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Carmelo eyes me. Obviously, the decision rests with me. I’m not going to be the reason Enzo can’t bowl on the same team as his girlfriend. Then again, the thought of teaming up with Carmelo sounds about as much fun as getting a pap smear.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll be teammates with Carmelo,” I say, plastering on my friendly “I’m all good” smile. The one I use when I lose a client but don’t want to show how frustrated I am.
“Carm,” he says. “Only my ma calls me Carmelo.”
He’s so close, I can smell his cologne. See the stubble on his face that makes it look like he’s always sporting a five o’clock shadow. I realize for the first time that his blue eyes are actually rimmed with hazel.
“Okay,” I croak before downing the rest of my wine.
He stands. “Want to shoot rock, paper, scissors to decide who goes first?”
Annie’s already prepped with her fist on her palm. This must be a thing with them.
“Oh, I don’t care who goes first,” I say, standing from the bench.
“Yeah, you do,” Carmelo… er, Carm says.
“Let the ladies do it,” Enzo says from his spot near the machine that spits out the balls.
“The only reason you want the ladies to do it is because you know you’ll lose. Annie’s your best shot.”
I look at Annie, who shrugs and rolls her eyes, silently saying that this is them—crazy competitive brothers.
“Fine, you go then, Bella.” Carm nudges me with his arm.
“On the count of three,” Annie says.
“One,” Carm says.
“Two,” Annie says.
“Three,” Enzo says.
I shoot rock.
Annie shoots scissors.
“Whoa!” Carm hollers in my ear then swings his arm around my shoulders. “Good job.”
He guides me over to the lane and I realize heels probably weren’t the best choice, but I had thought I’d gracefully bow out of the bowling part once it started. Annie takes a seat on the bench and kicks off her heels, pulling a package of socks from her bag. She puts a pair on her feet.
“Here,” Annie says, handing me a pair. “I ran out at lunch and it’s a three-pack.”
“They don’t have bowling shoes?” I ask.
“Nope, and you can walk as far down the lane as you want. It’s pretty low key here.”
I nod. Good to know.
“Maybe we should start you guys closer to the pins, like a ladies’ tee in golf,” Carm says.
Annie and I whip our heads around.
“We’re just as capable as you,” Annie sneers and stands.
Carm holds up his hands as Enzo laughs and slaps him on the back.
“You take offense to everything.” Carm rolls his eyes.
