by Sam Elswit
“So, he ditched the band?”
“Yep, and is sitting pretty in his brand-new Cadillac he bought with his signing bonus. The next time I see him… I swear.”
“Wow, that’s really crummy.”
“Crummy? That’s downright dastardly. If you didn’t have such virgin ears, I would call him every name in the book. But… I’m not going to waste my energy on him…” She said, taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. “Being violent won’t help the situation…” She grumbled to herself. “No matter how good it would feel…”
“Em?” I asked, looking at her curiously, wondering what she was doing. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just trying to do what my therapist told me to do whenever I get angry, but honestly, it’s a bunch of bullshit. Happy thoughts aren’t going to help me right now… but you can.” She grinned wildly, as if up to no good. “You’ll be our replacement vocalist, won’t you?”
“Erm.” I rubbed the back of my head. “I don’t know… I’ve never really sung in front of a crowd or anything.”
“What are you talking about? You were in the school chorus! You guys held that big Christmas concert every year.”
“That’s different. I was part of a big group… I wasn't the center of attention.”
“Of course you were. A cute guy like you, I bet you had quite a few admirers. Ben being one of them.” She winked. It was obvious Emily was trying to boost my confidence, just so I would agree with her idea.
“I’m not falling for that, Em. Your brother was a year ahead of us, he probably didn’t even know that I existed.”
“Of course he did!” She slapped my arm, her voice too high-pitched to be believable. “He had googly eyes for you!”
I shook my head. “Seriously, I didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday.”
Emily frowned. “So, you won’t join the band then? Please… you would be doing me and my brother a huge favor.”
“I mean… I didn’t say no…”
“Great!” She cut me off before I could say anything else. “Rehearsal is every Friday night. I’ll text you Ben’s address.”
“What… I haven’t agreed to this yet. Can’t I sleep on it or something?”
“I’ll tell you what, why don’t we play a game of pool to settle things? If you win, then you can go home and sleep on it. If I win, then you are part of the band, no ifs, no buts and no takesies-backsies.”
“Um…Why do I get the feeling that you’re about to swindle me?”
“What? Me?” She batted her eyes innocently. “Would I really deceive one of my closest friends? I really do suck at playing pool and I can’t even cheat by using my womanly charm in this case.”
“O-Okay then.” I reluctantly agreed, still thinking that Emily was up to something.
“So! What do I do with the stick?” She asked, playing up the naivety a little too much. She was definitely hustling me. Great.
“Let me rack up the balls and then I’ll show you how to break.”
“Okay.” She sat on her barstool and sipped her beer. “So, do you play pool by yourself a lot?”
“Sometimes. I love my cat, but I can’t stand spending the entire day with him. He would annoy me to death.”
“Hmm. Maybe you should go out more. Why don’t you call me?”
I shrugged. “You’re usually busy and I don’t want to be a burden.”
“Hey, you’re supposed to be able to annoy your friends as much as you want. That’s what they’re for.”
“I don’t know…” I lined up the cue ball. “Alright, let me teach you how to shoot.”
“So, we are definitely playing for your spot on the band?” She asked, rocking slightly on her feet, her hands clasped behind her back, trying to look innocent.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Great.” She grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she leaned forward. Before I could say anything, she had already made her shot, sinking two solids.
“Hey! I thought you weren’t good at this game.”
“I’m not – I’m fantastic.” Her smirk deepened.
“This is totally not fair.”
“You already agreed.”
“We didn’t shake on it.” I protested, leaning on my pool stick.
“Stop being difficult and just play. If you really do practice all the time, you must be a pro.”
“Not exactly…” I mumbled, surveying the table, trying to figure out my best move. “You didn’t leave me much wiggle room here, did you?”
“That’s the point.” She giggled, looking like she had already won the game.
“Everything is blocked unless I jump the three… but it’s a tight squeeze.”
“That it is.” She said smugly.
I leaned against the table, taking my time to focus, before I hit the bottom of the cue ball, popping it off the table and on the opposite side of the three. It lightly tapped the striped ball I was going for, sinking it into the pocket.
Emily looked at me with her mouth slightly agape. “How did you do that…?”
“I have my ways.” I chuckled. “Many lonely nights with a cue stick and a pint of beer does wonders for your skill level.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t count me out just yet. You’ll be our new vocalist by the time the night is over.”
“Whatever you say.”
But, sure enough, by the end of the night, she had won the game and I was the newest member of Farmer’s Market.
