Page 17 of Anxious Hearts
‘As much as you need.’
Kelly sucked in a deep breath. ‘All right. Let them do their worst.’
***
‘This is seriously where you’re taking me?’ Kelly said.
Eli grinned. ‘Are you too cultured, too old or too scared to play mini golf?’
‘Too bored, actually.’
Eli laughed. ‘Ah, well, this isn’t just any old game of mini golf.’
Kelly looked over the eighteen-hole course with its windmills, ramps and oversized plastic reptiles set among fake grass and undesirable patrons. ‘Looks like every mini-golf course I’ve ever been to.’
Eli ignored her, walked to the counter and exchanged a few words with the guy taking cash and handing out putters.
Kelly wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. Eli taking her to mini golf on their first date was going to make it incredibly easy to turn down a second. And surely Eli wasn’t hoping to have sex with her tonight? That would always have been a no, but this farcical attempt at romance suggested he was aiming pretty low in the physical engagement department.
Eli seemed to be taking an inordinate amount of time to pay for their round. He was leaning on the counter towards the putter guy and speaking softly, like he was in the middle of a drug deal. When he handed over an envelope, Kelly grew suspicious and just a little curious.
She greeted his return with folded arms and the hint of a smile. ‘What was all that about?’
Eli feigned exaggerated surprise. ‘What?’
‘Friend of yours, is he?’
‘No, I’m just a really friendly guy. Hey, listen, I left something in the car. Can you come back with me and grab it?’
‘You don’t want to do that. Dangerous neighbourhood.’
Before Kelly had a chance to object, Eli hooked his arm in her own and took his first step. She contemplated pulling her arm away and telling him that if he ever touched her again without her permission, she’d castrate him. But that seemed a little over the top, even for her. So, she allowed him to lead her back to the car, chalking this up as another excellent reason why there would never be a second date and she could spend her evenings doing something productive, like studying.
Studying. That’s what she should be doing now. She wished she hadn’t made that stupid deal with Finn, but it was worth it if he was going to take Ashley out. He really needed a distraction.
At the car, Eli leaned through the passenger side door and opened the glove box. He did have a pretty cute butt, even if he was the world’s worst first date.
‘Eureka!’ Eli said. He backed out of the car and held up his prized item: a golf glove. Was he trying to make her dislike him?
‘You’re kidding me,’ Kelly said.
‘I kid you not, Kelly, my dear. Very important to have the right equipment when you’re trying to sink a hole in one.’
His dopey smile made him look innocent enough, but Kelly wondered if there was a double entendre in there. Or did she just have an oversexed imagination? Starvation will do that to you. She hadn’t had sex in so long, she might have to consult her textbooks to remember how it’s done. But that didn’t stop her longing to be touched. Cared for. Loved.
Just not by a tall, skinny, reasonably handsome goofball wearing a single golf glove and a ridiculous smile.
When they returned to the start of the mini golf course, there was a small commotion. Would-be players were lined up at the entrance to the first hole like expectant shoppers at the Boxing Day sales. Their excitement was quickly turning to rage at being denied access to the course by a barricade that had been placed on the first tee bearing a sign that readCourse temporarily closed.
‘Come on, mate, how much longer is this going to take?’ yelled a man in his thirties with an astonishingly unkempt mullet.
The putter guy came running back along the course, dodging the obstacles and skipping across holes. ‘Sorry, folks,’ he announced. ‘Just about ready to go. But we have to let you back on in order and these guys were next.’
To Kelly’s immense shock and embarrassment, he pointed to her and Eli.
‘They just turned up!’ the mullet man said.
The putter guy ushered Kelly and Eli to the first hole. He obviously realised there was no reasoning with the angry mob, so he didn’t even try.
