The muscle in her jaw tics. I expect her to bite back, but she just presses her lips together and spins on her heel, turning her attention to the pins. Lifting the ball, she holds it as she takes a moment to collect herself before she gets into position and throws it.
The ball rushes down the lane in a perfect line, knocking down all the pins.
Mae slowly spins on her heels, a wicked smile spread across her lips. “Who’s next?”
The men exchange a glance before looking back at my friend, who’s sashaying her way back to us.
Instead of being intimidated, Nico just cracks his knuckles. “Oh, game on, Doc.”
I shake my head as he makes his way down the lane where the pins have been put back in place. He opens and closes his hand a few times before slipping his fingers into the holes of the ball and making his move, downing all the pins in one go as well.
A smirk on his face when he turns to us makes Mae scowl. Seriously, these two.
The game is intense.
I’m nowhere near as good as Mae, and thankfully neither is Matthew, but we try to keep up. Though Mae and Nico have taken this whole rivalry thing to another level altogether, and I’m not sure if I should laugh or be worried.
A hand sneaks around my waist, a warm body pressing against my back.
Matthew’s taken this whole PDA thing way too seriously, and I swear if his hand is not on that damn ball, it’s on me. Brushing against mine, touching my shoulders, my hand…
“I changed my mind,” Matthew whispers into my ear, his warm breath making goosebumps rise on my skin.
“About?”
“They’re definitely going to fuck.”
A strangled laugh escapes me.
I can’t even protest because, well… I don’t really think he’s wrong.
“Now, look at who we have here.”
We both jump apart at the interruption and turn around to find none other than Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Tyson, who are watching us with matching smiles on their faces.
Mrs. Miller’s sharp eyes move from me to Matthew, her grin growing bigger.
“Oh, I think they’re on a date, Trish!” Mrs. Tyson gushes. “We shouldn’t have interrupted them.”
“Please, if they wanted to be alone, they wouldn’t be here.” Mrs. Miller waves her off and lightly pounds her cane against the floor, mere inches from my feet. “You treating our girl right, Matthew?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. She’s our favorite, so you better not mess this up.”
“I would never, Mrs. Miller.”
The older woman harrumphs. “Well, y’all have fun. We’re going back to our own dates.”
My brows shoot up, but the two are already walking away, and sure enough, they join two gentlemen who’re waiting for them a few lanes down from ours.
“That woman scares the living hell out of me,” Matthew mutters.
“You’re not the only one.”
“Was that Mrs. Miller?” Mae asks as she joins us, her gaze scanning the space.
“Sure was. Apparently, we’re not the only ones on a double date tonight.”
