Page 17 of Wasted On You

“You want a strike?”

Irritated, she made a face.

“What do I get if I put down all ten pins more than once?” He winked.

“The knowledge that, in fact, you don’t suck at bowling.”

“There’s not much I suck at.”

Ivy’s eyes narrowed. “Just throw your damn ball.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned and stepped away. “With a curve?”

Mike Paul got his ten, but it took two tries, and by the time they reached the last frame it was down to Ivy to post a perfect score of thirty to pull out a win. A crowd had gathered since most of the other teams were finished with their games, and they were cheering as she grabbed her ball. And some chirps from the gallery. She glanced back to Wanda and Bryce, who stood and watched, their arms linked with each other. Wanda leaned into Bryce with the kind of familiarity that only a couple could share.

The two were in love. It would be obvious to a blind man.

Wanda smiled at her, and Ivy lifted her chin in response, then turned and faced the lane. They might be all grown up and acting like actual adults, but that didn’t mean she wanted to win any less, because she did. Ivy smiled and got down to business.

She lined up and threw a perfect curve that came back to center at the last moment and took out all ten pins.

Then she did it again. The crowd erupted in a roar, anticipation building for her last throw. Every single person in the crowd faded away except Mike Paul, who stood a few inches behind her. She was hyper-aware of him. And when he moved a bit closer, she forced herself to exhale slowly.

“You got this,” he whispered, so close now she could feel the heat from his body.

Ivy looked over her shoulder, and when their eyes met her stomach did a weird dip.Again.She gave herself a mental shake and tore her gaze from his. Then turned back to the task at hand. Bowling in Big Bend might not have been on her bingo card tonight, but she sure as hell was glad she’d come out. In truth, she hadn’t had this much fun in a long, long time.

Ivy cracked her neck, repositioned herself, and then, with the crowd cheering her on, let the ball go. It sailed down the lane, curved back to center, and took down all ten pins for the win.

Her team shouted as Ivy jumped up and down, elated at the win. Suddenly, she was scooped up into the arms she’d tried so damn hard to forget. Mike Paul twirled her in a full circle, and she couldn’t help but laugh as Benton and Angel came over.

“You’re something else, you know that right?” Mike Paul’s compliment was husky.

She slid out of his embrace and took a step back. She needed some time to get her heart back to where it belonged inside her chest, protected by bone and tissue, not banging like a damn drum all over the place.

“That was amazing,” Angel said.

“It was a team effort.” They all turned as Bryce and Wanda approached. He held out his hand and this time she didn’t hesitate to accept. “Congratulations,” he said.

“Thanks.”

“You definitely haven’t lost your touch.” Wanda grinned. “And we owe you guys a round of drinks.”

“Just one?” Mike Paul chuckled and waved over to the server, Aiden. The young man took their orders and disappeared.

They all headed for a large table and gave up their lane for another group waiting to play. Ivy was too ramped up to sit, so she leaned against one of the chairs and glanced around the room. So many folks she knew. Folks she’d grown up. All of them were still here in Big Bend, living their lives.

Wanda came over, a half-smile in place, and offered Ivy a cold beer. She raised her eyebrows questioningly. “Friends?”

I guess we’ve all grown up.

Ivy shrugged and smiled. “Friends.”

She looked good, this former pain in Ivy’s ass. “I hear you’ve had a baby.” Ivy moved to give Wanda some room.

“We’ve got two.”

“Two? Wow, you’ve been busy.”

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