Page 17 of Jared

This place smells like feet and overcooked hot dogs. But, he wanted to go bowling, so we will go bowling, Steve thought as he tied the rental shoes onto his feet. Might be fun, I've never been bowling before.

Tim had laughed when he'd told him that Jared had asked to go bowling. “And what's wrong with bowling?” he'd asked, feeling as if it'd be disloyal to his mate to say otherwise.

Just hope I don't make a fool of myself. He winced at the crashing sounds the balls and pins made. Man, that's loud.

It rapidly became apparent that Jared didn't know how to bowl either. Steve had taken a few turns to figure out the knack of how to roll the ball just so, his wolf reflexes and keen eyesight proving to be a bonus. Jared on the other hand kept changing balls, hoping to find one that would miraculously turn his efforts from gutter balls into something that at least made it to the end and knocked down a pin, any pin at all.

Steve waited until they were nearly done with a game, then asked, “So, we've, uh, tried bowling. Wanna play another game after this or head out and grab a bite or something?”

Jared looked relieved. “Yeah. I'll be honest. I've, uh, never bowled before. Well, I did sorta, once as a kid, with my dad. But they had bumpers in the gutter.”

Steve grinned. “I figured. Me neither. Now we've both established we'll not be winning any trophies, I guess we can look for other ideas of things to do together.”

“Uh, do you want to finish the game? I could eat.”

He looks so adorable, trying to wiggle out of having to finish this.

“Sounds good to me. I know this place that does amazing Portuguese food. You like peri peri chicken?” Steve asked.

“Never had it, but I'd love to try it .”

“Let's go then.” Steve didn't have to ask twice, as by way of reply Jared sat straight down and began to take off his shoes. Steve smiled and once they'd handed in the shoes and put their own footwear back on, took out his phone and called ahead. No sense getting there and finding out we can't get a table.

With assurance of a table, the two men climbed into Steve's car.

“I'm, uh, sorry that was so lame,” Jared apologized. “I've never really dated before and when you asked me what I'd like to do, old TV show stuff from Happy Days and stuff popped into my head.”

Steve laughed. “That's okay. I should have had something in mind when I asked you out. Happy Days, huh?”

Jared flushed. “I like to watch old TV shows. Less, I dunno, intense. I can just relax.”

Steve nodded. “I get you. Don't tell anyone, but I like to watch repeats of Friends for same reason. And I just might have box sets of some even older shows myself.”

“Really?”

The rest of the evening went by quickly as the two men chatted about current TV favorites and childhood viewing habits. Before he'd kissed Jared on the cheek good night as he walked him to his door, their mutual guilty secret of being fans of The Muppet Show was out and a second date planned revolving around a Muppet marathon in front of Steve's TV.

Huh. Maybe this dating thing won't be too bad, Steve thought as he let himself into his apartment. Not too bad at all.

7

Jared had spent nearly every evening after work and his days off with Steve. Steve had even stopped by and kept him company while he did his laundry and gone with him to do his grocery shopping.

“Things are moving fast between you two, huh?” Desmond said as they did a final check before clocking out.

“Yeah. But it's weird. I feel like I've known him forever and I just know that I can really trust him.”

“It's because you're True Mates,” Desmond said, sighing wistfully. “Each made to be the perfect life partner for the other. “

“I'm beginning to think that's not just hooey,” Jared admitted.

“Hooey? Who even says that?” Desmond cracked as they punched out..

“You're one to talk. I seem to recall a certain someone using the expression 'your sweet bippy', you may recall.” Jared stopped suddenly, a frisson of fear going through him. “Who's that?” he wondered aloud.

Desmond looked towards where Jared was gazing. Two men in dark suits had just entered the store. One of them was wearing dark sunglasses he didn't bother to take off once inside.

“Probably some civil servants. Got that look to them,” Desmond said dismissively.