by Ann McCune
“Tiffany, shouldn’t you get back to work?” I asked, standing behind her.
She looked over her shoulder at me and rolled her eyes. “I was off ten minutes ago. I was just asking Shawn if he wanted to go to a senior party with me later.”
“And I was telling her that I’m not a senior and I’m with you, so she should go and have fun.” Shawn rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“Well, if you change your mind here’s my number.” She slid a folded piece of paper toward him and took a step back.
“Don’t worry, I won’t.” He stood leaving the paper with her phone number on the table and moved to the other side of the booth. He took my coat off the hook and held it for me to put on. I had never had anyone help me put my coat on before, it was weird.
Tiffany flung her hair out of her face and stomped off to the back room.
“Thanks, sorry she’s such a bitch,” I said, turning to him, and watching as he put his coat on.
“It’s okay, every school has a girl who thinks she can have whoever she wants.” He zipped his coat up and we walked to the door. He held it open for me and I waited for him on the other side. He took my hand in his and we walked back to his Jeep. It was a cold night. The stars were out, and the moon was casting its eerie glow over town. It reminded me of the opening credits for a horror movie.
Shawn stopped abruptly, I was jerked back and almost ran into his chest before he caught me. I looked up to apologize, but before I could form the words his lips landed on mine. I instinctively kissed him back as sparks zinged through my body and my arms went around him. After a moment, I pulled back, blushing, and looked around, maybe the moonlight didn’t remind me of a horror story, but one of those romance movies on the Hallmark channel instead.
“Wow,” I mumbled, looking everywhere but at him.
“No kidding.” He took my hand again and we walked to his Jeep.
CHAPTER 13
We went through the doors of the bowling alley and were immediately surrounded by the sounds of balls rolling down the lanes, colliding with pins, and pins falling to the wood floor. We went to the counter and rented shoes. I paid for the first game without Shawn catching on until it was too late. He went to the snack bar and got us drinks while I started looking for my favorite ball.
There were a lot of kids from school there, I said hi to a few of them before finding the eight-pound, lime-green ball I loved to use. I went to our lane, put my ball in the return slot and sat in one of the chairs to change my shoes. I had never been so happy to put on ugly bowling shoes as I was then. My feet were killing me from wearing my mom’s heels.
Shawn put the drinks on the table, sat next me, pulled his shoes off, and went to work putting the bowling shoes on.
“Why do you think they make bowling shoes the ugliest shoes known to man?” he asked, tying his laces.
“I think it’s so you are less likely to steal them, or if you do they will be able to find you by the color.” I laughed and went to the computer to enter our names.
“So, what are we playing for?” Shawn asked when the pins finished resetting indicating a new game was ready to go.
“Who said we were playing for anything?” I loved a good challenge, but he could be part of the three hundred club for all I knew.
“I did. Hmm, let’s see.” He picked up his ball, lined up with the arrows in the floor, took two steps forward, brought his arm back, and hurled the ball down the alley toward the pins. I watched as all the pins fell with a crash. “How about, if I win you go to prom with me.”
I wanted to go out with him again, but prom? I didn’t even know if I wanted to go. “I don’t know, prom isn’t really my thing.” I asked as he waited for his ball to be return, so he could throw his second shot. “You will have to give me something really good in return.”
He picked his ball up when it came out and lined up again. I wasn’t sure if he was ignoring me or concentrating on the pins at the other end of the alley. He took three steps then launched the ball over the oil wood. He waited and watched as the ball tore down the lane hitting the front pin at the perfect angel forcing all the pins to fall down.
I went to give him a high five, but before I knew what was happening he was pulling me into his arms and squeezing me tight.
“I need a hug when I get a strike. You’re my good luck charm.” He whispered in my ear before letting go.
Blushing and speechless I picked up my ball, found my spot on the floor, lined up and threw the ball at the pins. I hit the center pin at the perfect angle and the domino effect knocked all the pins down. I put my hands in the air in victory as I waited for my ball to come back and the pins to reset. My second throw was just as good as my first and I walked back to the chairs with my hands in the air again. Shawn pulled me into another hug and swung me around so fast my feet left the ground.
“Shawn, put me down. You’re crazy.” My arms were locked tight around him. I didn’t really want to let him go.
After swinging me around a few more times he put me down and I looked around. Almost everyone in the alley had stopped what they were doing to watch us. It was going to be a pain dating in this town, I thought to myself feeling my cheeks redden. “As I was saying, what do I get if I win?”
“What do you want?” he asked, taking his ball, and getting ready to throw it.
I thought about it. What did I want from him? Well I wouldn’t mind another kiss, but I could do better. Before I could answer him, his ball rolled down the alley hitting half the pins and he turned with a frown on his face. “You can’t get them all every time,” I said, giving him a smile. “If I win, I get to drive your Jeep when the ground is ready for some real four-wheeling.”
He looked at the floor then back to me, from the look he was giving me he didn’t let anyone drive his Jeep. “Deal.” He blew out a breath as his ball came back through the receiver. He picked it up, lined up, and threw the ball. It arched over to the far side of the lane, almost falling in the gutter before it turned and hit the remaining pins.
