Page 22 of Loving A Vampire Is Total Chaos

I reluctantly accept the pair when he hands them to me. Our fingers brush and a familiar zap of energy passes between us. Our eyes meet and I’m held captive by the pure depth of emotion in his green eyes. In a blink it’s gone, leaving me questioning if it was ever there and Ava and Spencer nudge their way to the counter.

“Eights, please.” She eyes me with a questioning gaze, and I purposely ignore her, striding over to the lane Zavier assigned us where Asher already waits, typing all our names into the system.

By the time I reach him, he’s taking off his shoes when I sit down and begin to untie my own sneakers. I love my trusty boots but decided it was easiest to go casual since we’d be swapping out our shoes for the ugly clown clompers.

“These always feel so clunky, don’t they?” Asher’s long legs stick out, heels clicking together like we’re in The Wizard of Oz, reading my thoughts.

There truly is no place like home, and I’d love to be there right about now.

I hate that I’m like this, and even though Ava’s meddling can be tiresome, I understand where she’s coming from. I’m never going to meet someone if I don’t get out. It’s not like my knight in shining armor is just going to burst through my door and cuddle up on the couch with me and that be that.

Looping the shoelaces through and tying tightly I stick my own legs out. “They really do. Doesn’t mean I won’t kick your ass though.” I give him a playful squeeze on his arm, trying to look like I’m more into this than I really am.

Asher laughs and stands, holding out one of his large hands for me to take. My hand slides across his roughened palm after a moment of hesitation and he pulls me up before awkwardly letting go. We walk over to the rack to pick out our respective balls. I’m sure there’s a rhyme and reason to what ball you’re supposed to pick but I just go with what feels right and doesn’t seem like it’ll rip my arm out of its socket when I throw. Asher on the other hand looks like he’s taking it very seriously, even holding the ball up to his face to closely examine the surface. Happy with our selections we join the table again where Ava and Spencer have already picked out theirs.

“Celine, you’re up first.” Spencer points to the screen and I see my name at number one on the list.

Walking up to the lane I hold my red ball to my face and let out a breath in an effort to focus. Striding forward I wind back and let the ball go as my arm comes forward. It careens down the wood and knocks all ten pins down in one go. I let out a whoop and throw my hands up in the air.

“Damn girl!” Ava yells from her seat and I high five her when she passes by to take her turn. “You’re going to wipe the floor with these fools.”

Asher claps in disbelief. “Bringing the heat. I see how it is.”

“Did I or did I not say I was going to kick your ass?” A triumphant grin graces my face, and I fling my hair to the side dramatically to bring home my point.

I can’t help it that I have a competitive streak a mile long. I like to win. Who doesn’t?

We all clap for Ava when she gets a spare. Spencer gives her a blush inducing kiss, and Asher heads over to the lane for his turn. He picks up his ball and wags a finger at me like he knows he’s already got it in the bag.

Shaking my head and crossing my arms over my chest, I sense him before I hear him. An ominous yet comforting presence over my shoulder. It’s odd how much he affects me when I barely know him.

Zavier.

“Where’d you learn to bowl like that?” His crimson head of hair appears in my peripheral as he stands next to my chair.

“Ava and I have gone a few times to another bowling alley.” Glancing quickly at him I get my fill before watching Asher take his turn. He’s who I should be paying attention to since we’re on a date. I shouldn’t be staring at my neighbor ... my very attractive neighbor.

Right as Asher winds up, Zavier lets out an obnoxious sneeze that has us all jumping in surprise, Asher included, whose ball goes right into the gutter. He turns and glares at Zavier who suspiciously wipes non-existent snot from his nose and apologizes.

“I’m so sorry. That really came out of nowhere. The dust.” He waves a hand nonchalantly in the air. “Should I turn on the bumpers?” Like the cat that ate the canary, he smirks to himselfand walks back to the front counter to help customers without waiting for a response.

“What a weirdo,” Asher mutters and sits down like a petulant child when his second attempt results in only three being knocked down.

“He just had to sneeze,” I defend, even though that was the most obvious fake sneeze ever.

“Better luck next time.” Spencer claps his back.

Time passes by quickly and we play until we have two frames left. I’m absolutely crushing it with a perfect game so far. Besides his initial miss due to Zavier’s shenanigans, Asher is close behind with mostly strikes and a couple spares. Ava is third and poor Spencer falls in last place with his god-awful bowling skills. He blames sore muscles from working out and Ava placates him but rolls her eyes with mirth behind his back.

Asher seems like a super nice guy and I’m having fun but something’s missing. I’m sure we’d get along as friends, but the chemistry is lackluster. Throughout the night, I continue to feel Zavier’s eyes on me and have to make a conscious effort to hold back the shiver my body wants to let out. I don’t risk looking back since I don’t know what I’d be tempted to do.

Asher pulls me from my thoughts when he motions toward the restrooms, and I nod. He walks away and Ava slides over to my side of the chairs, taking his recently vacated one.

“How’s it going with you lovebirds?” Her shoulder knocks into mine.

“Ava. I just met the man.”

“It seems like you’re getting along though!” she defends herself. “Whenever I’ve run into Asher at Spencer’s family functions he’s been so sweet. Plus, if you end up getting married and I'm married to Spencer we’ll be like distant sister wives. Kind of. Really keep it in the family,” Ava laughs as she tries to make sense of her own joke.

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