She put on an innocent air.“What?I can’t pick only the ones I write?”
He laughed and finished up his burger.Once she’d eaten the last of her chicken and fries, she excused herself to wash her hands.Bowling with greasy fingers might not be the best idea.
She met him by the counter to rent shoes and, once they had theirs on, went to the assigned lane.She’d seen bowling on TV, though not often, but was happy that, in the Boston area, candlepin bowling was the norm.The balls were so much smaller and easier to hold.
“You said you’d been bowling before, right?So I don’t need to explain the basics.”
“Yes.You roll three balls on each turn and try to get as many down as possible.The person who knocks down the most wins the game.I’m just not very good at it.”
Evan nodded.“Okay, I’ll watch you and see if I have any pointers.Why don’t you go first?”
Evan settled into the chair for scoring as she picked up her first ball.Hefting it in her hands, she took a few steps and rolled it down the lane.It didn’t go very fast, and she could feel her face heat up at how bad she was at this game.It finally hit the pins and knocked some down.She had to count the ones still standing to figure out that she’d knocked five of them down.
When she turned around, Evan stood and smiled at her.No condescending look or smug expression like she was expecting.
“You got half of them.Not bad.I noticed you don’t follow through when you roll the ball.”
She tilted her head at his words.“Follow through?”
“Yeah, like when I swing for the ball in baseball.I don’t stop when the ball connects with the bat.I keep the momentum going and follow through.Like this.” He stood in a baseball pose and swung an imaginary bat.
“You want me to throw the ball like a baseball bat?”
He laughed.“No, but keep your arm moving as you roll the ball down the lane.It gives the ball more momentum.Try it again with your second and third balls.”
“Okay.Here I go.”This time she did as directed and was surprised the ball actually rolled faster down the lane.It hit two more pins, both on the right side.Now she had three pins on the left side to try and get down.
“How was that?”
His grin slammed into her, making her heart flutter.“Much better.Throw your last ball.”
She picked up another ball and took a few steps, then rolled it down the lane.She tried to aim it at the balls on the left, but it swerved and rolled right past.
With her head down, she pivoted back toward the benches.Evan waved at her until she looked up.
“What’s with the sad face?You got seven pins down.That’s nothing to be upset about.I’ve played with people who only knock down a few each time.”
She shrugged.“I told you I wasn’t very good.”
“And I’m not very good at reading, but I’ve given it a fair effort to get better, haven’t I?”
How could she have been so stupid?The point of being here was to have fun with each other.Who cared if she didn’t play very well?She certainly didn’t, and she didn’t need to be better than Evan at everything.He’d put aside his pride to confide in her about his reading issues.The least she could do was allow him to help her with this.
“I’m sorry.”She stepped closer and pressed a kiss to his lips.“Maybe I need more tips.”
“No need to be sorry.Everyone has different skills.You’re better at reading and writing, and I’m better at operating a backhoe.Apparently at bowling, too.Or maybe I’m not.My turn.Watch what I do and see if you can pick up any pointers.”
She sat at the score table and kept her eyes on Evan’s fine form as he picked up a ball, stood with it held to his chest for several seconds, then took a few quick steps before letting the ball fly down the lane.It rolled so fast and hit the pins dead center.They all scattered, and when the chaos of the spinning finally stopped, none of them were standing any longer.
“Okay, I concede defeat.”
He scowled her way.“Did I concede defeat the first time I couldn’t figure out a word?”
She sighed heavily.“No, you kept going and asked questions and put in more effort to learn.”
“Right.So today is not about me beating you in bowling.It’s about us doing something that is fun, regardless of who wins.If you really don’t want to play, though, we can leave.I don’t want our first official date to be one where you’re unhappy.”
Way to ruin the night, Mercedes.“No, this is fun.You’re teaching me something you’re good at and I need help with.I have to say I really like watching you as you bowl.”
