Page 23 of Calm Before the Score

Violet returns to the holder to wait for her pink bowling ball to shoot out. I jump out of my seat, wipe my palms against my pants, and meet her on the slick floor of the alley. Our hands graze as I reach around her body to guide her. Her cheeks light on fire. My mouth grazes her ear before she tosses it down the lane, eliciting goosebumps over her arms.

“Don’t miss,” I whisper seconds before she knocks down every single pin.

When the pins clamber down, she turns around, pumps her arms in the air, and does a little happy dance. Lucky for me, her little show rides her crop top up a few inches, giving me even more of a view. God. I’m sitting here hoping for a crop top to ride up a few inches.

I’m down bad.

After two games, I ask everyone if they want drinks at the concession stand. Liza and Violet start a two-player game giving me the perfect opportunity to get Hartley alone.

“Could you come help me with the drinks?” I ask Hartley. He quickly looks at Liza and Violet, clearly distracted by the game, and agrees.

Hartley has this aura about him. He screams, “I could care less”, but there’s lots of hurt under that funny exterior. I would know better than anyone. I’m the same way.

“Considering you took a sudden liking to bowling, I think we’re due for a conversation.” I start off light. I definitely don’t need Hartley swinging on me in the middle of the bowling alley.

“Bowling is for everyone, Ryan,” he says in a passive-aggressive tone.

“I like her,” I confess for the first time.

“It’s pretty obvious how out of your depth you are.”

“I’m trying to do this right. You know I don’t date, but Violet makes me want to commit. I can’t stand the thought of her with someone else,” I explain.

“Is this a jealousy thing? You want to mark your territory so other guys stay away?”

“No. Not even a little bit. Well, I guess it started that way, but I’m trying to figure it out. I want you to know that I’m serious about her.”

“I promised her grandpa I’d take care of her,” he unexpectedly admits. “She doesn’t have much experience with relationships.”

“That doesn’t matter to me,” I answer honestly. I don’t care about Violet’s past relationships or lack thereof. “This isn’t just a hookup to me. I don’t know what it is about her, man, but I can’t stay away. I meant what I said in the locker room that day.”

“Just don’t hurt her, or I’ll have no other choice but to avenge her dead grandpa and beat you to the ground,” he says jokingly, but I know he would kill me if I ever hurt her.

“She means something to me. Just trying to figure out what to do about it.”

“Ryan Shane has a heart. Who would have known?” He punches my shoulder with a laugh. We grab four slushies from the counter and head back to the girls. They’re sitting at an open table smiling and talking. Liza throws her head back and stops her feet, but my girl has her hand under her chin smirking at her friend.

“Alright, my fellow chaperone. Let’s head out and give these two some time to themselves,” Hartley announces.

“I thought you’d never ask.” Liza leaves the table and gives us a farewell. “You kids have fun. The kind of fun I would have!”

It’s just Violet and I with our slushies left to talk.

“I hope Hartley didn’t give you too much grief.” She bites her pinky nail.

“Nah. I calmed him down.” Standing up to sit next to her, I wrap my arm around her waist.

She turns her head to lock eyes. Her cheeks are a permanent rose color when we’re together. “Good. Now we can get back to our original date without the party crashers. What’s your major? Just realized I’ve never asked.”

“Sports medicine, but I don’t plan to use it.”

“Why?”“I need to make it to the pros. There isn’t another option,” I answer curtly.

“Okay, but what if it doesn’t work out? Shouldn’t you have a backup plan just in case?” She’s nosey and can elicit more out of me than anyone other than my mom has.

“I don’t have one. Anything other than the pros is considered a failure.”

“When did you start playing, then? You must have played for a while, considering your talent.” She places her hand on my leg.

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