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‘To be honest, it’s put me off staying,’ I admit. ‘I’m starting to think I shouldn’t have come. None of this is me.’
‘I know what you mean,’ Rocco replies. ‘But don’t let one clown put you off. The rest of us are… well… fine, I guess? No predators, but a real mixed bag.’
He laughs and it’s contagious.
‘It’s just given me a bit of a scare,’ I confess. I shift uncomfortably in my seat. Allowing myself to be vulnerable in front of a man, even one who seems okay, makes me feel uneasy.
‘These things can actually be quite fun, I’ve been to a handful now,’ Rocco tells me. ‘If you want to stay, I’ll have a word with Leila, make sure you’re on our lane, and that Sid is as physically far away from us as possible. We’re playing in groups, with teams of two on two. We can team up if you like?’
‘Are you any good at bowling?’ I ask him, relaxing a little. Rocco is right, I shouldn’t let one person ruin this for me. The world is crawling with guys like Sid. I just need to be more careful. Now that I’m single again, when I do set about trying to find love, I’m certain there’s going to be plenty more where that came from, unfortunately.
‘Absolutely not,’ he tells me with a very straight face.
‘Me neither,’ I reply. ‘Let’s do it.’
The smile quickly returns to Rocco’s face.
‘Nice. Well, given that you didn’t in fact go to school with my sister,’ Rocco says in hushed tones, leaning closer, ‘I should probably ask you what your name is.’
I laugh.
‘It’s Billie.’
‘Okay then, Billie, let’s do this,’ Rocco insists.
I spring to my feet.
‘Rocco, there you are,’ Leila says. Her eyes light up the second they land on him. ‘Ready to rock… o.’
She laughs at her own dorky joke. Rocco laughs in a way that I’m sure is just polite.
‘And you found Billie,’ she adds. ‘I put us all on the same lane, along with Tobias.’
‘I was wondering if Billie and I could be on the same team?’ Rocco asks. ‘Otherwise she’s going home.’
Rocco laughs. Leila laughs too, until Rocco turns around to pick up a scarf someone walking past him just drops. When it’s just the two of us, for a few seconds, Leila’s expression changes. She doesn’t look happy, but she turns the smile back on as Rocco turns around. Oh, God, am I stepping on her toes? I’m not trying to. I’m under no illusions about Rocco and the reason he’s taking me under his wing. He so very clearly feels sorry for me.
‘I’m honestly not that bothered for playing,’ I quickly insist.
‘Nonsense,’ Leila says, her voice actually breaking for a second mid-word. ‘It can be you and Rocco versus me and Tobias. Mixed doubles. And may the best man and the best woman win.’
Wow, I can even hear the competitiveness in her voice. Yep, I’m definitely stepping on some toes here.
‘Great, let’s get to it,’ Rocco says excitedly.
It isn’t long before the lanes are ready for us. We all make our way over there, led by Leila, who – as event organiser – is taking her role very seriously. She’s doing a great job, though. As a teacher, I could definitely learn a thing or two from her, for managing the kids.
Leila keys our names into the machine. Eventually we’re joined by a man in his late twenties/early thirties. He’s got mousey-brown hair that is short and neat – but not neatly styled, like he spent time crafting his look, instead just too short to possibly be messy.
‘This is Tobias,’ Leila tells me. ‘Tobias, this is Billie.’
‘Oh, hello?’ he says as our eyes meet. He poses his greeting almost as though it’s a question, I don’t think he’s expecting to see me here. ‘A newbie.’
‘Hi,’ I reply. ‘Yep, this is my first one.’
‘You’ve been missing out,’ Tobias replies. ‘Boozy bingo last night was fantastic.’
‘I’m not a big bingo fan,’ I reply. I’m really not now.
