My Lucky Catch (University Park #6)

by C. M. Doporto

  I sat across from Collin, and Delaney sat next to me. I didn’t think anything of it, until I realized we were side by side like everyone else. Based on the way Lexi was eyeing us, I had a feeling Collin had told her something. I tried my best to keep my actions neutral so she didn’t suspect anything. I really wanted to talk to her in private first.

  We tore up the spread of sushi rolls and sashimi and then headed to the bowling alley, which was one block away. The doors to the bowling alley were propped open, and loud music bellowed to the street.

  “Sounds like a full house tonight,” I told the security guard at the door.

  “Not yet, but I’m sure it will be.”

  We took the stairs to the top level where the bowling lanes were. On the opposite side of the lanes were a huge bar, pool tables, and small dance floor. Neon lights lit up the space making it feel lively and ready for action.

  “Hi.” The girl behind the counter smiled. “Need a lane tonight?”

  “Yeah. There’s six of us.”

  “Okay.” She punched a few buttons on the screen of the register. “How many games?”

  I turned to Forbes. “How long do we want to play?”

  “Two games?” He shrugged.

  “That works for me. Collin?”

  “That will be fine.” He handed me two twenties, and Forbes and I paid for the lanes. Everyone told the attendant behind the counter their shoes size, and she laid the shoes on the counter. “I’ve set up lane one for you guys.”

  “Appreciate it.” I handed Delaney her shoes and grabbed mine. Lexi shot me a quick glance, and I sensed that she was hot on our trail.

  “Thank you.” Delaney grabbed her shoes and motioned for us to follow her. “Come on, let’s go.”

  I kept a safe distance, trying to keep Lexi’s suspicions to a minimum. “I want to go first.” Delaney typed her name into the scoring console, then mine. That made it totally obvious that we were there together.

  “We can go last.” Collin told Delaney as he sat on the couch to change his shoes.

  “Okay,” Delaney shrugged. Turning to Jordan she said, “I guess that means you and Forbes are in the middle.”

  “That’s fine.” Jordan struggled to pull off her boots.

  “Here, doll, let me help you.” Forbes rushed to her side, like a lovesick puppy dog. In one quick tug, he slipped off her boot. He picked up her other leg and did the same. I did a double take when he kissed the top of her foot. I couldn’t wait to get Forbes back for making fun of Delaney and me.

  “Stop, pumpkin.” Jordan giggled as he trailed kisses up her calf.

  “Hey,” I walked through the aisle, cutting in between them, “there’ll be none of that tonight.”

  “Get out of here, man.” Forbes pushed me, and I sidestepped, breaking my fall.

  I looked around at the TV’s hanging on the walls. “The game is starting. I’ll ask if they can turn it on.” I jogged to the front desk.

  “Hey, PHU’s football game is on. Can you find the station and turn it on?”

  “Sure.” The guy behind the counter nodded. “What lane are you at?”

  “Um, lane one.”

  He reached under the counter and grabbed a remote, pointing at the TV.

  “Thanks.” I tapped the counter with my palm and headed back to the group.

  The TV to the left of us switched from a hockey game to the football game. PHU’s quarterback, Raven Davenport, flashed on the screen. I had recently done a few training sessions with him, Josh Marshall, and Shawn Jackson, who were also PHU football players. I noticed my sister watching TV, and it seemed odd, because she had never had an interest in football, only baseball. Then again, the football team was on a winning streak so the entire university was tuned in.

  “So, do you think we can win?” Forbes studied the stats on the screen.

  “I think we have a fair chance.” Although, I didn’t have a crystal ball, I’d watched enough sports segments on TV and listened to enough sports radio shows to know the opponent we were facing. “They are known for running the ball, so as long as our defense doesn’t get worn out, I think we can beat them.”

  “Yeah, I think so, too.” Forbes crossed his arms, continuing to watch the screen. “As long as Raven has his shit together.”

  “Isn’t that right?” I sighed. The sad thing was that the guy happened to be a really good quarterback. He just had issues out the wazoo and was constantly getting in trouble with the law. Not to mention, screwing every girl that said hi to him.

  “Lexi?” Collin called her attention away from the TV. “Let’s find you a ball.”

