Page 48 of Unlucky You

“We’ve got the lane for three hours. Come on.”

“Only three?” I teased, slowly moving my eyes around the vacant building. The place was empty aside from the people who worked there.

“Yes, three. Figured you would be over me by then, smart ass.”

“You been talking to Meen? I’m pretty sure she called me the same thing last night. Or this morning rather. It was after midnight when she called.”

We settled into our lane and he placed my bag next to me. I immediately began tugging at the zipper so I could get my bowling shoes on.

“Everything okay? That’s kinda late.”

“She’s fine. You can relax.”

He nodded and unzipped his bag which was already waiting on the bench across from me. “I’m a parent. It’s my job to worry.”

“True.”

I changed into my shoes and prepared to kick my father’s ass while filling him in on everything he’d missed since the lasttime I saw him. We bowled three games, all of which I won. To this day I didn’t understand why he selected bowling as our activity. In the ten years we’d been doing this, I didn’t think he’d ever bowled a score over eighty. When he attempted to teach Sameena and me how to bowl, we picked up the few details he researched online but couldn’t execute.

We quickly surpassed his capabilities, which we constantly gave him shit about. Regardless, the time we spent together was the importance of our outing. As much as I loathed rolling out of bed at the butt crack of dawn to be here, I enjoyed spending this time with him.

“You don’t believe in taking it easy on your old man, do you?”

I grinned and shoved my shoes into my backpack, zipping it closed before I gave him my attention.

“Would you rather I let you beat me?”

His smile matched mine. “No but one less strike wouldn’t kill you.”

“I’ll consider that next time.” I leaned back, watching while he packed his shoes and bowling ball away. “But for the record, you raised us to believe in true effort, not the everybody gets a trophy mentality.”

“After the way you just handed me my ass, I’m regretting my superior parenting skills.”

“You weren’t that bad.”

He frowned and my smile expanded. “Okay you were terrible. Six gutter balls is a bit excessive.”

He laughed lightly then switched gears. “You did good work with the City Arts Project.”

I arched a brow. “How do you know that was me?”

“I’ve been studying your work since the first time you picked up a camera, sweetheart. I know.”

My father was my biggest supporter. I had no clue how he kept up with all my assignments. There were so many times Iwould receive a random text with a link to an article, project, or website that housed my photos along with a congratulations, good job, or just random emojis.

“I know, still have no clue how you always find me.”

“You prioritize things and people that are important to you.” He winked and I grinned, nodding. “Speaking of, anyone new in your life? Possibly someone I might approve of.”

I feigned shock and placed my hand over my heart. “You mean to tell me you don’t absolutely love every guy I’ve ever introduced you to?”

He deadpanned and quickly shook his head. “Your mother tells me it’s a rebellious stage but I’m starting to believe you and your sister are doing everything in your power to send me to an early grave.”

I busted out laughing at the sincerity of his words. He genuinely believed we were intentionally challenging him with our choice in men. “I promise that’s not the case.”

“I’m not so sure.”

“I’ll get it right one day.”

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