I tear at a soggy coaster at the bar in the bowling alley, having arrived a good twenty minutes early to have a drink to calm my nerves and take a look around for possible awkward land mines. I’ve inspected the bathrooms, which are stocked with toilet paper. I’ve retied my bowling shoes three times to ensure they won’t come undone and trip me. I’m not even wearing pants that will go see-through if they get wet. As far as dates go, bowling is pretty lame—lame, but safe.
Lex told me to invite my friends. Little does she know, she is my only friend. Not wanting to show up without a singleother person, I threw out the invitation to everyone at workandmy landlady.
Patricia turned down the invitation on account of her hip, and her preference for staying home and watchingDays of Our Liveswith Winston. I hadn’t extended the invitation to my boss Ebele—it felt weird to invite her to something so casual, especially with the likelihood of me doing something super embarrassing. Linda and Samantha had originally agreed to come, but within the last hour I’ve received texts from them citing different excuses. Which leaves—
“Jasleen! Hi!” I cringe at the high pitch of my voice.
Jasleen walks through the door looking like she’s stepping onto a runway instead of a rundown bowling alley. Her black hair shimmers in the neon as she tosses it over her shoulder, her long lashes are accentuated with symmetrical winged eyeliner, and she’s dressed head to toe in matching pink athleisure.
“Do you have your own bowling gear?” I ask as she approaches, eyeing the shiny pink shoes tied together and dangling from her hand, next to the Prada bag slung over her shoulder.
Jasleen tuts, then hover-kisses both my cheeks. “Of course! I mean, if you’re not going to take something seriously then why do it at all?”
“Totally,” I half laugh, having never taken a sport seriously in my life.
“Where is everyone else?” she asks, sitting on a bench to change her footwear.
“Linda had to emergency substitute-teach a few classes at her studio, and Samantha decided to go see a band playing downtown instead,” I explain. If I’d have known neither of them were going to show up, I wouldn’t have invited Jasleen. Having Olsen think I have zero friends would have been better than contrasting my incredible awkwardness next to Jasleen’s perfection.
“So... is it just you and me bowling, then?” Jasleen asks, eyes wide, as if she can’t imagine a worse hell.
Girl, same.“No, there’s going to be a few others.”
Right on cue, Olsen walks through the doors and blinks in the dim light. I observe him without him seeing me for several seconds, my anxiety increasing as I take in all his handsome features: kind eyes, thick brown hair, tall... I draw a slow, steadying breath, and rise from my seat to greet him.
Olsen pauses and holds the door open, and in walks Lex. She’s dressed smartly in a loose white T-shirt, a plaid button-up flowing and open overtop, and loose-fitting light-wash denim jeans. Her hair is stylishly mussed atop her head, and there’s a subtle touch of makeup on her face, just enough to make her cheekbones pop. She looks damn good, and her confident swagger means she knows it.
Before I can run up to Lex, sweep her into a hug, and then pull her away to explain theJasleen Situation, three others walk in behind her. There’s a medium-height Black woman with thick glasses and a jean jacket, a white guy with red hair and freckles, and a tall, willowy Asian woman.
“Hey, you made it!” I say, going in for a hug with Lex, followed by an awkward wave to Olsen. “This is my friend from work, Jasleen.”Friendis a bit of a stretch. I’m sure she only came here to embarrass me with her incredible bowling skills.
Olsen offers Jasleen a smile, and the way she smiles back gives me another reason to wish I hadn’t invited her. I didn’t think about it before, but if Jasleen’s here then there’s a chance he’ll leave having secured a date with her instead of me. You’d have to be nuts to turn down a girl like Jasleen. She’s just so... flawless.
“These are my friends Amanda and Stuart,” Olsen says, introducing the woman with the glasses and the man with the freckles.
“Please, call meDoctorStuart,” the redheaded guy says, reaching out to shake Jasleen’s hand, then mine.
Amanda rolls her eyes with a smile. “Don’t listen to him. All of us are doctors, but he’s the only one with an ego about it. No need for formalities, it’s just bowling.”
“What’s the point of all that debt if I can’t make people call me doctor?” Stuart quips.
Amanda laughs. “You’d make your own mother call you doctor, wouldn’t you?”
“Actually, she’s the one who insists.”
Olsen shakes his head. “You two are ridiculous.”
I turn to Lex, who’s been quiet this whole time, and wait for her to introduce her friend. Lex looks from me to her friend and back, pink rising to her cheeks. “And this is Lynn,” she says, turning to the gorgeous woman beside her. I didn’t think there was anyone in the world who could compete with Jasleen in class and style, but Lynn is giving her a run for her money with her tight red pants and a white blouse fitting snug across her tiny waist.
Lynn wraps an arm around Lex’s middle, pulling her a bit closer. I blink several times at the contact between the two of them. Is that...friendly? Or something else?
I reach my hand out for Lynn’s to shake. “Hi! Lex has told me—”absolutely nothing“—so much about you!”
For as much time as Lex and I have spent together you’d think she’d have mentioned this “friend” Lynn, especially if they feel close enough to have their arms around each other like that.
Lynn, one arm still wrapped behind Lex’s back, reaches out with the other and takes my hand in hers. Her grasp is equal parts soft and commanding, with fingers far longer and prettier than mine, her manicured almond-shaped nails glistening in the neon lights of the bowling alley bar. A handshake like hers means business.
Lex turns to the group. “How about you all get your shoes and set up the lane while Aubrey and I order drinks? First round on me.” Lex extricates herself from Lynn, tucks her arm into mine, and steers me toward the bar.