I gave him a high five for the spare. “You only get a hug for strikes,” I said, passing him by and picking up my ball.
I lined up and was just about to let go of the ball when Shawn yelled, “Miss it,” but it was too late, the ball left my fingers and raced down the wood hitting the front pin straight on, and only knocking the pins in the middle down. Now I was stuck with a split.
“Do you really want to play dirty?” I asked, walking back to the receiver, and waiting for my ball to come back.
“What do you mean play dirty? I didn’t say anything.” He looked around frantically then pointed at the group next to us. “It was them.”
“Right.” I picked my ball up and went back to the line. I rolled the ball down the lane as close to the gutter as I could, hoping it wouldn’t fall in. I held my breath until it hit the outside edge of the pin. It whipped across the lane and hit the other two pins. I jumped up and down. “Do I get extra points for that?”
“No way.” He laughed and gave me a high five before picking his ball up.
“What do you do for fun when you aren’t betting on bowling?” I asked, sitting down in my chair, and watching him line up.
“Fun? I play some video games, but I like to be outside. I love to trail run, mountain bike, and swim. I don’t get much free time though.” He rolled the ball down the lane and did a fist pump when he threw a strike. He waited for his ball to come back and threw the ball a second time hitting half the pins.
I got up to give him his hug. “How come?”
He let go of me and took a seat. “If I’m not at school or studying, I’m training.”
“Training?” I asked, not understanding as I picked up my ball and lined up.
“Yeah, for my job.”
I threw my ball toward the pins, but his comment caught me off guard and my ball went straight into the gutter. I forgot he wasn’t a typical guy.
“Hey, what happened?” he asked, watching my
ball roll down the gutter.
“I just forgot you’re not a typical teenager.” I put my hands on my hips and blew out a breath.
“I am, I just have this other thing I’m part of.” His voice was low, and he stared at the ground as he spoke, almost like he was ashamed of what he did.
“We don’t have to talk about it if it upsets you,” I said.
“I want you to know, but let’s talk about it later. I don’t want to talk about work anymore. It might distract me from beating you.” I picked up my ball as he took my seat to watch.
“Deal.” I looked at the pins at the end of the alley. “Now I’m really behind.” I rolled the ball down the lane and this time bowled a spare.
We continued playing and flirting. I was having a great time. Shawn was easy to talk to, and the nervousness that plagued me from the beginning of the night had completely disappeared. I won the first game by a few points and he immediately called for two out of three.
Shawn ended up winning the second round by the same margin. He looked at his watch and sighed. “We better go. I don’t want to get you home late on our first date.”
I looked at my watch. We had a half hour before I needed to be home. I wasn’t ready for the night to end, but I didn’t want to test my parents. “Okay, but, what do we do about the bet?” I pulled my bowling shoes off and forced my feet into the heels.
“We will have to postpone it.” With an evil grin on his face he sat next to me and started to change his shoes. “But, if I were you, I would make sure you have a dress for prom.”
“Really?” I blushed, hiding my face behind my hair as I zipped my boot up. “If I win the bet what would I need a dress for? I’d hate to waste the money.”
“I think you’ll need it, no matter what.” With his shoes on he retrieved our balls and put them away.
I stood, still blushing. Was he so sure I would agree to go with him? Who was I kidding? I was secretly hoping he would ask me. With both my boots on, I picked up our bowling shoes and took them to the counter.
“Hi, Carol,” I said, to one of the owners. She was in her late sixties, with long silver hair falling around her shoulders. I put our shoes on the counter and gave her a smile.
“Hi, Liz, did you and your date have a good time?” she asked, taking our shoes, and setting them on the counter against the wall.
“Yeah, it was really fun,” I said as my face heated up with a blush again.
“He’s a tall drink of water. Where did you find him?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
“What?” I didn’t understand what she meant. “He’s new in town.”
“Oh, is he living up in the mansion?”
“Yep.” Shawn came up beside me and put his arm around my shoulder. “Shawn, this is Carol, one of the owners, Carol, this is Shawn Ericson.”
“Nice to meet you, Shawn,” she cooed, giving him a good once-over.
“You too,” he said, shuffling from foot to foot.
“Carol, we better get home before I break curfew. We will see you around.” I took Shawn’s hand and pulled him toward the door.
“Drive safe, sweetie. Shawn, I’m sure we will see each other again soon.”
“Was she hitting on me?” he asked, as we walked toward the door.
“I think she was just flirting, she’s been married for fifty years.” I laughed at his discomfort.
“I feel dirty, I need a shower. I don’t think I have ever been checked out so blatantly by a woman that old.”
“I’m sure you have. They just weren’t as in your face about it.” I giggled.
“Please stop, I don’t know how much more I can take.” Shawn opened the door to his Jeep for me, I climbed in then put my seat belt on while he walked around to his side. He got in, started the Jeep, and put his seatbelt on before putting it into drive and pulling out of the parking lot.
“That was really fun. Thank you,” I said, looking out the window as we drove through town.
