Page 68 of Beautiful Dreamer

“Let’s go all over.”

Elizabeth pressed her cheek against the seat and smiled at Devyn,who never wanted the night to end.

They bowled a game next, and Devyn spent more time checking outElizabeth from behind than she did trying to win the game, which was ridiculousbecause Elizabeth was a pro.

Devyn stared at the overhead screen. “You almost rolled a twohundred without even warming up. Who does that?”

“A one seventy-eight is hardly a two hundred. But to answer yourquestion, someone who takes her bowling career very, very seriously,” Elizabethsaid, as she approached Devyn in one of the chairs. Her hands immediately wentto Elizabeth’s waist, and Elizabeth stared down at her tentatively.

“So, we’re doing this?”

Devyn understood what she was getting at. They’d not exactlyengaged in public displays of affection. Ever. Their relationship and itsconfusing status had been something they’d kept to themselves because it waslikely to be temporary. But maybe all of that didn’t matter. Devyn shrugged,her hands still on Elizabeth. “I don’t care if you don’t.”

That earned a smile. Elizabeth bent down and skimmed Devyn’s lipswith hers. It took everything Devyn had not to pull her back down because thetiny kiss sent shivers. Actual shivers. She leaned into the skid, allowingherself to relish and enjoy it.

“Just a preview of coming attractions,” Elizabeth said.

Devyn loved the teasing. Another new piece of information she waslearning about herself. As Elizabeth stepped out of the way and took a seat atthe console, Devyn’s gaze landed square on Cricket’s, six lanes over. Her eyeswere wide and her mouth formed the shape of an O. Knowing Cricket’s undyinglove of gossip, the fact that she and Elizabeth had just kissed in the bowlingalley would be all over town before they had a chance to settle their bill.Maybe it was time to do a little damage control by playing nice. “Be rightback,” she said to Elizabeth.

Cricket brightened on cue as Devyn approached. Her smile was toobig, and she acted too surprised to see Devyn, which was clearly her attempt topretend she didn’t even know they were there. How crazy. A farce. Devyn knew Crickettoo well for that. She pushed her hands into the back pockets of her jeans.“Hey, there,” she said, with a friendly wave. “You guys out for some fun?”

“We are,” Cricket crowed with over-the-top enthusiasm that had arrivedout of nowhere. The two young boys Cricket had with her were her spittingimage—clearly the sons Devyn had heard so many glowing stories about. Onepurposely dropped a bowling ball on the other’s foot, prompting a wail. Cricketdidn’t seem to care. She stood and pulled Devyn into a hug, which was how allof the cheerleaders greeted each other in high school. Even if that had meantsixty hugs a day. In every class, there was a hug. Lunch, hugs. Arriving atpractice. Leaving practice. Hug, hug, hug. It was obnoxious. She saw that now.

Devyn gestured behind her. “We’re just having a bit of a freenight. Exploring the town.”

Cricket pursed her lips and nodded as if she knew all too wellwhat that was like. She did it all the time. “I didn’t know you two…were close.You and Elizabeth.”

“Because we kissed?” Why not just jump right to the point?

“Well, that was surprising. Not that there’s anything wrong withit,” she rushed to say.

“The gay thing, you mean?”

“No,” Cricket practically shouted. “Absolutely not.” She placed ahand over her heart. “I’m an ally. I make donations.”

“That’s wonderful,” Devyn said, trying to mask the hint of sarcasmand probably losing.

“I just meant, there’s nothing wrong withElizabeth. She’s notwho I imagined you with. But she’s a hard worker, and she’s very nice.”

“She is.” A pause. “We’re just out enjoying the night. That’sall.”

Cricket’s expression took on a serious quality and she lowered hervoice. “A booty call? You can tell me, Dev. We’ve all been there. We’ve allneeded a little special attention. Lord knows.”

Devyn closed her eyes. “Nope. Just bowling. We like each other andlike spending time together.” She glanced at the boys, who were studying ahandheld video game as if the world might be ending. “You guys enjoy yourself.”

“Don’t you two get into too much trouble, you hear me?” Cricketcalled after her like they were a crazy couple of kids who tickled herendlessly. She gave it sixty seconds before Cricket was on some kind of groupchat with Heather, Coco, and Lisa, and by midnight the whole town would bestaring at them knowingly for the rest of time. It was how things worked here.Oh, well. She wasn’t going to stop living her life because the rumor mill woulderupt.

“Want to get out of here?” Devyn asked, when she returned to theirlane.

Elizabeth studied her, off-kilter now. “Did Cricket say somethingto upset you?”

Devyn glanced back and minimized the interaction, refusing tobelieve that Cricket had the capacity. Yet the younger Devyn still seemed to bein there somewhere and let friends like Cricket get under her skin. Elizabethwas ahard worker?Why would she lead with that? It was laced with judgment and pretention. “Shedidn’t upset me. She’s just being Cricket, which is always a littleunfortunate.” She ordered herself to leave the exchange in the past and smiledat Elizabeth. “Where to now?”

Elizabeth considered the question and checked her watch. “Well,it’s soccer season.”

It certainly was, and when they arrived at the old high schoolfield, Devyn was pleased to see that they’d spent the money to installfluorescent lighting to allow for evening games. The stands were packed and thearoma of popcorn and Frito pies permeated the air. She smiled at the snow coneline and remembered her own affinity for the lime ones, in their neon greengreatness. Some things never changed. They waved to Jill and Charlie, who saton the bottom bleacher in the accessible section, and found a spot forthemselves on the grass alongside the stands.

“I didn’t bring a blanket,” Elizabeth said in apology.

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