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“Done,” Vance says, rising. “We’re going bowling.”
Beckett smirks at him and Amiyah claps. “I’m kicking everyone’s asses.”
We file outside to wait for our Ubers. Since almost everyone but Prim and I wanted to drink, we voted Ubers would be safer than driving. I watch the flashing lights of Seattle, the way people move on the sidewalk as if they’re on an invisible cloud. Beckett steps in front of me, pulling me until I’m cocooned inside his coat with him. My hands rub up his back beneath the material of the coat as I scoot in closer to absorb his warmth. “You okay?” he whispers into the top of my head.
“Yeah. I just wasn’t aware everyone knew, is all.”
“They were all there that night I came. But honestly, who cares? Don’t be ashamed. When you dance, it’s like watching art be created, it’s nothing to feel ashamed of.”
“Yeah?” I ask, looking up, smiling.
“Yeah.” He brushes his lips over mine. “You should only be ashamed if you make us lose at bowling.”
I laugh, tipping my head back and squeezing him closer. “No promises, because I’ve never played.” Beckett groans but it’s playful.
“Let’s go, love birds. Uber is here,” Vance calls, and we climb in behind him and Prim.
* * *
We endup at a bowling alley that has pool tables and lots of arcade games. Like an arcade for adults. They serve drinks and food, and it’s not overly crowded. It’s nice, but I wish the décor was more colorful. Who made the rule that when you grow up you can’t have fun colors anymore? Everything is always so monotone and boring. I look away from the offensive beige to Amiyah, who is grimacing at her bowling shoes. She rolls her ankle back and forth to get a full view of them. “This is clashing with my outfit.” She pulls out her phone, typing quickly on it. “Someone, somewhere makes cute bowling shoes and I will find them for next time.” I watch as Madden smiles down at her, but when his eyes connect with mine, he quickly looks away. As if he was just caught doing something wrong.
“You ready? We’re playing against Primrose and Vance, and I refuse to lose to that fucker. So you better be on you’re A game, Rabbit.”
I bat my lashes up at Beckett. “We’ll probably lose.” I just wanted to be honest with him. Because besides dancing, I’m un-athletic as fuck.
“Love the positivity, Rabbit. Go sprinkle some on Vance for me.”
I laugh as I step up next to Prim, who looks serious as she stares down the pins at the end of the lane. “Whoa. Have you played before?” A tiny smirk lifts her lips as she releases the bowl down the lane, hitting a strike on her first go. My mouth falls open, eyes wide in amazement.
“What the fuck? Am I being hustled right now?” Beckett asks as Vance chuckles.
I release my ball and it’s going smoothly… until it takes a sharp turn into the gutter. I hear Beckett groan as I turn around. I lift my hands up, shrugging. Beckett walks to me. “Looks like I’ll be carrying us tonight.”
“I told you, I’ve never played.” I watch in amazement as he and Vance both roll strikes.
And the night continues that way. Me, the queen of gutter balls, and everyone else seeming to have taken bowling lessons beforehand.
21
Beckett
Vanceand I stand outside on the connected balconies, him smoking a cigarette as I sip a beer. Not my usual, but I only want a slight buzz tonight.
Vance’s fingers, the only part of his body not tatted, pinches his cigarette. “So, you know the day I took Brixley to get her a change of clothes, there was an envelope sitting in the pile of shattered glass.” He takes a hit before releasing it slowly. “She looked concerned but not surprised, like she’s been receiving them for a while. Anyways, I opened it before she could see it.” He looks over to me, eyes dark as the night sky. “It said, I’ll kill a person for every week you keep breathing.”
My chest tightens, fist clenching around my drink. “That explains Delvin’s and Madden’s recruits turning up dead.”
Vance nods. “If we don’t stop this person, that means Primrose is next. That’sifthey’re sticking to people connected to us.”
Vance has a clue as to who it could be, but I don’t see the connection. There is just no way. “Primrose is basically untouchable.”
“You better fucking hope and pray she is or I will rain destruction on this campus like they’ve never seen if something happens to her. Remind everyone why the De Luca name is only whispered in fear.”
I nod, taking a drink. “We need to finish the last part of initiation. I can’t believe we forgot it.” I try to calm him down, bring his blown pupils and mind back to the surface.
“Yeah, as soon as we’re back, we’ll carry out the stupid tradition.” Vance pushes off the balcony, walking into his hotel room.
I do the same, pushing copper hair off Brixley’s freckled face as I rub the apple of her cheek. “Why are they targeting you?” I whisper.
