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Stepping aside, Ed motions for us to head inside but not before adding some parting words that make me want to roll my eyes at him. Of course, there’s a damn camera in my face, so I can’t.
“Good luck. Have fun. And, ladies... no one can save you from going home this week except yourselves. If you want to be here, do whatever it takes to ensure you’re the one they’re thinking about when they vote on Sunday.”
Not exactly a pep talk. More like encouraging us to sleep our way to the top. Which is not how I plan to ensure my safety. At the end of the day, this is still a game, and I won’t compromise my morals to win.
After we all have our shoes and are situated at the lanes, Milo and Callen head off to grab drinks while the rest of the guys go in search of bowling balls for everyone. Sliding my feet into my shoes, I notice Natasha is on her phone, her fingers flying across the screen. There’s a sly grin on her face that promptly disappears when Milo and Callen make their way back to us, each with two pitchers of beer.
Wanting to help, I take the stack of plastic cups Milo tucked under his arm and whisper in his ear.
“Everything okay with you and Natasha? She seems like she’s acting a little cold toward you today.”
He lets out a grunt, looks over my shoulder at her, and glares.
“Fine.”
“You’re a horrible liar, in case you were wondering, but I’m a great listener if you want to talk about it later,” I offer, pouring myself a cup of beer and taking a sip.
“I might take you up on that,” he notes as everyone else starts gathering around and pouring themselves a drink.
Lennon sets up the lanes, girls versus guys, while Drake walks around and collects twenty dollars from everyone. Whichever team has the best overall score wins the pot. Whichever player on the team has the highest score gets all the cash.
Not a bad deal. I don’t mind risking a little money to make a bunch.
Not everyone wants to participate, though. Natasha refuses to wear the shoes, too many germs or something, and thus refuses to play. Teegan seems indifferent and somewhat quiet today. Almost like a storm is raging beneath the surface and she’s holding herself back from going off on someone. Bella is her normal, sweet self, trying to be encouraging. Which leaves me and Courtney, and we’re both watching the girls interact with raised eyebrows.
Nope, not at all like when we hang out by the pool.
Yes, I’m happy the rest of the week I get some alone time with the guys. There are entirely too many hormones floating around right now, and I’m here to have fun, not sit around and look pissy.
We’re in the second frame when Natasha disappears for half an hour. No one seems to notice except me. She doesn’t return until the beginning of the sixth frame, and it looks like she’s been given an attitude adjustment. One that caused her hair to get messed up and her lipstick to smudge.
My first thought... none of the guys left.
My second... who the hell has sex at a bowling alley if they’re afraid of the germs the shoes might have?
Not my business. Don’t care, I try to convince myself as Jace hollers for me to bowl. He’s ticked off. All the guys are, except Lennon. Probably because he’s crushing them. I swear the man only knows how to throw strikes, and on the off chance when he doesn’t knock them all down, he picks up the remaining pins with his next ball.
He’s stupid good.
Unlike me. I’ve managed to slowly crawl my way to the top of the leader board for the girls, but only by one point. Bella is damn good at bowling. If she hadn’t thrown a gutter ball a few frames back after her spare, she’d be in the lead. Not that I care if I lose. I’m having fun talking with everyone.
Callen’s telling jokes. The more he drinks, the more inappropriate they become. Jace is trying everything he can to get Lennon to screw up, which is making the rest of us laugh. Milo and Drake are sitting next to Teegan, probably whispering sweet nothings in her ear judging by the smile that’s been plastered on her face since we started. And Lennon... well, he’s had his eyes on me the entire time.
Watching and not saying anything. It makes me self-conscious. I feel horrible for what he walked in on last night.
Lennon and Bella take the first game and he splits the money with her. The second game ends up much like the first, only no one is throwing as well because of all the beer we’ve consumed. As we pack up to head out, Lennon wraps his arm around my shoulder and tugs me to the side.
“Do I still get some alone time with you tonight?” he asks, pulling me to his chest and kissing me on the top of the head, his smell driving me crazy as it assaults my senses. Whatever cologne he uses, I should invest in a bottle and spray my sheets with it every night. I can only imagine I’d have the best dreams and he would be the star.
“Of course. What did you have in mind?”
My head bounces slightly as he chuckles. “I have a few ideas,” he retorts, taking my hand and tugging gently as we walk out of the bowling alley behind the rest of our friends.
All I can think is... I bet he does. I bet I can guess what those ideas are. And I have a feeling they’re right along the lines of what was happening last night before he showed up.
As soon as we’re back at the ranch, Lennon and I part with the promise to meet me in the game room in fifteen minutes. I’m not sure what he’s up to, but we might not be alone in the game room. The guys like to play pool, and there’s a bar in there, so there’s no telling who might be hanging out.
To my surprise, it’s dark when I walk in except for the glow from the large screen on the far wall. And Lennon? He’s cooking popcorn, the smell making my mouth water.
“I wanted to take you to the movies,” he starts, pulling me into his arms, kissing me lightly on the lips, “but I knew it wasn’t an option, so this is the next best thing. Go pick a seat and I’ll be over in a sec.”
Forgoing the chairs, I get comfy on the couch in the middle and wait for Lennon. He appears minutes later with two cans of soda and a bowl of popcorn. After getting situated, the bowl of popcorn on my lap as he tucks me under his arm, he hands me the remote.
“Your choice. I already logged into my Netflix account.”
Netflix and chill night? Not what I was expecting, but it sounds perfect. And if I pick the right movie, there’s a chance he won’t leave here disappointed. Because all I can think about right now is how much I want him to kiss me again.
Not because Jace kissed me. Or because he’s jealous of what he saw. But because he wants to kiss me.
