Rebecca nods. “I think I can handle that. Any other rules?”
“Nope.”
Rebecca tugs the hem of Meg’s shirt, where its half tucked into her skirt. “These are so cute.”
“I bet Loren still has them in her car if you want one.”
I do have them in my car, but that’s not the point. This is our night to bitch and moan and if our boss is here, we can’t do that. It’s fine that Rebecca showed up tonight, but if she has a shirt, she’s liable to take that as an invitation to come every Wednesday.
I like Rebecca so much, but I’m not sure how I’m supposed to be her friend with everything that’s happened.
“Really? I would love one. Thank you.”
Looks like what I want doesn’t matter in this situation. Maybe we can bowl on Wednesdays as like, a team-building exercise and get drunk in secret on Thursdays instead? “Glenn or Ash? Those are the names we have left.”
“Let’s go with Glenn.”
“Perfect. I’ll be right back.” I run out to my car, take a moment to mentally shout at the heavens for cursing me, and then retrieve Glenn from beneath the mountain of takeout containers in my backseat.
Back inside, Rebecca looks so overjoyed when I hand her the old bowling shirt that I feel guilty all over again.
“This is so great.” She glances around the alley. “The bathroom is…?”
“On the other side of the snack bar,” Meg says with a tilt of her head.
We both wear matching smiles as our boss heads that way.
Meg falls down on the chair behind the screen with a groan. “I think I tweaked my hamstring at the gym.”
Rebecca vanishes into the bathroom.
“Are you insane?” I hiss.
“I’m sorry!” She throws up her hands, her shoes tumbling to the floor. “I didn’t know what else to do. She was crying, Loren. Crying!”
“Really? Why?”
“I’ll give you one guess.”
“Ratbag.”
“Exactly. Look, I know it’s super weird, but I feel like she could use a friend, and I didn’t want to leave either of you hanging. This is what bowling at The Alley is all about.”
She’s right. If I just keep my cool there won’t be an issue. Everything will be fine.
“Three of you tonight, ladies?” Sally asks, three cans on her tray.
Afraid so. “We brought a friend.”
“Happy to hear it.” Sally leaves us to mosey over to the rental counter so she can flirt with Dave.
With her shoes on, Meg takes over computer duties. “We need a nickname for Rebecca.”
Yeah, we wouldn’t want to make her feel left out, especially if she’s already down in the dumps. Let’s see…. “I have the perfect one.”
Rebecca James has done the impossible: made an old man’s bowling shirt look like it belongs on a runway. The way she tied the front so that the hem hits at the smallest part of her waist is the work of a fashion genius.
“I hate and love her so much.” Mostly, I want to be her.
