Page 24 of Resilient Rhythms
“The Bowling Tones?” Allegra inquires, chuckling. “That was creative of you, Mav.”
Maverick bows deeply, grinning. “Thank you, A. I aim to please.”
“You gave us nicknames?” Jameson sounds surprised.
“Team names,” Mav clarifies.
“I’m Riff Raff?” Levi scoffs, giving Mav serious side-eye.
“Ooh, I’m Spare Angel! Love that for me,” Allegra remarks.
“Base Drop,” Jameson reads, nodding along. “I like it.”
“Here you go, my little Strike Counsel.” Mav hands me a blue and red shirt.
“Damn, that’s badass, Kenny,” Jameson remarks.
“Better than fucking Riff Raff,” Levi grumbles.
“Who are you?” Allegra asks Derek.
He holds up his shirt.
“Reignmaker!” Levi shouts, pointing at Derek. “He gets to be Reignmaker and I’m Riff Raff?”
“Mav likes me more,” Derek explains.
“He doesn’t have to be so obvious about it.” Levi sulks.
“I’m Snare Bear,” Mav explains, buttoning his shirt.
I grin, loving to see the playful side of Mav again. I missed him. Hell, I missed this. The camaraderie, the laughs, the trust that exists in this group. The Burnt Clovers have had their ups and downs, but they always show up and rally for their own. This past year, I’ve been grateful that they count me as one of them.
“All right, Bowling Tones.” Mav claps his hands together, tossing me a wink. “To the lanes!”
He leads us to the two lanes that are demarcated with our team name and bowling aliases.
“I can’t remember the last time I bowled,” Allegra says seriously, taking the seat next to mine.
“Me neither,” I agree.
Allegra rolls her eyes. “Yeah, but you’re good at this sport.”
I snort. “No one knows that but you.”
Allegra’s eyes widen. “You didn’t tell him?”
“He didn’t give me the chance. He assumed I was embarrassed by my skill set.”
Allegra and I share a laugh. Along with violin lessons, bowling was my other extracurricular as a child. It always surprises people to learn that about me, but I enjoyed both the individual and team aspects of the sport.
“If I never bowl again it will be too soon,” Levi remarks.
“Stop sulking,” Allegra says, pointing at him. “It’s why you ended up being Riff Raff.”
I chuckle as Derek disguises his laugh as a cough.
“The last time I bowled was with Amelia and her nieces,” Jameson remarks, his words monotonous.
