I’d be drowning if it weren’t for Jake. He chauffeurs her to physical therapy and stays to watch her, so he can make sure she’s doing the exercises correctly at home. That man has the patience of a saint becausenothingmakes her pricklier than being corrected on her physical therapy. He also stands up for me anytime she goes on a tirade about something I’ve done wrong or could improve upon. He does it without question, refusing to let her diminish my light, reminding her how talented and wonderful I am. I don’t know if it’s necessarily changing her behavior, but it’s making a huge difference in my life.
What he’s not allowed to do is mention that anything is brewing between us. She may love Jake like a son, but she’ll lose her shit if I date him. She’d instantly assume I’m having a midlife crisis.
“I still don’t understand why you want to go bowling,” Mom says now, skeptical about the two of us going out with our friends from high school. “You never liked bowling as a child. What if I need something while you’re gone?”
The disapproving look she gives me is one of those stares that would’ve caused me to bend to her will only a few weeks ago.Not anymore. I’m done chasing her elusive approval and trying to live up to her ever-changing standards. It’s time for me to livemylife. Focus on whatIwant for once. “I don’t hate bowling. I’m just not very good at it. There’s a difference. And I’ll only be gone a few hours. You can call or text me if you need something.”
And with that, I grab my purse and phone and head out the front door.
“Come on, come on. Little to the left. Strike, baby!” Dylan shouts loud enough for the people four lanes over to hear. He spins around on the balls of his feet before slowly strolling over to us, pretending to dust imaginary dirt off his shoulders. “Andthat’show it’s done. Didn’t realize you were playing against a professional tonight, did you, Jake?”
Jake chokes back a laugh. “No, Dylan. I was not anticipating your bowling skills.” He nudges my thigh with his knee, arching his eyebrow in a silent request to help him out of this situation. The Dylan we knew in high school loved to prattle on and on about his prowess in various activities. Forhours. Jake’s fake smile tells me he remembers all too well what it felt like to get stuck listening to Dylan ramble.
“For the love, Dylan. It’s the first frame of the game. How about you wait to gloat until we’re halfway through?” Hannah teases, blowing him an air kiss. As soon as Dylan turns to bragabout his strike to the unknown group two lanes over from us, Hannah motions for Jake and me to lean in. “Dylan is actually horrible at bowling. I’m not sure how the fuck that happened. Whatever you do, please don’t encourage him. I can’t spend a lifetime hearing about the one time he almost became a professional bowler.”
“That was a fluke?” I ask, taking another sip of my cold beer.
“Yep. We usually do bumper bowling when it’s just the two of us.That’show bad he is,” Hannah replies, shaking her head in disbelief. Jake arches an eyebrow and displays a wicked smirk. He doesn’t have to say anything; it’s obvious what he’s planning to do next. Hannah glances at Jake and immediately frowns. “I swear to God, Jake Caldwell. If you say anything about bumper bowling, I’ll deny it. And I’ll make sure retribution is extra sweet. Throw a little chaos into your quiet life.”
Jake immediately grimaces. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me,” Hannah replies confidently, leaning back against the seat bench with a look, knowing she’s already won. Whatever Jake was planning has been kiboshed, thanks to her threat.
“This is high school all over again,” I mutter, shaking my head at the bickering between them, while Brandon, Shawn, and their wives are completely oblivious to the almost throwdown happening over here. Jake and Hannah loved to push each other’s buttons, constantly instigating shit to rile the other up. For some reason, she seems mostly resistant to Jake’s charms, never chasing after him like every other girl in school did. Like most women still do.
How can I blame women for finding him ungodly attractive? For lusting after his raspy voice. Anyone lucky enough to truly get to know Jake can see the incredible man he’s become. It’s no wonder women gawk at him wherever he goes. He’s the entire package.
Sitting right next to me. His thighs touching mine. Laughing with our friends. Dressed in dark jeans, a light gray Henley, and a navy baseball cap, casting a shadow over his eyes. So fucking gorgeous.
And so out of my league.
He could have any woman he wanted.
Why is he interested in me?
My smile falters as I compare myself to the long list of women he’s dated in the past. Assuming you’d call it dating, which is being very generous.
Jake leans toward me, his lips almost brushing my ear. “Are you okay?”
A shiver runs down my spine. I don’t know how to answer his question. This isn’t the type of conversation we should have in front of other people. “I’m fine. Just got a lot on my mind,” I whisper, choosing to leave out how I’m actively sizing myself up against every model-thin blonde he’s dated and losing.
“I see. Want to talk about it?” He doesn’t move an inch. His breath flames my skin, making the thoughts going through my mind even more devastating.
I shake my head, unable to reply without telling him everything. Wanting to hear him convince me that I’m different from the other women. That I mean something more because of who I am. Who we are to each other. What we can become.
Andthat’swhen it hits me.
I want this with him.
A relationship.
A future.
My decision has already been made. The only thing holding me back is the fear of what happens if it doesn’t work out. What I would lose if he changed his mind. And that scares the ever-living shit out of me.
“Come with me,” Jake whispers, placing his beer on the counter and standing. “Hey, Dylan. Can you bowl these frames for Kate and me? She needs to find a quiet place to make a call.”
“Hell, yes! Just remember who helped you start off the game with a high score,” Dylan says, high-fiving Jake as we walk past, completely oblivious to the evil eyes his fiancée is giving us at the moment.
