Page 21 of Calm Before the Score

“How do you feel about bowling?” he says with the cutest smirk.

“I love bowling. I haven’t been in years, though. Most people hate the bowling alley shoes, but I live for nostalgia.” I giggle thinking about the times I’ve gone bowling in the past.

“A girl after my own heart. I’ve never minded the shoes, either. Brings back memories of when I was little. We used to go every Friday night. There was some sort of pizza and bowling coupon that my mom swears we couldn’t miss out on.”

“No way. My grandpa used to take Hartley and me, too. He would never take it easy on me, so I had to fight for my wins against those two.”

“Sweetheart, you’re going down. I don’t do well with losing.”

Did he just shamelessly flirt with me?

“We’ll see about that, Mr. Football.”

We part ways in the parking lot. Ryan says he’ll pick me up from the apartment at seven. I hop into my old car and mentally debate what I should wear. I want to look good and impress him, but bowling alleys are also more relaxed. I know I need backup, so I text Liza when I get back home.

Violet: SOS

Liza: What?!

Violet: Ryan is taking me bowling tonight.

Liza: Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Can’t say I didn’t see this coming

Violet: It’s not a “date” really. Just friends hanging out. Who’ve kissed.

Liza: Sure. We’ll go with that. So delulu.

Violet: Can you help me throw an outfit together? I don’t know which vibe I should go for.

Liza: OMW

Liza shows up to the apartment minutes later. She definitely broke multiple traffic laws to get here so fast, and I appreciate her dedication to the cause. She flies to the closet and lays out a few outfit choices.

“What vibe are you going for? Do we want the sexytoo good for the bowling alleyoutfit? Or playful,I’m here to win, outfit?” she asks as she continues to hunt through my closet.

“I don’t want to look too over the top, but I also want him to see me in something he hasn’t seen me in before,” I surprise myself with my own words. Impressing men isn’t usually on my radar, but here we are.

“This.”She holds up a pink crop top. It has cap sleeves with ruffled material over the chest. “This top is perfect. It’s not too fancy, but it also shows a little skin, and I love that for you. Pair it with these tight-fit jeans. He hasn’t seen you in anything like this before. Right?”

“No. Are you sure it’s not too showy?”

“Nope,” she says, popping the ‘p’. “You want to give him a sneak peek of what he’s missing out on. Show a little skin so he can imagine what’s underneath. It works every time.” She purses her lips with sass.

My cheeks flame red at the thought of Ryan undressing me with his eyes. The part that scares me even more?I want him to.

I slip into the outfit Liza picked out, and she begins curling my hair when I hear the apartment door fly open.

“I’m home,” Hartley yells from the living room. He saunters into my room without an invitation. “Playing dress up, Vi?” He laughs as he takes in my room.

“Our girl has a date,” Liza answers before I get the chance to deflect the question.

“A date?” Hartley questions with a scowl painted on his face.

“Chill, Hart. I told you Ryan, and I have been hanging out. It’s nothing, really. Just going to the bowling alley.” I try to brush it off as nothing more than a casual night.

“Let me break this down for you. Nothing is casual for guys. If he asked you out, it means he wants something, and I’m sure this isn’t an innocent bowling match,” he says with trepidation in his tone.

“Oh lay off it, Hartley. She’s always studying by herself in this room. She needs to live a little,” Liza retorts.

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