Page 40 of Krash & Bern

“We’re here to bowl!” I stood up and headed toward the rack of bowling balls.

“So? I can’t talk nasty to you while we play?”

I shrugged. “You can, but it would only be counterproductive. I was serious the other day. You’ve had a lot of scandals. The way the blogs make it seem, you’ll stick your dick in any woman with a fat ass. I can’t risk my health to scratch an itch.”

He rubbed his hands together before he placed them on my hips. He met my gaze and smiled. “My word has always been bond. I get tested regularly. My last checkup was the Thursday after you installed my cameras. For what it’s worth, everything came back clean, and I haven’t fucked on a bitch since we connected.”

“Good to know.”

I didn’t offer any information about my sexual health or history. The truth was, I’d only ever satisfied myself in the last two years since I left my other situation. When I came to Texas, I got a full workup to make sure Rodney hadn’t given me anything, since he always accused me of cheating.

“You’re up first.” Krash finally put his attention on the bowling lanes. I stepped up to the line and aimed the ball. I took a few steps back before I used quick strides to get me back to the line, before I threw the ball down the lane and watched as it curved along the long path.

We both watched nine of the pins fall. I cheered and waited for the machine to reset before I clutched a quick spare. I swayed my hips and cheered for myself as I turned to Keyshawn.

“You’ve been practicing since the last time we played.”

“Well, yes. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t straight trash juice.”

“This might be fun. How about we make a bet?”

I shook my head. “Aht! Why are you trying to manipulate me?”

He chuckled. “I’m not. I just want to make the game more interesting.”

“Tell me the bet, and I’ll consider it.”

“If I win, you spend the night with me.” He tilted his head and rubbed his hands together.

“And if I win?” I asked.

“You set the term.”

I tapped my chin and hummed. “If I win, you give me a quarter million dollars.”

“Done.”

My eyes widened. “You’ve got a quarter million to lose?”

“Yes,” he replied.

“I should have made it a whole million then.”

“You’ll find out before the year is over that what’s mine is yours. My money already has your name attached. I’m just patiently waiting for you to loosen up and accept the fact we’re going to get back together and get married.”

His words sent butterflies through my stomach to swarm around. I swallowed the lump in my throat, before I coughed and searched for a new topic.

“You know what being here alone reminded me of?” I asked.

“What’s that?” he asked as he sat on the seat and leaned back.

“It reminded me of the days when Gary—I think that was his name—used to have a part-time job here. He’d get us in for the free, and we’d have so much time to just act like complete fools until closing.”

“I remember.”

“How’s Gary doing these days?”

“He’s my manager. I gave all the homies jobs in my crew. As long as I’m up, they will be too.”

---