Page 9 of Truth or Spare

“He should. What if he messes up?” Keith’s eyes widened seriously.

“Messes up what? Lane 6 is ready, you goob.”

Dewey shooed him off, then turned to Theo. “I’m going to run the deposit to the bank since the afternoon rush is over,” Dewey announced, swinging his head in Keith’s direction. “Won’t be more than fifteen minutes.”

“Pillepalle,” Theo replied and gave Dewey a thumbs up, ready to prove he could be trusted. The name tag was pinned to Theo’s shirt and he had been tickled as he wrote his name on it with a Sharpie.

“Sure, you can. Just answer the phone and make sure 6 keeps running for Keith,” Dewey said as he slowly backed out of the glass double doors.

“Got it, boss!” Theo said, chuckling as he leaned on the counter and watched Dewey jog to a beat-up, black pickup truck. “Boss,” Theo repeated to himself, practicing his American accent and pleased by how typically American everything was. From the bowling alley around him, to the contemporary country music playing overhead, to odd, old Keith on 6, to Theo’s grumpy, beardedboss…Theo couldn’t have asked for a morenormalAmerican experience than his new job at Brooks Family Bowling.

He had a feeling he was in for another treat when a petite, curvy blond in red flannel and tight jeans backed through the doors with a large metal lunchbox and a Thermos. Her hair was almost as tall as she was and the flannel shirt had been knotted around her waist. Theo’s eyes swung to her face before he was caught checking out her cleavage. The shirt had been left unbuttoned and a white camisole strained around her very ample breasts.

“Where’s Doobie and where the heck have you been all my life?” she asked loudly, batting thick black lashes at Theo as she sidled up with the lunchbox. She set it down and rose on the toes of her white snow boots so she could see over the counter and check Theo out.

“I’m sorry… Doobie?” he asked and her brow arched.

“Dewey Brooks. Dewey B.Doobie,” she said obviously. “He owns the place.”

“Ah. Mr. Brooks stepped out to run to the bank. I’d be happy to help you if you’d like to rent one of the lanes,” Theo said, earning a wry smirk.

“Maybe later. Just stopped by to drop off Doobie’s lunch before I head to the salon. He said he had found some temporary help so I packed extra. Brought my famous meatloaf sandwiches and chocolate muffins,” she said, giving the lunchbox on the counter a pat. “He didn’t tell me he hired a model, though.” She widened her eyes appreciatively and purred at Theo.

“Easy!” he laughed, but rested on his elbows so he was closer and could whisper. “I don’t want to get fired on my first day for flirting with the boss’s lady.” He clicked his teeth shamefully, but gave her an appreciating once-over. She wasverycurvy with a full, round backside. The more backside, the better, as far as Theo was concerned. He had a real weakness for full-figured women and she was adorably sassy and straightforward. He was halfway in lust, but instinctively sensed that she was off-limits. They had known each other for less than twenty-four hours, but Theo already respected andlikedDewey.

“Ha! Me and Doobie? I wish and not for lack of trying, I’ll tell ya,” she added under her breath. “Picked the wrong brother to fall in love with and ended up with a big brother I didn’t ask for,” she informed Theo, then waved off his confused frown. “I’m just teasing, mostly. Doobie’s shot me down more times than I can count, but he’s always looked out for me and Bryce.”

“Ach so! You are Bryce’s mother!” Theo clasped her hand and shook it excitedly. “Cassie, is it? Brooks has told me all about Bryce and how brilliant he is. You must be so proud,” he said as she beamed. She was radiant as she babbled about Bryce’s first semester at Cornell, clearly just as overjoyed as Dewey to see him thriving at university.

“I never thoughtI’damount to much,” she confided. “But it’s amazing, knowing my baby made it out of Oslo and is going to build all kinds of awesome things.”

“Made it out?” Theo gave her a questioning look. “You seem lovely and what’s wrong with Oslo? So far, everyone’s been nice and it’s…quiet and calm here.”

That got a cackle out of Cassie. “Calm? Try dull and depressing. Nothing ever changes, except for the weather. And no one ever leaves unless they run away, like Roddy, or they win the lottery. My Bryce won the brain lottery and he was born with the world’s best uncle.”

“Roddy?” Theo asked and she rolled her eyes.

“Roddy is Doobie’s older brother and Bryce’s father. He was always Mr. Popular because his family ran the bowling alley and Roddy was supposed to be a hockey prodigy. But he got hurt our senior year of high school and all the recruiters and colleges lost interest. Then, their dad, Gerry, died. It was right after I had the baby and Roddy said it was all too much. He thought he still had a chance to play hockey, so he took off.”

“I’m so sorry,” Theo said, but she snorted and shook her head.

“We were all better off without Roddy, except Doobie. He works himself to death, taking care of this place and all of us, so I do what I can,” she said with another pat to the lunchbox’s side. “But what’s your story? Now that I’ve told you all my dirty secrets,” she added, making Theo laugh.

“You are absolutely delightful,” he said as he raised her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I’m Theo Hessen, from Austria. I came to Oslo to learn and to be helpful, if possible, and thought I’d give this a shot,” he explained as he gestured around them.

Cassie’s eyes narrowed and her head slowly tipped to the side until she let out another cackle. “Come on! What’s this reallyabout? Is this one of those prank shows or are you some famous YouTuber?”

“Couldn’t be that famous,” he observed, winking playfully. “I’ve been staying at a friend’s place in New York City and thought I’d see the rest of the state and try my hand at something new. We don’t have many bowling alleys in Austria, so this is all very new to me,” he said and offered her an innocent shrug.

“That makesa littlemore sense…” she said, then humphed thoughtfully. “Couldn’t you have found a bowling alley someplace better, though? There have to be hundreds between here and the city,” she noted, proving that she wasn’t as clueless as she wanted Theo to believe.

“Probably,” he agreed. “But I wouldn’t have met you and Brooks would still need help.”

“We’ll see what kind of help you are,” she replied with a dubious look. “Are you single, or is there a Mrs. Hessen back in Austria?” she asked, just as Dewey returned and offered Cassie a quick nod.

“See you’ve met Theo,” he muttered and came around the counter.

Theo got out of the way, hurrying around him and joining Cassie on the other side. “She brought us lunch and has enchanted me,” Theo told Dewey, causing Cassie to sigh dreamily.

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