I threw my head back with laughter and enjoyed the relief coursing through my veins. Even though I didn’t feel as strongly for Michael as I did for JoJo, I also knew that shit with JoJo was based on sex. He was the one that had stoked this fire within me, but that didn’t mean he owned me. That didn’t mean we had some sort of special bond that needed to be explored. It just meant he opened my eyes to something I didn’t understand about myself.
But, the relief rushing through my veins while Michael and I talked?
That was the stuff of marriage legends.
Me: Well, now that we’ve got that awkward conversation out of the way, would you be up for trying another date? This time, outside of my office?
Michael: Your boss isn’t gonna try to kill me again, is he?
Me: Honestly? I’d quit and go find another company before I let my boss stick his nose in my business. He and I go way back. He dated my sister in high school, and I think he just sort of sees himself as my personal bodyguard. You know, country girl in the big city who’s gotta be protected. That sort of thing.
Michael: Country, huh? I don’t detect an accent.
Me: I’ve worked hard to get rid of it. In my profession, I have to hold myself with poise and present myself in a particular way. A southern accent automatically comes with the stereotype of being a close-minded idiot, and I can’t have that kind of thing hurting my prospects.
Michael: Again, excuse my language, but that’s shitty as hell. I’m sorry you have to go through that.
Me: LOL! You don’t have to apologize for your language. I’ve got a potty-mouth when I’m with the girls.
The conversation continued well into the late hours of the evening, and the only reason why I had to “cut it short” was because I needed sleep for work the next day. The two of us made plans to go bowling Friday evening after I got off work, and I found myself looking forward to the adventure.
And shockingly enough, the week passed by pretty quickly.
JoJo hadn’t called me into his office for anything nor had any excess work dropped down onto my desk. For the first time since I had taken the job, I went pretty much an entire work week without overtime or harassment from my boss. I wondered if things were finally sinking in for him. Maybe he was finally beginning to realize just how bad we were for each other. So, I held my head high after leaving the office Friday evening, then soared home to get changed into another set of clothes for my bowling date.
Nothing fancy or anything, just a nice dress with some comfy shoes and my hair down my back. I rarely wore my hair down because of how fuzzy it got in all the humidity, but I decided to try something different. I slid on a bit of red lipstick and curled my hair. That way, once it started to get fuzzy it had ringlets to cling to so it wouldn’t get so damn out of control.
And when Michael laid eyes on me the second I walked into the bowling alley, his jaw hit the floor.
“Wow, and here I am standing in shorts and a t-shirt. Come here, beautiful.”
I giggled as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Oh, it’s so good to see you.”
He buried his face into my hair. “Good to see you, too.”
I pulled back and smiled. “Ready to get our shoes?”
His arm stayed around my waist as he led me over to the register. “I would’ve already gotten them, but I wasn’t sure of your size.”
I pointed to a set of shoes. “Seven and a half, please.”
Michael held me close to his side. “Twelve for me. And charge us for three games.”
“Ooooh, big spender, huh?”
He playfully winked at me. “Only the best for the best.”
I laid my head against his shoulder while the guy behind the counter fetched us our shoes. This was how a man needed to make me feel. Beautiful, and precious; not like some stupid piece of meat he could discard whenever he felt the need. Michael and I made our way down to one of the corner lanes so we could have a bit of privacy and not be surrounded by so many people. And while he placed an order for pizza, fries, and sodas, I geared us up for our first round of bowling.
Before the lights dimmed and the laser show started.
“Oh, this is gonna be fun. I haven’t been cosmic bowling in years!” I said as I clapped my hands.
Michael put on his bowling shoes. “I’ve never been, actually. So, this is a first for me.”
“You’re going to love it. The lights are distracting and mesmerizing, and it makes the game so much more fun.”
He slapped his hands onto his knees before he pushed himself up. “Looks like I’m up first. Ready to get your ass beat?”
