by A. R. Perry
I’m not eating a salad though, so I opt for a turkey sandwich.
The waitress comes and takes our drinks. She at least has the decency to not drool all over Jax but that might be because she’s at least fifty.
When she comes back, I let out a sigh. I swear we’ve been silent for forever. Never in my life has this much time passed where I wasn’t saying something. It’s part of the reason my mom gave in and stopped going to church. You get way worse dirty looks when talking during a service than at a movie theater.
“What will you have?” The waitress asks.
My stomach screams for tacos, but I stomp down the demand. “The turkey club, please.”
She jots down my order then turns to Jax. “And you?”
“Vampire tacos.”
I might cry.
The waitress scoops up the menus and leaves us in unbearably awkward silence. Really. It’s way worse than the time my brother Noah forgot he had his webpage up on some ahem, self-pleasure enhancement page and let my mom borrow his laptop.
Dinner was beyond awkward that night.
But sitting here, not saying anything while both of us scan the restaurant instead of making eye contact is a million times worse. My fingers tap the table and I feel nervous babbling rising to the surface. Which will only make the whole situation worse.
After what feels like a literal eternity, I can’t take it anymore. I clear my throat and throw out the first thing I can think of.
“So, are you going to play ball in college?”
Yes, I know, not a topic I’m supposed to dive into. But I can play dumb, right? Let him lead the conversation.
His eyes light and he bobs his head. “Yeah. I didn’t get a scholarship or anything, but I plan on trying out.”
“That’s awesome. I think my brother Noah played his freshman year at Baylor. I’ve never been to a game though.”
Lie. I went to every game when he played in high school.
“You’ve never been to a game? Like ever?”
“Nope. I don’t get it and no one has ever taken the time to explain what I’m watching.”
Lie. Lie. Lie.
“You have to go to at least one game before you graduate!” Jax takes a sip of his soda. “Maybe when I’m down on break, I can go with you. Explain what’s going on.”
“I’d like that.” I spin a curl around my finger and tilt my head to the side. I feel super dumb, but I read about this flirty move in a chick magazine my mom had. Something about exposing the neck.
It made no sense. But whatever. Jax hasn’t shifted his attention off my face so it must be working.
Our food comes right as Jax launches into the specifics of his role as running back. I nod and ask obvious questions, staying away from in-depth questions like stats because that will give me away.
Silence is replaced by easy chatter, but I still find myself fidgeting with an odd sensation in the pit of my stomach.
Within an hour we’ve covered everything from his glory days as a Tiger’s golden boy and his plans for college—business major to appease his dad. Yet he hasn’t asked a single question about me. Even when he finishes his meal and switches to my side of the booth to slip an arm over my shoulder and steal the fries I had been trying not to scarf down.
“Do you have to be home right away?” Jax asks and scoops up my last fry.
I shelve my death glare and force a smile. So what if this isn’t how I imagined our first date would go? It’s probably my fault for being so nervous. “Not right away. My curfew is ten.”
“Want to go to play some mini golf? I can show you how.”
My fake smile actually hurts at this point. Not only do I know how to play, but I’m also the reigning champion in my house. Ryan won’t go anymore. Spencer never seems to mind a beatdown though.
“You’d really show me how?” I bat my eyelashes even though a gag is hovering right there in my throat.
Truth is, I could show him a thing or two. But I’m not supposed to be that Rylee. The girl with mad boarding skills and a bit too much competitive flare. Guys don’t appreciate that. Seventeen years have proven it.
“It will be my pleasure.” His finger skims over my hand and I wish for butterflies. A spark. Something. But all I feel is tension and pressure to be the girl I’m not.
For now. I just have to keep reminding myself that my act is just for now.
“Can’t wait.”
Jax lifts his hand in the air as he signals the waitress. There is no hesitation as she sets the receipt down and speeds away to another table. I reach for my purse right as Jax pulls out cash.
His smirk is a little over the top as he slips some bills into the little black check holder. “I got this.”
Why is it when he says that I want to punch his smug face but when Spence says the same thing it makes me smile? Maybe because I always pay him back. As I slide out of the booth, I decide I’ll be paying for mini golf. Whether or not he likes it.
Jax walks by my side as we head for the front doors. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch him wink at the hostess, causing her face to flame as red as her hair and a fit of giggles to tumble from her lips.
The moment we step outside, Jax snags my hand and links our fingers.
Nothing.
Dead air in my stomach.
Not even a slight flutter.
The short ride to the arcade and mini golf course has my nerves on high alert. This is all I’ve wanted for years. What in the world is going on? The sight of Jax in the halls used to send my heart tripping over itself and now, nothing.
Nerves. It’s got to be nerves.
I wipe my sweaty palms on my legs as I get out of the car. For a Saturday the place is dead. Which I suppose is good. It will give Jax time to “show me how to golf”, which is really an excuse to have his sexy arms wrapped around me.
Jax beats me to the counter and pays for the game before I even pull out my wallet. I smile as he hands me a club but I’m still trying to calculate how to pay him back.
Dinner and this is too much for a make-up date.
