Page 108 of Betting on You

“Yeah,” he replied, also staring out at the lane.

“You’re up,” Charlie said to Dana, giving her a teasing smile. “But maybe try to knock the pinsdownthis time.”

“Haha,” she said, smiling back as him as she stood and walked toward the ball return. “Cocky words coming from the man who currently has a sixty-seven.”

Why was her flirting so irritating? Iwantedher to like Charlie, but did she have to be so… so… giggly?

It was giving me a stomachache.

“I’m holding back to make you look good,” he announced. “You’rewelcome, Dana.”

She giggled at that, and I needed one of Charlie’s TUMS.

“And you’re welcome to polish my ball when I’m done,” she retorted, lifting her chin and giving him a smile that made my fingers clench.

God, could the date get any more annoying?

Twenty minutes later, I realized the answer to that question was HELL YES.

“I cannot believe you were at that show,” Eli said, smiling and showing his very perfect teeth. “What a small world.”

“Right?” Dana said, laughing as she picked up her soda. She was almost as tall as Eli as she stood beside him and said, “There were only like fifty people in the place, tops. What are the odds we were both there?”

“You’re up, E,” Charlie said, sitting at the scorer’s spot beside me. He muttered under his breath, “More bowl, less talk.”

I watched my date, my tall and handsome date, pick up a ball and get ready to approach the lane.

“Don’t trip again,” Dana teased, which made him turn around and give her an adorable fake glare.

He bowled a strike, and when he came back, Charlie said, “Take my spot.”

Eli sat down beside me to take over scoring, and Charlie said, “Hey, Eli—did I tell you that Bailey used to live in Alaska, too?”

Eli looked at me. “You did? Where are you from?”

“Fairbanks,” I said.

“Ah—I lived on Eielson Air Force Base,” he said, pointing to himself. “Practically neighbors.”

“Cool,” I replied, nodding.

And then we both smiled and looked at the lanes in front of us.

Think, you idiot—think of something interesting to say.Eli seemed cool, and I needed to get my shit together so I could forget about the way Charlie made me feel.

Charlie knocked down eight pins, and I asked Eli, “Do you ever go back?”

“No,” he said, and then he looked over his shoulder and said, “You’re next, Dana—better start getting pumped.”

“To kick your ass?” She smiled and said, “Yeah, I’m already on it.”

Dammit.Since the minute Dana and Eli had teamed up to mock Charlie when he dropped his ball, there had been a super-flirty vibe between those two. It seemed like no matter what I said, or whatever hilarious thing Charlie did, those two only had attention for each other.

I wanted to scream,Look at ME, Eli!

Charlie went again and hit two pins, but when he turned around, I was the only one watching. Eli was gesturing for Dana to go, and she did some sort of adorably dramatic bow that made him laugh loudly.

“Your friend is totally falling for me,” Charlie murmured dryly as he walked by and went over to his drink.

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