“It was. Thanks for going out with me.” He took my hand, laced his fingers with mine, squeezed them then rested our clasped hands on my leg.
Butterflies erupted in my stomach again and I squeezed back. “What are you doing for the rest of the weekend?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
“I’m on duty tonight and I have training for most of the day tomorrow. Sunday I’m studying with a beautiful girl. What are you doing?”
“Going car shopping with my dad tomorrow since mine was totaled. Then studying on Sunday with some guy. He seems nice, but I’m not sure if he’s my type.”
“Really, why isn’t he your type?” he asked, not believing a word I said and squeezing my hand.
“That’s easy, I’ve never had a type.” I smirked and squeezed his hand back. When we pulled off the paved road I let go of his hand. “Will you please put both hands on the wheel?” I was acting neurotic. I needed to get over my fear of hitting another moose, but I could not seem to get a grip on my anxiety.
“Sure, I get it.” He put his hand on the steering wheel.
I let out a breath at his understanding. I was afraid a moose was going to jump out in front us at any moment. Sensing my paranoia, we drove in silence until we pulled into the driveway of my house. “Sorry, I need to get over this.”
He put the Jeep in park. “It’s alright, I would probably be the same way if I went through what you did.”
“Thank you for understanding.” I undid my seat belt and opened the door.
“What are you doing?” I asked, watching him open his door while I was halfway out of the Jeep.
“Walking you to the door. It’s what dates are supposed to do I think.”
“Oh, alright,” I got out and closed the door, feeling myself blush, again.
He came around to my side of the Jeep, took my hand, and walked me to the door. “I had a really nice time. Will I see you later?” I asked, thinking about my dreams.
“I had a good time too and I want to see you again, but I’m not sure about later tonight. I’m on duty so I’ll probably be out hunting mares.”
“Oh, alright.” I smiled, trying to hide my disappointment.
“If I get done early, I’ll find you.” He squeezed my hand.
“Okay, if I don’t see you, give me a call me tomorrow, and we can set up a time to study on Sunday.”
We arrived at the front door, and he turned to me. “I will be in touch one way or another.” He leaned down and kissed me. Lightning shot through my veins, and I wrapped my arms around his neck and ran my hand through his hair. He pulled away with a smile on his face.
“We have an audience,” he said, looking over my shoulder at the windows.
I took a step back feeling like I was going to explode from embarrassment. I turned and saw my parents watching us from the bay window next to the front door. I gave them a weak wave.
I turned back to Shawn. “I’ll talk to you later.” I turned went inside.
“That was quite a kiss,” Mom said as soon as I closed the door behind me.
“Can’t you mind your own business?” I asked, not really mad, but not thrilled they had been watching.
“You are our business,” Dad said, following me to the closet. I took off my coat and hung it up.
“Did you have a good time?” Mom asked, trailing behind me as I went into the kitchen.
“Yeah, I really did. We ate at The Diner, then went to the bowling alley and played a few games. He’s really fun.”
“Good, did he ask you to prom yet?” Mom sat at the bar watching me as I went to the cabinet and got a glass out.
“No, but I think he might.” I grinned at her and went to the sink to fill up the glass with water.
“So, car shopping this weekend, dress shopping next weekend?” Mom drummed her fingers on the counter, thinking. “It will be a week before prom so maybe we can get your hair and nails done too.”
I stood across from her with the bar between us and gulped the water. “He
didn’t buy you anything to drink?” Dad asked, accusingly when he walked into the kitchen.
“Yes, he did. I’m just thirsty tonight.” I shot an evil glance to my dad. “What is wrong with him?” I asked Mom.
He folded his arms across his chest. “I just have a bad feeling about him.”
“Well, get over it. He was nothing but a gentleman tonight.” I put my glass in the sink.
“We’ll see.” He ran a hand through his hair and let out a breath. “Are we still looking at those Jeeps tomorrow?”
“Yes, I hate not having a car and I’m sure Bob wants me back at work on Monday.”
“Good, I’m going to bed.”
“Night, Dad.” He left the room and I blew out a breath. “I hope he gets over this.”
“He will sweetheart. He has never wanted you to grow up. To him it feels like yesterday you were going to your first day of school.” Mom patted my hand before following him upstairs. I finished my water, turned out the lights and went to bed.
CHAPTER 14
I was driving around in my old Jeep, listening to the radio, the top was off, and the sun was out. I thought I was going home, but I drove past my driveway. It was almost like I was being pulled somewhere. I parked at a pull out just past my house. I got out and followed my favorite hiking trail for about a mile before I realized something was different. Instead of staying on the trail, something pulled me off the main trail and onto a two-track I never noticed before. I wanted to stop, but I continued, as if I had no control over where my legs took me.
The trail led me deep into the forest of twisted pines. It twisted and turned, leading me around the trees that stopped the trail from continuing in a straight line. It felt like they were trying to stop me from going any further.
I shivered and looked around for the goblin who had been haunting my dreams, but I was alone. Completely alone, the normal sounds of the forest: birds chirping, squirrels threatening me when I got too close to their nests, weren’t there. It was like all the animals just disappeared.