Jax pushes open the door and waves me through ignoring the tiny yellow pencils and paper to keep score. “We’ll skip keeping score this time so you can get the hang of it,” he says when he sees where I’m looking.
My eyes roll of their own accord once I’ve stepped out into the warm night air. I can never tell Spence or my brothers about this. There’s no way they would ever let me live it down especially since I’m considering throwing the game.
All in the name of love.
Jax throws an arm over my shoulders which seems to be his favorite thing to do tonight and tugs me to his side as we walk to the first hole. My wavering smile drops right from my face the second I see the two people waiting to play. Jax’s arm slips from my shoulder when I immediately step away.
You have got to be kidding me.
Zoe slips a hand into my back pocket and tugs me against her not caring that we are at a family establishment with a group of five little kids on hole one. Four feet away.
“Children present.” I grip her wrist and force her to let go without being too aggressive. The action only spurs her on though, and a giggle escapes her right as her lips find the hollow of my throat. A tongue follows as her fingers tuck inside the waistband of my jeans.
PDA isn’t my thing and I’m definitely not for it when we are getting dirty looks from parents.
I turn my face away as she leans up on her tippy toes aiming for my mouth and my heart plummets through my feet and into the ground most likely on its way to the Earth’s core when I see the two people standing behind us.
Freaking A.
I wiggle out of Zoe’s grasp and smile through the clench in my jaw.
Rylee’s gaze bounces between Zoe and me several times before flicking off to the side. “Hey, Spence.”
“Rylee, uh, what are you doing here?” I scratch the back of my neck where I can feel prickling from Zoe’s burning glare. After all
, I shut her down the second Rylee showed up. An ego hit that big has got to hurt.
“Date, remember?” She twists the club between her hands without so much as glance my way.
“Right. Right. So you decided to burn off some calories from dinner?”
Invisible fists with the strength of Mike Tyson pummel my stomach to a bloody pulp when Jax wraps his bulky gorilla arms around her from behind. “Well, Rylee here is about as good at mini golf as she is at riding that cute little board of hers. Figured she could use some pointers.”
My snort draws three sets of eyes. One of which is burning with irritation. Whether from my reaction or Jax’s outlandish comments, I’m not sure. Yet it doesn’t stop me from throwing out my next words. “So great you came along to help her out. Maybe you can give her some pointers on riding that cute little board too.”
This time I know her irritation is directed at me when she flips me off the second Jax’s back is turned. She opens her mouth seconds from ripping into me judging from her sour expression when Zoe jumps forward.
“Hey! Let’s play together. Couple versus couple.”
Smart. She drew a line in the sand quick by marking us as a couple. Not a box I would check, but I don’t argue.
“No thanks,” Rylee and I blurt out at the same time Jax grins and says, “Sure.”
The way Rylee’s wide eyes meet his and the quick puckering of her lips tells me I’m in for a whole night of torture. If she’s letting him talk about her boarding skills, there’s no way she will stand up to him over a game of golf. A game she could whip his butt in on her worst day. Not to mention the aching desire to break every single one of his fingers whenever he touches her. Would love to see him catch a football after that.
I turn away, not able to look at her anymore as her shoulders drop and she nods. I understand she likes the douche, but this is so far beyond ridiculous. Nothing like my Rylee and I can’t stand the sight of whoever this imposter is.
“We’re up.” Zoe links her arm through mine and tugs me toward the first hole where the family is collecting their balls. “Who wants to go first?”
“Ladies.” Jax waves her forward earning a grin from Zoe and a tight smile from Rylee. “Don’t worry,” he mock-whispers to Rylee. “I’ll show you how to swing when you get up there.”
Jesus. This guy…
Zoe steps forward and hits her green ball hard enough to almost launch it into the second course. She giggles and slaps a palm to her head as it ricochets around before coming to rest close to where it started. “Guess I’m not very good at this myself.”
“It’s all in the way you grip the putter.” Jax steps up behind Rylee as she drops her ball on the blue runway. “All about the hands.” Jax positions his hands over hers, wrapping his arms around her in the process and pressing his body to hers in a way that makes my blood freaking boil.
It takes everything in me to stay still and not throw him over the ledge into the water.
Jax remains at Rylee’s back and swings with her, hitting the golf ball way too hard and sending it past the hole. The first hole. The easiest one on the whole course. A shot Rylee has hit on the first try multiple times.
She shrugs as if responding to my thoughts and slides away, her eyes meeting mine over Jax’s shoulder. “Guess it takes a while to get the hang of.”
“No worries. We have eighteen holes.” Jax winks and takes his shot—again with too much force—and ends up about where Rylee’s is.
With it being my turn I know for a fact I could sink a hole in one no problem and show this gorilla how it’s really done. But when I see the scowl on Rylee’s face I change my mind. Winning him over is what she wants. And I’m sure she’s loving every second of his hands-on lesson even if she could whoop his lame ass all the way to next Sunday.
My ball rolls to a stop right next to the rest. Okay, slightly in front of the rest.
Zoe lands the shot in the next swing and does a little shimmy that under normal circumstances I would find cute. But I’m too distracted by Jax’s hands all over Rylee as he once again sets up her grip all wrong. The girl is tall, no way she should grip it that low.
