She waved the card back and forth in her hand, then dramatically flipped it over.BOWLING.
“Um … I’m not very good at bowling.I think I’ve only gone a dozen times in my life.Growing up on Cape Cod, we had access to the beach all year round.Even if it was too cold to swim, we’d still walk or drive by.”
He tugged her toward him.“This is an opportunity to learn something new.I’m excellent at bowling, so I can teach you how to be better.”
“You can try.Is this okay to wear?”She sure as heck wasn’t getting a bowling shirt.
“Everything you wear is perfect.You’ve got pants on so I’d say it’s acceptable.You’re so graceful, though.I’d bet you could still bowl in a skirt.”
That image didn’t instill confidence.Her stomach grumbled, and a thought hit her.“Did you eat on your way home?Because I haven’t had anything for supper.I figured we’d be eating out.”
He pulled his denim jacket off the back of the chair and slipped into it.She shrugged into her fall coat as well.
“They’ve got food at the bowling alley.We can eat first or get something and eat while the other person is taking their turn.”
Food at the bowling alley.It wasn’t what she’d anticipated, but it would do.She assumed it was casual fare, something she was happy to eat.
Evan led her to his truck, which was surprisingly clean, and soon they were at the bowling alley.Inside, he steered her toward the snack shack.“Why don’t we eat first so we can concentrate on teaching you to bowl without your stomach rumbling?”
“Oh, yeah?How would you know?” She looked at him curiously.
He grinned.“I know your hungry face.And I know enough to make sure you eat when it’s there.”
She should feel insulted, but the fact he’d noticed stuff like this about her made her warm inside.“Thanks.How’s the food here?”
He shrugged.“It’s like any food from a casual eating place.Good but nothing gourmet.”
She perused the menu above the counter.Burgers, hot dogs, pizza slices, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks.Yummy, but not good for her weight.When she glanced at Evan, he raised an eyebrow, then lowered his gaze to her hips.“I like them.I don’t know why you don’t believe me.”
“Maybe because I’ve overheard guys discuss women with big hips and thighs.And not in a positive manner.” One of her former boyfriends tried to get her to join a gym to slim down her “problem areas”.He hadn’t lasted as a boyfriend for long.
“You don’t need to listen to idiots like that.They don’t know what they’re missing.I know what I like.”
His hands had shown her exactly how much he liked her hips and thighs a few days ago.They hadn’t repeated the activity since.She wasn’t sure why.Maybe he was waiting for date night.
“What can I get for you?”he asked as he also glanced at the menu.
“Do they have dipping sauces for the chicken tenders?”
He pointed to a basket with small packets.She rifled through them and saw sweet and sour sauce.That was her favorite for chicken.
“I’ll have the chicken tender basket, please.”
Evan waved to the guy behind the counter who’d been waiting and listening.“Chicken tenders for her.I’ll have a bacon burger.Everything on it.”His voice was clear enough for the man to understand.Mercedes had noticed that since he’d been living with her and using his voice more often, his speech had improved some.She had no problem using sign, but out in public it was easier for him if others could understand him.
They chatted about work and Carli’s wedding while they waited for their food.Once it was ready, he guided her to some tables near the wall.There weren’t many, but Tuesday must be a slow day at the bowling alley.
“What made you decide to play a game with our first date?”
He shrugged.“I wanted something different.I figured most guys take a lady to a nice restaurant.While I’m happy to do that, I’m not most guys.I wanted to be unique.”
After dipping her chicken in the sauce and taking a bite, she said, “I love the idea.It’s fun and spontaneous.Will all our dates be chosen from the cards or only this one?”
“Using the cards would make it interesting.If you’re okay with it, we can continue that way, at least for a little while.”
She nodded.“That would be great.Can I add a few of my own ideas?”
“Sure.Whatever you want.I’ve got some extra cards in the desk in my room.If you use the same ones, we won’t know which are yours and which are mine.”
