He turned with a smirk. “That's why you're gonna lose.”
The firefighters hooted. The cops groaned. Lila cheered.
I grabbed my ball. Lined up. Let it roll.
Strike.
Ryan whistled. “Damn, Grady’s on fire.”
I grinned. “You know it.”
Game on.
Mason scoffed. “One strike doesn’t make you a legend, Owen.”
I smirked. “Neither does running your mouth, but that's never stopped you.”
Ethan clinked his beer against Mason’s. “He's got a point.”
Mason rolled his eyes. “You just like seeing me lose.”
Ethan grinned. “Absolutely.”
Mason took his turn, rolling his shoulders before sending his ball straight down the lane. It veered slightly, just enough to miss the pocket. Eight pins.
“Nice try, little bro,” Ethan said, taking a swig of his beer.
Mason turned, deadpan. “Just because you're older doesn’t make you better.”
“It does when you bowl like that.”
The cops snickered, and Ryan leaned over to Jaxon. “We got it this year, no problem.”
Mason flipped him off before picking up his spare.
“This is better than the game,” Kai said with a chuckle.
Samuel nodded. “Grady entertainment at its finest.”
My turn again. I lined up, letting the noise fade. Rolled. Another strike.
“Could be luck,” Colt said.
“Could be skill,” I countered.
Mason huffed. “Could be annoying.”
Lila nudged him. “Oh, come on. You love the competition.”
Mason muttered something under his breath before grabbing his beer.
Ethan took his turn next, assuming his usual cocky stance, fingers loose on the ball. He sent it rolling, watching it curve at the last second. Strike.
He turned, arms outstretched. “And that's why I’m the favorite.”
Mason snorted. “No one’s ever said that.”
Colt leaned forward. “So you're saying you could take Owen in a one-on-one match?”