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“It’s nice to meet you,” I tell them both.
“Likewise.”
Weston tells them that his regular partner couldn’t make it tonight, so he brought me along, hoping that I’d be able to keep them in the run for the championship.
“I keep telling him I’m rusty,” I explain.
“That’s okay. I just need a partner at this point.”
“Come on, little lady. Help the man out,” Zemry encourages.
“Oh, all right, but only because you asked,” I tell him.
I give Weston my shoe size, and he goes to the counter and retrieves a pair of ugly bowling shoes for me. I put them on, and as I’m lacing up, Weston sits beside me and begins to explain the game.
“I think I got it,” I tell him.
“I’m pretty good, so don’t worry. These guys are average at best, so all I need you to do is throw as best you can. I’ll do the rest.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Let’s make a little wager. I win, and you buy me a greasy bowling-alley burger with salty fries, and if you win, I’ll buy you a lukewarm draft beer,” I say.
“You don’t have to do that. I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“I’m not insulted. I just figure if I’m going to play, we might as well make it interesting.”
He leans in. “We’re on the same team, sweetheart,” he whispers.
“I get that, but I’m offering a side bet.”
“You sure about that?” he asks.
“Are you scared, Tuttle?”
He laughs. “I’ll do you one better. If you win, I’ll cook you a meal myself,” he offers.
I eye him skeptically. “You can cook?”
“You’ll have to win to see.”
Justin leans in and whispers, “I’d take that bet if I were you.”
“Fine. I win, you cook, but if you win, you still just get a beer.”
“Make it two beers.”
“That’s fair. He does have two hands,” Justin agrees.
I narrow my eyes at Weston. “Deal.”
I walk up to the ball return, choose my ball, and look back over my shoulder. I throw him a wink before I sashay to the lane and send a perfect curve ball right into the pins.
Strike!
I do a little victory dance and twirl to see Weston sitting there with his mouth agape.
“Why do I feel like I’m getting hustled?” he asks.
“I have no idea what you mean,” I say.