Chapter 5
Ben
“Can you stop that?” I tossed the remote in my sister’s direction, hoping it would hit her in the head or something.
“Nope,” Emily responded, a playful smile on her face.
“Why are you so happy? They have half off buffalo wings at Scotty’s again or something?”
“Nope. I’m just pumped for rehearsal.”
I shot my sister the dirtiest glare I could muster. “You know, I’d really appreciate it if you stopped bringing that up. You and I both know there isn’t going to be a rehearsal tonight since we don’t have a vocalist.” It took a lot of effort to keep my voice from shaking. Even though it had been a week since Andy’s betrayal, I still hadn’t even begun to forgive him. Hell, I wasn’t sure if I ever would. You just don’t come back from something like that.
“Well, I might have found us a replacement. Someone a dozen times better than Andy and a thousand times cuter.”
“We aren’t playing with Alfred again.” I groaned, thinking she was going to invite our forty-year-old neighbor to be in the band like she did that time Andy had a sore throat. It had been, hands down, the worst gig of our career. I thought people were going to start throwing tomatoes at us at any time. It was that bad.
“No. I found someone our age. Your type too…” She plopped onto the couch beside me, her smirk deepening.
“I don’t know what you have planned, but whatever it is, I don’t like it.” I sat up, ready to book it in case my sister tried anything funny. You could never be too careful around her.
“Oh, come on. It’s a good friend of mine. His name is Phil Kendrick. He’s got a killer voice. He used to be in the school chorus.”
“Don’t know him,” I said sternly, my arms crossed over my chest. “Either way, he can’t be in the band since there is no band anymore.”
She moved even closer. “Are you really going to let a prick like Andy ruin your dreams? C’mon, you want to get back at him just as much as I do, don’t you?”
“Is this guy really good?”
“Yes. He has the voice of a god.”
I looked at her, a bit suspicious. It was never a good sign when she started to overhype things.
“I’ll tell you what. Why don’t we forgo rehearsal tonight and we can all go bowling instead? That way, you two can get to know each other, and maybe get a feel if you got some chemistry going on. If you know what I mean.” She said as she jabbed my side with her elbow.
I rolled my eyes. �
�You better not be lying to me about this guy.”
“I’m not lying. When have I ever lied to you? I’m your sister.”
“Do you really want me to answer that?” I asked.
“Anyway, what do you say to bowling? It would be good for you to get out of the house. You’ve been moping around for a week.”
“I haven’t been moping.”
“We’ve gone through at least three tubs of ice cream. Either you’re depressed… or you’re pregnant and I swear, if you start asking for pickles and peanut butter, I’m moving back in with mom.”
“You’ve overstayed your welcome anyway.”
“What? If I didn’t live here, who would cook you breakfast in the morning? Who would keep your life interesting? Plus, I pay half the rent, so you have nothing to complain about. You’re just stalling because you don’t want to give me an answer. Well, you’re coming bowling whether you like it or not.”
“You can’t force me to go.”
“Can’t I?” She challenged with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Do you really want to test that assumption?”
I sighed. “You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”
“Nope.”
“Fine. Let me get dressed and we can go meet this friend of yours.”
“I knew you would see things my way eventually.”
Sometimes, my sister was a real pain in the backside.
***
“How long has it been since we were last here?” Emily asked, parking her car in the closest – and tightest – space she could find.
My fingers felt like they were locked into the vice grip I had on the door handle. Emily’s driving shouldn’t be legal. I swear, one of these days, she was going to kill someone, and that someone was probably going to be me.
“Earth to Ben. Are you alright?” She waved her hand in front of my face.
“No,” I grumbled, finally letting out the breath I had been holding in my chest the entire time.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re as pale as a corpse. Did you see a ghost or something?”
“Maybe if you didn’t go sixty in a thirty zone, I would be okay. One of these days, you’re going to give me a heart attack.”
“I’ll have you know that I’ve never gotten a speeding ticket in my life.”
“Yeah, probably because you manage to flirt your way out of them.”
She shrugged. “Whatever works.” She got out of the car and looked back, waiting for me to join her.
I sighed. I guess there was no way to get out of this now.
“Can you hurry it up, slowpoke? I’m not getting any younger here.” She placed her hand on her hip, tapping her foot impatiently. “Phil is a nice guy. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I’m not worried.” I protested. “I just think this is pointless. The band isn’t getting back together just because you have a friend who can sing.”