  She walked to the return ramp and picked up a ten-pound ball.

  “That’s too heavy.” Collin shook his head. “You can hurt your wrist. I think you should try something lighter.”

  Leave it to my friend to be over cautious. I glanced at Delaney as she searched for the right ball. I liked that she was self-sufficient, unlike Lexi, who required direction. If it weren’t for Collin and myself, I’m not sure how she’d make it. I hated that my parents put that responsibility on my shoulders, as if I didn’t have my own shit to deal with. But she was my sister so I did what I had to do.

  Collin handed her a purple and pink ball. “Try this one.”

  “Seven pounds?” She gave the ball a funny look. “Looks like a kid’s ball.”

  “That’s because it is.” Delaney teased as she sunk her fingers into a nine-pound ball and then pranced her way to the lane. I loved how her ass looked in her skinny jeans, not to mention the nice view from the front. Delaney might have thought she had small boobs, but they fit in my hand just perfectly.

  “Just try it,” Collin urged her.

  “Don’t listen to her.” Jordan leaned over Lexi’s shoulder. “I use a seven-pound ball, too.”

  “Great.” A look of relief framed her face. “We can share this one.” She placed the ball on the rack and then turned her attention back to the TV.

  I watched as Delaney hurled the ball down the lane. She stood with her hands clutched to her chest as she waited for the pins to fall. “Strike!” she yelled.

  “Yeah, baby!” I gave her a high-five and then popped her on the ass.

  Delaney jumped, laughing and pulling on my arm. “Can you believe it? I haven’t bowled in years.”

  “Aw, man.” Lexi stomped her foot on the ground, and I turned around.

  “Damn.” Forbes threw his hands up in the air.

  “What happened?” I asked as I chose my bowling ball.

  “Shawn Jackson missed the damn pass,” Forbes said with a headshake.

  “That’s a shame. Mistakes like that could cost them the game.” I grabbed my ball and approached the lane. Raising the ball to my chest, I eyed my target. I swung my hand back and then forward with a quick release. The ball spun down the center of the lane, striking all of the pins. “Ten in the pit!” I yelled.

  “Way to go.” Delaney exchanged a fist bump with me. “Your turn, Lexi,” she said, getting her attention. For whatever reason, Lexi was still engrossed with the football game while Collin watched a baseball game. It was as if these two were on their own and not on a date.

  “Show off.” Lexi eyed me as she walked to the ramp and stuck her fingers into the slots.

  “What?” I asked with palms facing upward. “Did I do something wrong?”

  Standing in front of the boundary line, Lexi dumped the ball on the hard wood, and it wobbled down the center, and then veered to the right before going into the gutter.

  “Darn!” She spun around, obviously pissed that she didn’t hit any pins.

  “Stand back, and then walk into the roll.” Jordan demonstrated to Lexi how to roll the ball.

  I sat on one of the sofas next to Forbes, watching the football game while glancing at the baseball game on the other screen. “Hey, how many minutes are left in the first half?”

  “Two I think, and it’s third down,” Forbes replied.

  “We better sco
re on this play.”

  “Yep.”

  “Show her, pumpkin.” Jordan pulled on Forbes arm. “Teach her how to bowl, like you did me.” Jordan tried to sweet-talk him into helping Lexi.

  Forbes waved off Jordan. “Hey, Collin.”

  “Yeah?” Collin continued to face the TV with the baseball game.

  “Show your girl how to hook a ball.”

  Looking over his shoulder, Collin made eye contact with Lexi.

  “Please?” She clutched the bright ball with both hands.

  Collin’s shoulders slumped, and he lumbered toward her. Lexi was so helpless at times, and I understood why my buddy got so frustrated with her. He took the ball from her hands and proceeded to show her how to bowl. Collin and I were alike when it came to sports, although he was better than I was.

  “Strike!” Lexi clapped as Collin walked away from the lane. “Way to go!” Lexi threw her arms around him, but he didn’t bother to hug her back. I wasn’t sure he if was still pissed about the mimosa incident or if he had a lot on his mind. I rarely saw them hug in public, and I definitely had never seen them kiss on the lips. Their relationship was purely platonic, unlike my relationship with Delaney. I guess he was saving it for their wedding night.

