Page 38 of The Encounter
Maddie laughed. “Considering how worked up she got at the mere sight of it, I think I may avoid that conversation at work without Chase there to buffer. I don’t want to get fired.”
They pulled into the parking lot of the bowling alley. Kailynn and Chase had beaten them there and were already inside, securing a lane.
The parking lot was full, being a Thursday night, and Jace took a deep breath. Maddie took hold of his hand and held back as Kayla and Robert stepped inside.
“You okay?” Maddie asked.
Jace nodded. “Yeah, I just realized I forgot my hat. I keep one in my car, but didn’t think to grab it.”
She looked at him quizzically before understanding dawned on her face. “Do you want to leave? I can get Kayla’s keys.”
He shook his head. “No, of course not. I don’t mind being approached. I just don’t want to make any of you uncomfortable.”
She smiled up at him, and his heart melted. “I think we can manage.” Then she pushed up onto her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips.
His hand cupped the back of her head, holding her there for a beat longer before they pulled apart.
“I hope you brought your A game,” he whispered.
She laughed. “Oh really? I hope you brought yours. Just you wait.”
* * *
Jace laughedas Maddie stood in front of the lane with a bowling ball in hand. Her ass wiggled like a cat about ready to pounce on something, and her feet danced in place.
She turned to look at him and stuck her tongue out, which only made him laugh more.
“Come on, Maddie. Show me this A game you have,” he taunted.
“Just you wait,” she said, wiggling in place like a cat again before she took two quick steps and released the ball. It shot straight into the gutter, and Jace bit back a smile when she turned and glared.
The scoreboard had near zeroes across the screen for Maddie. Even a five-year-old in the lane next to them had more points than her.
“This is hard to watch,” Kailynn said, tossing a hand over her eyes as Maddie stepped up with her second ball.
“Maybe we should put up the bumpers for you,” Kayla called.
Jace barked out a laugh, as did Chase and Robert, who had been attempting to stay quiet up to this point.
Maddie ignored them the best she could before doing her ass wiggle again and taking her steps. This time, she chucked the ball, which thudded loudly on the floor, before making a slow crawl down the lane. Just before it reached the pins, it veered off into the gutter and came to a stop.
“Are you shitting me?” she shouted.
Kayla cackled loudly. “Geez, Maddie! There are children present.” She stood up and grabbed a ball off the rack. “I’ll take care of it for you.”
Kayla flung the ball into the gutter with enough force to bump Maddie’s and her own ball into the pit before the arms dropped to clear the pins.
Maddie stomped over to her seat and dropped as Robert stood to take his turn.
Jace leaned over and rested his hand on her thigh. “So… is this your A game?”
Maddie turned and socked him in the arm.
“I was only trash-talking, Jace. How was I supposed to know you were some freakin’ bowling prodigy?”
Jace laughed and looked up at his own score. He had nearly all strikes with only a few spares thrown in. “Not a bowling prodigy, but thank you for the compliment.”
“I wasn’t trying to compliment you,” she grumbled.
