Page 22 of Choose Me

There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll let him drag me out to whatever activity he has planned. Stef asks and I say yes, but I don’t mind. It makes him happy, and that makes it worth doing the things he enjoys, even if I probably wouldn’t do them on my own. Maybe that’s why I let him drag me to these things. I don’t really mind bowling. Tonight my concern is karaoke. “I’m not singing.”

Stef slaps his hand to his chest, utterly offended. “You will too! We’re all singing!”

I laugh. “That’s a bald faced lie.” Stef grins, but I know I’m right. There’s no way Jules will get up in front of a bunch of strangers and sing. Karaoke at home? He’d probably do that. Here? No way. I’d bet money on it.

Stef looks up at me through his mascaraed lashes and sticks his glossy lower lip out so far it’s comical. “Please? It’ll be so much fun.”

My hesitation isn’t for me. I don’t get stage fright, and I can carry a tune. “What about Jules?”

Stef waves his hand dismissively. “Okay, yes, Jules doesn’t have to sing. He just hangs back and claps for everyone. If he feels like he can’t handle the crowd, he’ll let me know and grab an Uber home, or Quinn will drive him.”

“I thought you said Tadhg was going to be here tonight.” From what I’ve been told, he and Quinn are officially together now, and I can’t imagine Quinn leaving Tadhg with the group to take Jules home. Stef throws me a fond but exasperated look, so I drop it. Far be it from me to show up and start stirring the pot. I am not a pot stirrer.

Stef opens the bowling alley door and, laughing, tries to shove me through it. I pat him on the head and let him struggle for a minute because it’s adorable to see him struggle. Then I duck through the entrance. The sounds of bowling balls hitting lanes and others slamming into pins, blaring pop music, flashing neon lights, and bright overhead scoreboards assaults my senses. There’s so much input it’s painful, and I wince. “Do they give out free sunglasses and earplugs with the bowling shoes?” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I wince and glance at Stef. The last thing I want to do is suck the joy out of his evening.

“Okay, gramps.” He bumps me with his shoulder but doesn’t seem mad.

“Sorry. It’ll be fun. I’m just used to doing low-key things. Maybe next time we could go to a bar and throw darts or something.” If I suggest activities, he won’t think I’m trying to bail on him. Right?

Stef pauses and considers. “That’s actually a great idea. I’ll put it in our rotation!” I exhale, relieved I haven’t upset him. He tugs on my arm and pulls me deeper into the chaos, weaving through loud, tipsy groups and couples out on dates, searching until he sees our friends. He waves wildly at Jocelin and Quinn, who wave back with more restraint. Tadhg glances over after Quinn taps him on the shoulder and points in our direction. He smiles and waves, and we wave back, but I’m only half paying attention. I don’t see Jules anywhere, and my stomach tightens with concern.

We step into the semi-circle of interconnected plastic chairs that designate the boundaries of our two lanes, and I catch Quinn’s eye. “Hey.” We hug as I continue to scan the room. “Where’s Jules?”

“He insisted on getting his own bowling shoes.” My head snaps around at the tightness in Quinn’s voice, and his anxious frown makes my stomach drop. “Something about being a grown-ass adult and self-sufficient.” Now it’s my turn to frown, because that doesn’t sound like Jules at all. Not that he isn’t those things, he just usually doesn’t get fired up about it.

I shake Tadgh’s hand and attempt some of the ASL I’ve been trying to learn. ‘Nice to see you.’

His grin is swift and real. ‘Nice to see you, too.’ He doesn’t try to sign anything else to me, and I’m grateful. At this point, it would all be way over my head. But I’ll get there.

Before I can ask Quinn more about Jules, he fills in the missing pieces. “Jules had a rough day at work yesterday.” He glances around, probably making sure Jules isn’t within earshot, but my eyes never leave his face. I already know I’m not going to like what he tells me, and I suspect it will involve Van Jessell. “Really rough. Like, he hasn’t been that bad in years, rough. I’m just glad I was home when he got there.”

I drop my coat over the back of one of the chairs and scan the room for Jules. If he was that bad… Shit. I wish he’d called me. “What happened?”

“His new boss happened.” The absolute disdain in Quinn’s voice supports my opinion of the guy. I knew that asshole was going to be a problem. “Seems like maybe he means well, but doesn’t get it. I’m reserving my opinion on that, though. He made everyone do a ‘this is me’ introduction and Jules froze. It went downhill from there.”

I clench my hands into fists, imagining sweet Jules in a full-on panic. “That fucking dick! I warned him!” Quinn’s eyebrows shoot into his hairline, but I ignore it. “I can’t see Jules. Do you all come here frequently? Does he know the place?”

“No, and I tried to go with him, but he insisted.”

The worry in Quinn’s voice adds fuel to my own chaotic emotions. I need to find Jules now. “I’ll be back.” I take off toward the neon shoe rental sign, rapidly scanning faces for the one I desperately need to see. Maybe it’s my scowl, or my size, but the crowd parts in front of me as I storm toward the counter. I’m a few steps away when I finally see him. Relief surges through me but it doesn’t last long. Jules’ shoulders are rounded and his head is down, hair hanging over his face. Every inch of him screams distress.

The guy behind the counter is some young jock with bed-head hair, perfect cheekbones, a cocky grin and way too much confidence. He leans an elbow on the counter, trapping a pair of street shoes under one hand. Jules’ shoes. “C’mon, cutie, give me a smile.” Oh, no fucking way is this asshat holding Jules’ shoes hostage. “Just one and I’ll give you the shoes for free. Seems a more than fair exchange.”

I stride to the counter, trying to rein in my anger so I don’t punch the guy or yell at him, which I know will upset Jules. “Elskling, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.“ I gently turn Jules so he’s facing me and tilt his chin up. “Hey beautiful.” The relief in his eyes makes my heart ache. “Sorry I’m late.” I brush my thumb across his jaw, resisting the urge to lean down and kiss him. I really want to. God, I really want to. And the way Jules is staring up at me, he’d probably let me. But Stef is a few yards away, and I’m already in risky territory as it is. Plus, the middle of a crowded bowling alley is not the most romantic place for a first kiss. Not that I should be thinking about kissing Jules.

I briefly glance at the guy behind the counter. “Give me a pair of thirteens and a pair of eights.” I smile at Jules and caress his cheek. “Plus yours.” I sense hesitation from bed-head, so I turn to give him a stern look. “Please.”

He’s obviously a bully who’s used to getting his way, but I’m glad he’s not stupid. I can be intimidating when I need to, but I don’t like it. Thankfully, he scurries into the back to get the shoes. Once he’s gone, Jules slumps against me and I wrap my arms around him. “Sorry.”

“Shhhh. You have nothing to apologize for,elskling. He was being a dick and should apologize toyou.” I tuck his hair behind his ear, and he presses close, making my heart squeeze.

“I shouldn’t have tried to do this on my own. Not so soon…” He trails off like meant to say more but decided not to.

I stroke his back and hold him tighter. “Hey, I’m proud of you for trying, and you were doing great.”

He snorts. “How do you know?”

“He had your shoes, so you must have asked for rentals. It’s not your fault the asshole started with his whole power trip flirtation bullshit. How do people think that’s attractive?” Rather than get worked up again, I take a breath. I really want to jump over the counter and throttle the cocky asshole, but Jules is more important. “You know, you don’t have anything to prove. Just because you need a little help now and then doesn’t make you weak.”

---