They sayif you can see a heartache coming a mile away you should run, fast. And in a way, I did run, fast. I jogged all the way over to the bowling alley from Whitehorse, on this, the last and final night of its existence—in this incarnation anyhow. It’s going to be one hell of a night, and I plan on spending it right here in the beating heart of the business my father built with his bare hands. The lights are off, with the exception of the glowing neon bowling pins lighting up the back of the lanes. Mood lighting—it goes right along with the mood music. I switch on the speakers, and the smooth melody of a love song vibrates throughout the bowlingalley.
“Perfectly romantic,” a voice quips from behind, and I close my eyes with disappointment. Definitely not the voice I wanted tohear.
“Dudley.” I glare at the shoe depository, suddenly wishing I could cram him into it. “I’m expectingcompany.”
“Yes, I’m aware.” He circles in front of me with his requisite suit, his trench coat over that. “Skyla and Jock Strap dropped the twins off at the Olivers’ as I was leaving. They mentioned something about stopping off at the bowling alley to saygoodbye.”
My chest gives a couple good thumps as my enthusiasm quickly wanes. In truth, I had built up this evening to heights that weren’t fair to anyone, least of allmyself.
“Great.” I force a smile to come and go. “Gage should be here. It’s his legacy, too.” I had extended the invite only to Skyla. Sold her some lame excuse that I found a bag of old books that belonged to her in the back. That much is true. But in my mind’s eye, I saw Skyla and I locked in one another’s arm, slow dancing over the exact lane where we once proposed to another, her to me, and then me to her. It was just a small moment I wanted to recreate, but I wanted it with everything inme.
“Good grief,” Dudley moans as if he’s just read my mind, and he might have. “I’ve read your face, not your mind. I’ve no need to pry, but I’m assuming you’ve the need to know. Must you pine so openly? Have you no shame? What’s Jock Strap to think? Dare I say their covenant means nothing toyou.”
The covenant—as in the marriagecovenant.
“It means something.” I slap the shop towel over my shoulder and glare at the bowling alley as if it were the very thing that tore us apart in the first place. “It means my hopes, my dreams, the deepest part of my heart are not to be explored.” I grimace at the door, for the first time tonight praying she won’t come, but I can feel her drawing near to me like the fog to the island. Skyla would never notshow.
Dudley slaps his hand firmly over my shoulder and gives a quick squeeze. “You have a purpose for being here. If it were not true, Candace would never have allowed forit.”
“Candace loves me. But I’m nothing more than a stumbling block for Skyla andGage.”
“That may be so, but that has nothing to do with why fate has landed you in the shoes you fill. Soon, young Oliver.” He gives a gentle pat to my back. “Soon all will be clear and you shall see your destiny”—he pulls me in by the shirt, his glowing red eyes speaking to me with something far more disturbing than words—“face-to-face.”
He takes off for the exit just as Skyla and Gage come in. He slaps Gage over the shoulder, and they walk out the doortogether.
Crap.
“What was that about?” I’m almost afraid to ask. If that’s Dudley’s version of doing me a favor, I cringe at thethought.
Skyla bubbles with a laugh, her hair catches the light and glows pale pink. “Is that how you say hellonow?”
My cheek inverts as I hold back a smile. “That’s how I say this is too good to be true. Where’s the big lug off to?” I glare at the door for amoment.
“Big lug?” She laughs while pulling me in by the collar. “You are dating yourself, Mr. Oliver.” Her hips adhere to mine as natural as breathing, and before I know it, we’re swaying to themusic.
“That’s because I’m old, Skyla.” I brush the hair away from those bright eyes of hers. “What’s with the smooth moves? You trying to incite ariot?”
“No riot.” She winces up at me, her gaze lost in a subtle curiosity as if remembering a dream. “You are old, aren’t you?” Her finger glides down the bridge of my nose. “Lucky for you I have a thing for old dudes.” She gives a sly wink, and that bubbling laughter reprises itself again. My heart, though, it can’t keep up with her insidious sense of humor, and instead takes every word to heart. Her features smooth out. “You should take them to heart. I meant everyone.”
I can’t help but frown. “It’s not always a gift to have you hear me. Especially those rogue thoughts that stray in and out of my brain without mypermission.”
“Those are the most insidious of all, aren’t they, ProfessorOliver?”
“Okay, you’re funny.” My hand glides down her back, and I dipher.
“Wow!” She rights herself, pink in the cheeks, her hair exploding into a ball of fire. “Why don’t I do the leading for a bit?” Her left brow creates a hook as it skyrockets into her forehead. “Come,” she says it low and sharp, and every last part of me very much wants to take it as a command. Skyla leads us over a few lanes before dancing us deeper down the slicked tongue of the alley. “Was it here?” She gives the innocent tick of curiosity in her features, but I can see right throughit.
“You know damn well it was right here.” I’m breathless. Not only am I dancing with Skyla, shutting this place down the way I’ve dreamed, but she’s maneuvered us right into this very lane—exactly where the magic happened. “I’m in love with you.” I press a kiss to the top of her head and linger. “As my sister-in-law, of course.” I pull back with a shit-eatinggrin.
“Stop.” She slaps my chest. “Technically, you’re my uncle-in-law—a very naughty,naughtyuncle.” Now she’s the one who’s frowning. “How did you ever let Ellis talk you into thisnightmare?”
“I’m assuming you mean the destruction of the bowling alley, not us.” Although on paper, Skyla and I penned out to be a very bad idea. And in that vein, who the hell gives a shit about paper? The best laid plans often lead straight to hell. I can attest tothat.
“Ellis talked me into a thing of beauty. You and I will both be standing here in a year”—I let out a breath, considering my construction timing—“or ten, and we will both be singing his praises. Ellis is responsible for a lot of good ideas.” My bottom lip tugs as I restrain the smile once again. “Like Nathan andBarron.”
“Oh crap.” She buries her face in my chest while whacking my arm with her hand. “Is nothing sacred anymore? Okay, so you’re right. Ellis has landed us a couple of happy accidents, but that doesn’t mean taking a wrecking ball to this place is his best work yet. You sure about this? I’ll work a shift whenever I can. Just let the bowling alley live to see another day.” She dips her chin, pleading in that adorable innocent way, and my heart wrenches because this might be the first time I refuseher.
“I promise I will let the bowling alley live to see anotherday.”
