Declanhad never really had that before.
Hedefinitelywanted more of it.
“Itold you I’d win this for you,” Ash said, nodding at the scoreboard. “You onlyneed to hit five pins to win it.”
Declanlooked up again, seeing that Ash was right. “Five pins atonce?” Declanraised an eyebrow. “You’ve got a lot of faith in me.”
“You’vegot two shots.” Ash shrugged. “And I guess Idohave a lot of faith inyou.”
ToDeclan’s surprise, Ash leaned in and brushed his lips against Declan’s cheek. Itwas the briefest moment of contact, but it made Declan tingle all over again.
Yeah,this was nice. This was agreatfeeling.
“Forluck,” Ash said.
Declangrabbed his ball, fitted his fingers into the holes, and then moved to the endof the lane, lining up his shot. He took a deep breath, sending a little wishout into the universe that he’d make this, and then stepped forward, swinginghis arm back and releasing the ball better than he ever had.
…straight into the gutter.
Well,notstraightinto the gutter. He’d managed to throw a pretty greatcurveball, but that wasn’t really the idea in bowling.
Heswallowed.
Twoshots. He had two shots to impress Ash, here. He could still salvage this.Still reach out and claim all the promise that was hanging between them rightnow if he could justfocusand not suck for once in his life.
Hestood staring at the ball return chute, waiting for his ball to come back so hecould take the second one.
Withinseconds, he felt someone beside him. He turned to see Ash, smiling a soft, warmsmile at him.
“Youknow it’s okay if we don’t win, right?” Ash said.
Declandidn’t respond immediately. Hedidn’tknow it was okay if they didn’twin, especially after he’d encouraged it.
Hedidn’t mind losing to Marcus and Lexi. They were cool, and they were hisfriends, and he wouldn’t have gotten far in life if he was a sore loser.
Hedidcare about not living up to Ash’s standards. This might have been a game, but…
Hejust wanted to impress Ash. Just once.
“Itis okay,” Ash said, his tone turning more serious.
Apparently,he could still read Declan’s face like a book.
“Listen,I’m happy you came out tonight. I’m happy to have friends, and I’m happy thatyou’re helping me have a life here. Areallife. Not just work andsleep. I really, genuinely don’t care whether we win or not. You’ve given me somuch, and this is trivial at best.”
Declanshrugged. He didn’t really think he’dgivenAsh anything. Ash had beenholding his hand through everything from day one. He usually felt helpless.
Butall he wanted was for Ash to be happy, and Ash had just said he was.
“Iwas hoping to impress you a little,” Declan said.
“Youimpress me all the time,” Ash murmured, reaching out to take Declan’s hand.
“Iwas also hoping to get into your pants again,” Declan said softly, his voicebarely above a whisper. Just loud enough for Ash to hear.
Sayingit out loud wasterrifying, but his stomach was already doing cartwheelsover the thought. He wanted Ash. He could hardly remember wanting anyone more.It had beendifferentthis time, taken him longer to figure out, but…
Nowthat he was there, he couldn’t think of a whole lot else.
