Page 29 of Catch and Release

She could feel him looking at her, but she stared out the passenger window digesting what he’d said. Her stomach fluttered in pleasure, which was stupid, because guys called her pretty all the time. But the way Shawn said it was like he’d combust if he didn’t tell her. And it made her feel things she didn’t want to feel.

“Well, for the record, I was just messing with you,” Willa said quietly. “But thanks. You’re not bad, yourself.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his lips quirk up in a half smile as he pulled into the church parking lot.

“Next time it happens, tell them you have a girlfriend who teaches yoga,” Willa heard herself say as Shawn’s lips parted. “They don’t have to know it’s not true. But use me as an excuse anytime you want. It’s how I get men to leave me alone. Making up a fake boyfriend.”

After staring at her for a second too long, Shawn nodded and put the car in park.

9

Willa never thought she’d describe Bingo as a bloodbath.

But sitting in the cafeteria of Ida’s church with a few dozen other people—mostly seniors—Willa was both amused and terrified. Apparently, the church had been hosting Bingo nights every Friday during the summertime for years now. It was a popular weekend activity among older locals, and with a suggested participation fee of $10, it served as a decent fundraiser for the church. Local businesses donated the prizes people won, but people mostly cared about the bragging rights.

Clearly, because Ida’s best friend, Barb—a petite Black woman with short, curly hair—was currently sticking her tongue out at the rest of the table after having won the first round. She got a $5 gift card to a local coffee shop, and as the moderator brought it up to her, she grabbed it from him and started shaking her hips in a victory dance.

“Sit down, old lady!” Ida shouted.

“I’m younger than you!” Barb shouted back.

“So listen to your elders, then!”

“Oh, don’t get your panties in a wad because you lost!”

Ida harrumphed and crossed her arms.

The rest of the older women at the table laughed at their exchange as the moderator came over the speaker and announced the start of the second round.

This time, you could win one of two ways: By getting an X or getting a row of five. The two winners would get a pie from the pastry shop. As Barb sat back in her chair, Ida pointedly ignored her and put her glasses on in solemnity.

“They do know this is mostly a game of chance, right?” Willa asked Shawn quietly out of the side of her mouth.

He looked up in alarm, then glanced around the table before looking back at Willa.

“Whatever you do, do not say that to them, Greene,” he said. “Grams gave me the silent treatment for two days last time I insulted the very strategic and intellectually complex game of Bingo.”

“You’re kidding,” Willa giggled.

“I wish I were,” Shawn said, then leaned in to whisper in her ear. “They take their Bingo very seriously, in case you haven’t picked up on that. And whatever you do, don’t mention Nancy Siders.”

She tried not to shiver at the way it felt for his hot breath to cascade over her ear.

“Who’s Nancy Siders?” Willa asked breathlessly.

Ida gasped, and Shawn dragged a hand across his face.

“We don’t say that name around here,” Ida said, looking disgruntled. “It’s bad luck.”

Willa raised her eyebrows and looked at Shawn with a curious glance. His eyes widened and he gave a slight shake of his head, causing Willa to chuckle.

“It’s not a laughing matter, young lady,” Barb chimed in. “That woman is in cahoots with the devil.”

The moderator called out the first letter and number combo, and the two women went silent and focused on their Bingo cards, leaving Willa wondering what she’d just witnessed. She turned to look at Shawn, who was checking his card to see if he could put a chip down, and had an adorable look of concentration on his face.

“So… who is She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?” Willa whispered.

He looked up at her with a grin, his long hair falling into his face.

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