She misses and lets out a growl of frustration. I’ll be surprised if this act continues for another seventeen holes. She’s the most competitive person I’ve ever met. One time she flipped the Monopoly board when she was on the verge of losing to Noah. We were fifteen and on Christmas break. Ended the merriment really quick.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get there.” Jax unleashes a smile that even has Zoe tripping all over herself as he hits his ball in. “It’s that easy.” He holds his arms out to the side with all the ego of a small-minded guy.
“If it’s that easy shouldn’t you have gotten it the first try?” I ask as I hit the ball in. Two seconds later I’m on my ass with Rylee standing above me glaring.
Did she shove me over? And for what? To defend the baboon.
“Oops.” She extends a hand, a breathy laugh covering her malicious intentions. “Tripped. Sorry.”
Oh, it’s so on.
I dust my jeans off, ignoring the smirk Jax is throwing my way. I’m sure he considers my fall karmic retribution or whatever, but I have to play nice now for my plan to succeed.
“You know, this will get boring after a few holes.” I slide an arm around Zoe, planting a kiss on her temple. “Why don’t we make it more interesting?”
Jax’s eyebrow jumps up. “How?”
Yeah. He’s just as competitive as she is. Has to be to play football.
“A little wager. The losing team has to jump into the school pool Monday morning wearing all their clothes, then finish the day. Without changing.” My gaze cuts to Rylee who is struggling to rein in her anger.
It’s a bet we came up with at the beginning of the year. One we were saving for the last day before summer break for whoever had the most wins on mini golf.
I smile, focusing on Jax who is fidgeting with the putter. He doesn’t seem to be the type of person who likes to lose. Which is why it will be oh so much fun to whoop his ass.
“I second that idea.” Zoe bumps me with her hip. “The only thing that would make it better is if you were topless.”
“You’re assuming we’re going to lose.” I wink, which does the trick and gains a giggle.
Rylee’s left eye twitches, and she glances away but not before her carefully constructed persona cracks and fire lights her eyes.
“I’m game.” Jax switches his attention to Rylee. “You up for the challenge?”
“Sure. Why not?” Her face is so pinched with restrained anger her head might explode at any minute.
Oh, she’s so going to kick my ass when she gets me alone.
We move to the third hole—a windmill thing with a steep ramp. The family in front of us has moved on two more holes giving us some space. We’ll need it because the second Rylee starts losing, the faint grasp she has on her temper is going to snap. With that comes a lot of swearing.
“Watch how it’s done.” Zoe swings her hips as she walks to the red-and-blue carpet.
Her confidence is high for how she’s been playing, but the stink-eye her words pull from Rylee when she overheard sure makes up for her lack of skill. As expected, Rylee can’t help but succumb to the competitive drive. It’s the reason we never took boarding too seriously because it would ruin it.
Zoe misses by a long shot, her ball rolling up the ramp, then back toward us, leaving her right where she started.
Rylee’s glare turns calculating as she stomps her way to where I’m standing. Hole three is where our battle of who is better at mini golf started. Well, it started with a lucky shot from her and then spiraled into monthly games with her brothers that eventually became just us.
Because I’m the only guy who can handle the wildfire running through her veins. Even her own brothers were no match. Couldn’t hang when the inevitable ass-kicking came around followed by cocky trash-talking.
She knows it too, that’s w
hy she’s putting on this ridiculous show for Jax. And I’m hoping her wild side is too strong to stamp down.
Rylee swings, moving her hands to the proper position for her height and sends the ball rolling on a perfect line for a hole in one. When it sinks, I can’t help but smile. For the briefest of moments, she grins back, reveling in her win. But the second Jax wraps his arms around her stomach the smile drops, replace by phony shock.
“Wow!” Her hands come to rest on his forearms and I back away, running an agitated hand through my hair. “Guess you are a great teacher.”
“That was freaking amazing, babe.” He plants a kiss on her cheek causing Zoe to swoon beside me and throw in an annoying aww.
“Your turn, Lever,” I snap, crushing the moment like a bug on a windshield.
He shoots me a funny look as he steps away from Rylee who is currently wishing for my death. Every ounce of irritation reserved for her brothers is directed at me.
“You okay?” Zoe asks from my side, her hand trailing up and down my back.
“I’m fine. We’re just holding people up.” I thumb over my shoulder praying there are people there because I sure didn’t check before spouting off the lame excuse.
“Oh. Whoops.” Zoe cringes, confirming my reasoning, and waves to the people behind us. “Almost done. Sorry!”
After I sink my shot in the first try, winning another glare from Rylee and a very handsy hug from Zoe, we move on.
The next few holes pass with little conversation. I can tell Rylee is concentrating on reining in her anger when Zoe sinks a hole in one and she misses. Although I think she missed on purpose. Two quick lessons don’t make you a pro and would seem odd even to a guy with raw hamburger for brains if she sank every hole first try.
By the eighteenth hole, I’m certain Zoe and I will win. Any other time I wouldn’t be as confident because Rylee is a freak who can make this shot blindfolded. We tried one time. In fact, that was the last time her brothers played with us. But this new Rylee might throw the game to win over Jax.