Page 53 of For the Win

He grins.“Okay.And any preference for the pizza?”

“Anything except shrimp.”

He gives me a thumbs-up and heads to the long antique bar.

I settle onto the high stool and look around, taking in the ambience in the dimly lit bar overlooking the bowling lanes.This place is so cool, a bowling throwback.Amber lights illuminate all the bottles behind the bar and antique bowling balls sit on display.

Harrison returns with our beers and a numbered card.“They’ll bring our pizza,” he says, setting one glass in front of me.

I take a sip of my beer.“Ah.That’s good.”

“So.How old were you when you started bowling?Two?”

I grin.“A little older than that.”

He shakes his head.“Good thing I didn’t plan this date to impress you.”

I lean forward.“You know what?Youdidimpress me.”

He tips his head.“How so?”

“You’re a good sport.I love to bowl and I’m having fun and you’re not mad that you lost.”I meet his eyes.“That impresses me.”

Our gazes hold.The air thickens around us and that little ache deep down inside me intensifies.I squeeze my thighs together.

“I’m having fun too,” he says softly, also leaning forward.

I study his face—his thick, straight eyebrows, his square chin dusted with stubble, his imperfect nose.Arousal slides through me, slow, liquid heat, pooling low inside me.“Good.”I drop my gaze a little shyly.“So, um, how was your road trip?”

“Long.Only two games, but we had two days between.Went shopping for cowboy boots.”

My eyebrows lift.“Really?Did you buy some?”

“No.”He grins.“But apparently you’re supposed to do that in Calgary.We went to a club one night, but I wasn’t into it.I was kinda distracted.”

“Oh.”I bite my lower lip.“Thinking about your dad?”

“Er, yeah.”

“Any more news?”

“No.”He holds his beer with two hands and looks down at it.“I’m going over to see them tomorrow.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah.I need to check in with Everly and my brothers.Everly’s in charge of all this.”One corner of his mouth lifts.“I’m not sure what happens next.Mom and Dad are supposed to meet with Mark and Matthew—my half brothers.”He grimaces.“I don’t know how that’s going to go.”

I’ve been thinking about this too.It’s not even my family, but I hurt for Harrison that his dad has this terrible disease.After the night we walked on the beach, I could tell how it’s affecting him.It must be so hard.On top of that, there’s this huge rift in the family over money.That really sucks.

“I’m sure everyone will want to work things out now,” I say, reaching across to lay one hand on top of his.“Like you said, this could help bring everyone together.”

“Thanks.Let’s not talk about depressing shit.How was your week?”

I smile.“It was fine.I missed teaching hockey-player yoga, though.”I’ve gotten used to doing that two or three times a week, but this week with their travel schedule there was only one class.“But I’ll see you guys Monday morning.”

“Confession?I did yoga in my hotel room while I was away.”

I straighten.“Really?”

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