Page 86 of The Forever After Bet

“Knock it off.” Hannah laughs.

I put the car into drive and head to the bowling alley.

“Bowling?” Hannah scrunches her face, looking up at the building. “Did you forget I’d be wearing a dress?”

I smile. “That’s half the fun.” I shove the Starbursts in my pocket and go around, helping Hannah out of the car. “It’s disco bowling night. Whatever that means.”

When we walk in, all the lights are off, a disco ball is spinning in the middle of the bowling alley, and dance music blares through the speakers.

“This is pretty cool.” Hannah smiles.

I pay for a game and shoes and find us a couple of bowling balls. When I return to our lane, Hannah has written Sweet Cheeks and Hot Cross Buns where our names should be.

“Cute, huh?” She crunches her nose, smiling at me.

I can’t help myself, and I lean in, kissing her. “I love it.” I look down our bowling lane and see the kids’ bumpers are in the gutter. “Are you afraid I’ll beat you in a proper game?”

“No, I talked to the guy. He said the lever’s broken. We can wait for another lane, but he doesn’t know how long that will take. So, we’re sticking with the bumpers.” Hannah shrugs. “Let’s see who can get the highest score.”

“You’re on.”

It’s hilarious watching Hannah bowl in her dress, but despite her handicap, she keeps getting strikes. Somehow, she’s beating me. I get serious and take my suit coat and vest off, but despite my best efforts, she beats me by two points.

“Oh yeah! I’m the winner!” She dances around, rubbing it in my face, and I love every second.

“Are you done yet?” I ask.

“Nope. I win, you lose.” She wraps her arms around my back. “Where’s my winner’s kiss?”

“Oh, you want a winner’s kiss?” I smile at her.

“I deserve it. I won.”

“Okay, just remember you asked for it.” I laugh.

I spin her, tipping her back over my hand, pressing my mouth to hers. She opens for me, and I deepen the kiss. I slide my tongue along her teeth and across the roof of her mouth. I twist my tongue with hers possessively. When I sit her up, she’s dazed but smiling.

“That’s what I’m talking about. Yes. I’m going to beat you at things more often. If that’s the kiss I get.”

I kiss her temple. “I love you.”

“Yeah, I know. I love you too.”

“Come on, we’ve got to go. We’re meeting everyone at Chick’s and then heading to your house.”

“Ugh. Such a poopy ending to a fun night.” Hannah pouts.

“It will be all right, I promise.”

At Chick’s, Hannah trades places with Jack, and he rides with me. Hannah drives her car.

“How was the rest of the dance?” I ask.

Jack shakes his head. “Bree Chandler is bat shit crazy.”

“You’re just figuring that out?” I laugh.

“She basically stalked our group the whole night, waiting for you to show back up. She asked June where Hannah was, and I swear June will be a famous actress someday. June held out her hand and said she was standing right next to her. They argued for five minutes about it, and June never once broke character. Bree finally stormed off.” Jack laughs.

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