  “Excuse me.” Collin flagged the waitress. “Can you bring us a few drinks?”

  “Sure.” A petite girl with pink and blonde hair stopped at our table. “What would like?”

  “A water with lemon and one Coke, please.”

  She scribbled down their order and then turned to Forbes and me. “What would you like?”

  Forbes told her to bring us two beers and two Cokes for the girls. She asked for his ID but didn’t bother to ask for mine. I had my fake ID ready, just in case.

  After Jordan and Forbes bowled, Delaney returned to the ramp to get her ball. With her butt aimed right at me, she leaned over, giving her behind a nice shake. If she was trying to entice me, she was doing one helluva job. “Hey, Luke, do you think nine-pounds is too light? Would I do better with a ten-pound ball?”

  I watched her pensively before getting up to help her. “Just keep using the nine-pound one.” It took all my effort not to pull her into my arms and kiss her pouty lips. “You’re doing great.”

  We continued taking turns on the lanes, and I did my best to keep my eyes glued to the TV, instead of on Delaney. Delaney and I were on top, with Forbes and Jordan following, and Collin and Lexi at the bottom.

  “Hey, I’ll be right back.” She hooked her purse on her shoulder. “I’m going to spice up my Coke.”

  “Alright.” I smiled at her as she grabbed my sister and towed her to the bathroom. With Collin here and knowing what happened at the restaurant, I doubted she’d be able to convince my sister to mix some liquor in her drink. A few minutes later, Jordan followed behind them. I guess she needed a drink, too.

  The waitress brought two more beers and another water for Collin. A few minutes later, the girls returned laughing and gigging. I lifted the bottle of beer to my lips and took a sip.

  “I guess I’ll be drinking this one.” Delaney showed me the glass she had taken to the bathroom and then took a drink.

  “Sorry, should’ve told you Forbes ordered us another beer.” Her eyes winced, and her mouth looked ready to breath out a stream of fire. “A little strong?” I laughed.

  “Yeah, I made it for you.” Delaney licked her lips, and I took a hard swallow. She wasn’t making this easy for me.

  “Wanna trade?” I lifted up my bottle of beer.

  “Um, no thanks.” She shook her head and slid next to me. “I guess I could order a drink, you know, since I’m twenty-one.” She elbowed me in the ribs, rubbing in the fact that she was older than me.

  “I’m sorry my birthday’s not until March. If you want I’ll give you the money, you just have to order it.”

  “It’s okay. Save your money. Drinks here are expensive.”

  “We can stop and grab a Big Gulp.” I cocked a brow. “Fill it up with that flask you have in your purse.”

  “I like that idea.” Her voice lowered. “Later tonight?”

  She bit her lower lip, pulling off an erotic look that screamed for me to sneak her to my car and take her right that minute. If my sister and Collin weren’t with us, I would’ve done it in a heartbeat.

  “You got it.” I rested my arm behind the couch and leaned forward, whispering in her ear. “I’ll drop you and Lexi off and then pick you up later. Just tell my sister you’re going to Jordan’s or something.”

  Her head titled to the side, and she giggled. “I love sneaking out with you.”

  “You do?”

  Sweet breath spread across my face, and her lips neared mine. “Uh, huh.”

  “You like what we do in my car.”

  “I sure do.” Her eyes lit up, sparkling a deep blue hue that matched the neon lights behind her. Keeping our relationship under wraps might have been a pain, but sneaking around was actually fun. I couldn’t wait to drop her off and meet her later tonight. Nights like these were the best nights ever.

  Half an hour later, with several beers and mixed drinks consumed, we were laughing and having a good time, with the exception of Lexi. Collin was glued to the TV watching the baseball game and paid her little attention. I felt bad for my sister, but she kept herself content with watching the football game in between turns and trying her best to earn a strike.

  The clock on the scoreboard dwindled down as our games neared the end. Jordan and Forbes were only a few points behind us. “Get off your phone, and hurry up!” I reached for Delaney’s phone, but she jerked her hand away. “We only have a few minutes left.”

