Page 22 of The Best Man Problem
“Hey,” Mo said softly, placing a hand on Lilly’s arm. “Seriously, is everything okay?”
She glanced over to Lincoln, who, thankfully, was fully engaged in his conversation and not paying them any attention. Just in case, she turned so her back faced the men, blocking her and Mo’s discussion. Glancing into her friend’s worried gaze, she let out a breath and the truth along with it.
“I’m just a little stressed out with Pru still gone and my mother calling.”
Okay, partial truth.
“Oh sweetie, why didn’t you say anything?” Mo pulled her in for a quick hug. “Let’s take a break tonight and do something fun.”
“The only thing I want to do tonight is Lincoln.” She slapped a hand over her mouth, eyes widening. “Laundry,” she hissed at her friend’s surprised expression. “I meant the only thing I want to do tonight is laundry. I have a huge pile of colors to run.”
“Nice try, but I heard the Freudian slip.”
“Mo.” She glanced over her shoulder, but all the men were still occupied. “Please.”
The shorter woman sighed. “Fine. We won’t discuss your pathetic lusting over a guy you already had and could have again if you just let go of your silly self-imposed rule, but I am not letting you wallow in dirty laundry tonight. There’s only one thing to do with pent-up lust you can’t sate.”
“What?” She eyed her roommate warily; nothing Mo suggested could be good. She loved her friend, but she didn’t exactly trust her.
Mo gave a sneaky little grin, winking as she replied, “Smack some balls, of course.”
Chapter Seven
Lincoln let his gaze travel over the crowded barcade. This place was awesome. When Marie and Kenneth had suggested getting out tonight to show him some of the city’s highlights, he expected they’d go to some hipster bar, knowing his friends’ taste. But he hadn’t expected to find an establishment that combined two of his favorite things: beer and arcade games. Even if it was a little hipstery.
Where he lived in Nebraska, they had bars, sure, but they were your standard-type watering holes: booze, table and chairs, dartboard on the wall, maybe a jukebox in the corner. Not a one of them had this—a wall of pinball machines that made Lincoln’s fingers itch with the need to slide a shiny silver quarter in the slot and take out all his stress by whacking a tiny metal ball over and over.
The bells and whistles of the various games ringing out winning and losing chimes made his lips curve in a grin.
“Told you he’d like it, babe,” Kenneth said from behind him.
Marie squeezed his arm. “Why don’t we grab a drink? Then you can go hog wild, Mr. Pinball Wizard.”
He chuckled at the nickname he’d been given in college. He was known around campus to relieve the stress of finals week by challenging anyone in the student lounge to a pinball competition. And winning. Lincoln wasn’t one to brag, but, okay, yeah, he’d brag about his pinball skills, because they were awesome.
They made their way up to the bar, pushing through the crowd to finally find a spot. Kenneth nodded to the bartender, who seemed to recognize him. In less than ten minutes, he and Kenneth had a couple of beers while Marie had a Shirley Temple.
Lincoln took a long pull from his stout, following Kenneth and Marie away from the crowded bar and to a small table near the back. From here, he could see the entire room. The lighting was dim, as with most bars, but the bright, flashing lights of the various arcade games lit up the place with bright yellows, blues, and reds. As he glanced around the room, his eyes fell on a familiar face.
He leaned over to speak loudly in his friends’ ears over the din: “Is that Mo and Lilly?”
He pointed to the side wall, which housed all the pinball machines, where two women stood, one short with blond hair streaked with blue and one tall with silky dark brown hair falling down her back, eyes focused on the game in front of her as she racked up the points on the scoreboard in a fairly impressive number.
Lilly Walsh was a pinball player? Damned if the woman didn’t get more and more enticing with each thing he learned about her.
“What?” Kenneth squinted to see where Lincoln was pointing. “Oh, yeah, that’s them. Mo loves this place. In fact, we found out about their wedding planning business because they’re friends with Kip, the bartender.”
“Ooooh, giant Jenga just freed up!” Marie exclaimed. “Lincoln, go see if Mo and Lilly want to join us for a game.”
A grin tilted his lips. “You got it, Marie.”
He stood, making his way through the throng of people. As he approached the women, their backs to him, both focusing on the ball, he watched as Lilly finessed the game with a skill that rivaled his own.
The woman was good. The thought made him smile. His ex hated his obsession with arcade games. Jessa always said they were immature; she’d never be caught dead playing anything beyond rummy or solitaire. Sophisticated adult games.
Whatever the hell that meant. What made a deck of cards more sophisticated than a complex arcade machine?
Lilly growled in frustration, slamming her hand against the glass top of the pinball machine. “Dammit! I was only a thousand points away from a high score.”
