ChapterTwenty
“Oh,Ash, hi,” Marcus said as he walked into the store, looking over at the coffeemachine. “Declan out?”
Ashlooked away from the books he’d been reorganizing, smiling over at Marcus.“He’s buying me lunch, actually. He’s well-trained.”
Marcuschuckled at that, leaning back against the counter. “Yeah, well… I bring Lexicoffee and pastries every morning, so I guess I can’t say anything about that.Speaking of, we were thinking bowling? Tonight, I mean.”
Ash’seyes lit up. He’d been dying to go since he’d seen the bowling alley. It’d beena while since he’d had one close enough by to go regularly.
“It’skind of tradition around here. First dates happen at the bowling alley.” Marcusshrugged.
“Oh,I’m already sold,” Ash said, just as Declan came back through the door. “There’sthe guy you’re gonna have to convince,” he added, nodding to Declan.
Declanlooked between Ash and Marcus, obviously puzzled. “What’re we convincing meof?”
“Lexisuggested bowling tonight. Apparently it’s Hope Springs tradition to go onfirst dates there. And I guess this isn’t really your first date, but… it’syour first date in town, right?”
Ashwas fairly sure Marcus was under the impression that they’d moved here for afresh start because their relationship was on the rocks.
Hehad no idea how close he was to being right for all the wrong reasons.
Declanstill had that spark in his eyes from yesterday, though. It reminded Ash of theDeclan he’d first met, full of life and light and enthusiasm for all things.
Seeingit again made his heart happy. He was getting the old Declan back, after all.
Consideringrecent events, he might even be getting a new and improved version.
Notthat Declan needed to be physically attracted to him to be improved. As long ashe was happier and ready to be more true to himself, Ash didn’t care what elsehappened.
Hewasn’t about to say no to having sex with Declan again all the same. Declan wasgorgeous, and last night had been good.
Betterthan good. Ash couldn’t remember the last time he’d had mind-blowing sexbecause of who he waswithinstead of what they could do with theirtongue.
Hewas looking forward to the chance to have a little more fun with Declan.
“Bowlingsounds awesome,” Declan said. “That’s actually adorable. Small towns, man. Thisplace is growing on me.”
Ashcaught Declan glancing over at him, a tiny smile turning up the corner of hislips. Just that was enough to make him blush, so he wasn’t doing a great job ofhiding how excited he was about maybe,finallygetting Declan’s romanticattention.
Howlong had he idly dreamed of that, assuming it was never going to happen?
Anyhint he’d ever had that it might, he’d shoved aside as wishful thinking. Now,he was realizing that he should have been taking all those hints moreseriously.
“Ishould warn you about what you’re agreeing to. You’ve met Charlie, right?”
“Right,”Ash said. “We had dinner with him and Scott, I love them already.”
“Awesome.”Marcus grinned. “Anyway, Charlie and Lexi are kinda town legends. They’re on abowling team together and a few years back when they really put their minds toit, they entered the state league and came home with a trophy. My point is,they’regood. We can totally do something else, but I promised to floatthe idea.”
Ashopened his mouth to speak, but Declan beat him to it.
“Ithink Ash could give Lexi a run for his money,” Declan said.
Thetips of Ash’s ears burned as he blushed, but his heart soared. It was so niceto hear that Declan had faith in him.
Evenif that faith was potentially misplaced. It’d been alongtime since Ashhad picked up a bowling ball.
“Iused to work in a bowling alley in college, which meant free gamesandfree soda.” Ash shrugged. “I got a lot of mileage out of that.”