  “Okay, okay. I was just posting some pics of us.” She shoved her phone into the back pocket of her jeans and stumbled to the return rack. At that moment, I knew she had too much to drink. When she grabbed my 12-pound bowling ball, I shook my head.

  “She’s gonna do it!” Jordan cheered and then pulled Lexi to watch.

  “Don’t fall!” Lexi warned.

  “I won’t.” Delaney laughed and waved off her warning, nearly tripping as she approached the lane. “Whoa.” She turned around with a thumbs up signal, but I wasn’t convinced she was okay.

  She released the ball, and it shot down the wood, swerving to the left and then straightening as it hit the center.

  “I almost got a strike!” Delaney danced around like she had all the time in the world.

  “That’s great. Now quit jacking around,” I bit out the words, getting more frustrated by the minute. “You still have another turn. Let’s see if we can all roll before the time is up.”

  “All right. All right,” she snapped.

  She retrieved the 12-pound ball and hurried to the lane. Positioning herself behind the line, she clutched the ball to her chest, eyeing her target.

  One standing pin.

  Delaney swung her arm back, and as she stepped forward, her foot slipped and she went airborne. The 12-pounder flew from her hand as she slipped against the slick floor. I dove forward, but it was too late. A loud yelp escaped her mouth as her body crashed to the ground.

  “Oh, shit!” I skidded across the floor to her side, hoping she hadn’t hit her head.

  “Oh my God!” Lexi screamed, gliding across the floor. “Are you okay?”

  Forbes was next to me in a split second. “Is she okay?”

  “Did you hurt yourself?” I checked her head, arms, and then her legs, making sure nothing was out of place or broken.

  Delaney rubbed her backside, and her face twisted in pain. “I busted my ass, that’s all.”

  “What the heck happened?” Collin hovered over us.

  “Delaney slipped and fell,” Lexi informed him.

  “Better slow down on the drinks, missy,” Forbes teased her as he patted her back.

  Collin shook his head and then walked off. While I’m sure he was concerned about her wellbeing, he had little tolerance for people who drank.

  With one han
d behind her back, supporting her, I helped her stand. When I was positive she wasn’t going to fall, I released her.

  “Oh, man!” Delaney cried as she pulled her phone from her back pocket. “My screen shattered.”

  “Damn, that’s the second phone you’ve had this year,” I complained, knowing I was going to have to take her tomorrow to get a new one.

  “Well, if you wouldn’t have been rushing me, this wouldn’t have happened!” Delaney yelled.

  I took a step back, not liking the fact she was accusing me for her mishap. “Don’t blame it on me. You’re the one who had too much to drink.”

  With her hands on her hips, Delaney eyed me. “I’m not—”

  “I think you dropped your ball.” Riley walked up to me and shoved the ball into my chest.

  When did he get here?

  I grunted as the ball crushed against me, but managed to keep a straight face. “Whatever.” Ever since Mateo’s surprise birthday party, we’d been at odds with each other, and I was certain it was because of the fact that he wanted what I had.

  Delaney.

  We stared at each other for a few seconds before I placed the ball on the return ramp. Riley’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything. Fisting my hands, I took a few deep breaths, trying to keep calm. I didn’t want to fight him, but I didn’t appreciate him shoving a 12-pound cement ball into my chest. I was ready to punch the prick in the throat, but I knew better.

  Riley smirked, as if telling me he knew I wouldn’t do anything.

  Just let it go. Let it go. He’s not worth it.

  Silently, I counted to three, steadying my breaths.

  Riley turned around, and as he started to walk off, he stopped and looked at Delaney. “Next time, you might want to help your boyfriend find his ball.” He snickered behind his hand.

  “Screw you, Riley,” Delaney snapped.

  Riley’s eyes swept over her as a huge grin spread across his face. “We already did, remember?”

  Heat swamped my face, and my hands tightened. “Asshole!” I leaped over the return ramp and grabbed a fistful of Riley’s shirt, pulling him back. I swung, landing a punch in the center of his face. Riley bowed, totally surprised from the hit, but he came back at me, throwing a left hook. I blocked Riley’s arm, but he swung again, this time hitting me in the stomach.