.”

“Okay then,” he said, shaking his head like he still couldn’t believe it.

The other four men remained quiet when Oliver took his turn. Three men switched their attention to the bowling action, while the last man only had eyes for me. A slow grin spread across Andy’s face.

“I think we’ve been played,” my guy said, tugging me back down onto his lap. I loved that he couldn’t seem to keep his hands off me regardless of where we were or who we were with.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied coyly.

“Liar.”

“It wasn’t lying, Andy,” I told him. “It’s called acting. You all expected me to bowl a certain way, and I met those expectations.”

“And now?”

“And now, I show you what I’m really made of, lover.” I sealed my promise with a lingering kiss. I was mindful of our setting and audience, so I kept my tongue to myself and let the warmth and firmness of his lips be enough for the moment.