“Yeah, and the world isn’t going to end because you and your boyfriend broke up. You’re better off without him anyway. He was a jerk and you know it.”
I huffed, pushing past her to the door. Inside, I was met with the sounds of my childhood. Bowling balls crashing against the pins in a thunderous boom. Little kids squealing with joy. Tipsy adults hollering at each other. The constant dinging from the pinball machine.
I took a deep breath, filling my lungs, feeling revitalized.
Forgetting about my sister, I walked up to the counter, excited to get started, despite my earlier hesitation.
“Phil! There you are!” Emily’s loud, obnoxious voice boomed through the whole bowling alley. Somehow, it managed to be louder than the bowling balls crashing into the pins.
I turned around to see a strikingly handsome young man. He was tall, his shoulders broad. The tight tank top he was wearing did wonders to show off a lean and muscular body. His forearms especially were rippling with strength.
My eyes wandered further down his body, lingering on his tight skinny jeans.
I bit the inside of my lip as hormones surged from deep within my body, awakening my lust.
A man like that… mmm, I could only imagine what it would feel like to have my arms wrapped around his neck, my lips traveling down to his…
Wait, what was I thinking?
This guy was hot, but it wasn’t like he was Adonis or anything.
Okay… maybe he’s a close second, but I should really be keeping my thoughts in check.
“Ben! Can you stop oogling and come over here please?” My sister’s voice broke me out of my trance. My cheeks burned with embarrassment when I realized I had been caught staring at the guy. Great, what a way to make a first impression…
Trying to appear nonchalant, I approached them, my hands in my pockets.
“Phil, this is my brother Ben.” Emily smiled, waving in my direction. “He’s a dork, but he grows on you.”
“Hey…” I grumbled. “That’s not how you introduce your brother.”
Phil chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. I know how much of a joker Emily can be.” He held out his hand in my direction. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” I couldn’t be sure, but it looked like his cheeks were rosy. Was he blushing? But why? Did he find me attractive as well?
No, of course not, Ben, I thought to myself. Don’t be silly. He’s probably not even into guys.
Before my own thoughts could drive me crazy, I took his hand, squeezing it firmly. As I did, a spark of electricity shot under my skin, making me tingle all over. The sensation caused me to let go of his hand prematurely.
He frowned, probably thinking I was incredibly rude.
“So, are you two going to have a staring contest all evening, or are we going to bowl?”
Phil rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve actually never played before.”
“Like ever?” I asked, finding it hard to believe.
I had practically grown up at this bowling alley. Every year until I was fourteen, I had my birthday here, refusing to have cake until I won at least one game. I wasn’t a very good bowler myself.
“Nope.”
“What did you do for birthday parties?” I asked, finding it easy to talk to this man.
He shrugged. “We usually just had them at home or something. My parents own a pretty big plot of land and my birthday was a few weeks ago, so we usually got good enough weather to just have it in the backyard.”
“Let me guess, you had a big pool and a trampoline?”
Phil nodded with a nostalgic look in his eye.
“I’m a little jealous. I always wanted a trampoline.”
“You mean, you’ve never been on one before?” He asked, stopping in the middle of the lobby.
“Nope.” I chuckled. “Maybe you can show me sometime.” I offered, surprising myself that I was being so forward. Usually, I was guarded whenever I met someone new, but this guy just had one of those friendly faces that made him so… approachable.
“Um…” Phil glanced down at my feet. “I wasn’t supposed to bring my own pair or anything, right?”
“Of course not.” Emily chimed in, leaning over the counter. “William!” She called out, beckoning over a sun-kissed individual with swept back hair and bright blue eyes. He had this dull expression on his face like he had just woken up from a long nap, but when he noticed my sister, his lips twitched into a smirk.
“Em. What are you doing here?” He leaned on the counter as well, their faces coming so close that I thought they were about to kiss right then and there.
“Just spending some quality time with my brother and our new vocalist.”
The man glanced over her shoulder, but he didn’t look very impressed. “Well, maybe we could sneak in the back and have some fun, what do you say?”
I cleared my throat. “You know, I can still hear you.” I walked up to the counter. “Look, we just need a pair of shoes.”
William sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “Sure. What size?” The bored expression returned to hi
s face.
“Um… I’m a size twelve normally.” Phil answered.
“Here. Try these.” William plopped down a pair of shoes onto the counter before turning his attention back to Emily.
I rolled my eyes. “C’mon. You can sit over here and put them on.”