So, apparently it wasn’t just me who thought it was disgusting. Maybe I’m not that drunk after all.
“Much better!” I smile, avoiding the fact that I have no clue what he is talking about.
The name of the beer was Beast?
“Whatever–that shit costs half the price of that,” Matt chimes in, pointing to the beers in our hands.
“I’d never be able to tell,” I joke sarcastically.
“Don’t you worry, Babe. I’ll make sure you’ve got your own special stash of the more expensive stuff at my house from now on,” Matt responds with a wink.
Hot flash!
Babe? Trust me, I didn’t miss the sweetheart from earlier. It was enough to make me a swoon worthy mess, but now babe? I think I may have just died and gone to heaven.
There’s no denying the boundaries of friendship that we’re pushing at this point, and I’m hoping that the direction we’re heading in has a no return policy. The way Matt makes me feel and the way he is acting towards me tonight...I don’t think I could ever go back to just online buddies. I’ve been waiting for what feels like forever to have Matt look at me the way he is, and I think I’d be heartbroken and destroyed if it all came to a sudden halt.
Lost for words, I just give him an appreciative smile instead. Very seldom do I not have something to say, but right now is definitely one of those rare moments. I’m tongue-tide and in total awe of Matt. He does things that brings out parts of me that I never even knew existed. To say that I’m falling for him, is not even a question. I think I’ve been falling for Matt since day one, but now I’m realizing that I may stand a chance. For so long I didn’t think there was a chance in hell that Matthew Jacobs would ever go for someone like me, but I’m starting to believe that it may be possible. How? I have no frickin clue, but that’s not something I’m going to dwell on. Matthew Jacobs is showing interest in me and I’m going with it.
Although my heart is pounding and the butterflies are alive and crazy, I ignore the need to do cartwheels at my new revelation and put on a cocky smirk as I walk past Matt to pick up my ball. Time to show him how girls like me can kick guys ass in bowling. Little does he know I was in a youth bowling league until I was twelve. Obviously, it’s not something I go bragging to just anyone about, but my father was–and still is–a huge bowler and almost demanded that I at least try it out at a very young age. I was actually pretty good, and since I didn’t really have anything better to do, I stuck with it. However, when the most popular girl in my school, Holly, started dating one of my father’s friend’s son and saw me there, she made me sound like the biggest loser to the whole school because I did something as awful and dorky as participate in a bowling league.
I’m guessing you are probably noticing when my hate for stuck up bitches commenced and when I got my first detention for it. Yup, Holly Richardson learned from that day on that I don’t take shit from anyone, including popular stuck up bitches like her.
Although it’s been years since I’ve picked up a bowling ball, it’s kind of like riding a bike–something you’d never forget how to do. Holding the ball up near my face, I line my feet up on the correct markings and take my first few steps towards the pins. Releasing the ball feels as smooth as it did years ago and before I know it, all ten pins fall down.
Yes!
“You’ve got to be shittin’ me?” Matt blurts out with a surprised look on his face as I turn around with a huge grin, making my way back towards them.
“You thought I was joking?” I respond with a smirk as I arrogantly walk past him, taking a seat next to Summer.
“I love it!” Summer shouts, giving me a high five. “Watch out, boys. My partner’s awesome!”
Collin looks at Matt surprised, warranting a laugh from me at how shocked they really are, but Matt just looks at him with a grin and shrugs his shoulders.
This is going to be fun!
Nine frames and two beers later, I have yet to miss a pin. Even though I’ve had a couple of perfect games in my day I’m shocked that I’m doing this well, especially under the circumstances. To say that I’m nervous walking up to grab my ball getting ready for the tenth and final frame is an understatement. At this point it’s not about kicking the boy’s asses anymore because I’ve already clearly done that. It’s the anxiety of bowling a perfect game again. Regardless of how old I am, or how nerdy bowling is, bowling a perfect game is pretty damn exciting whichever way you look at it.
“Go get ‘em, Babe,” Matt whispers in my ear, gently tapping my butt.
Nothing like breaking my concentration.
Throughout the whole game, Matt has continued to make my blood boil with desire and my heart throb with emotion. We’ve come so close to kissing a handful of times that I’m actually surprised it hasn’t happened yet.
“Thanks,” I smile back, feeling my cheeks warm from either the alcohol or having him that close to me. I’m going to go with both.
After grabbing my ball and lining up my feet, I take a deep breath and make my way towards the pins. Letting the ball fall freely from my hand, I watch it glide down the middle of the lane, just slightly to the right of the head pin and exactly where it needs to be. Low and behold, soon after making contact, all ten pins fall down.
Not being able to hold back, I jump up and down, clapping my hands with excitement. I laugh, seeing the expression on all three of their faces–they’re sitting on the same pins and needles that I am.
Walking back toward the ball return, I hover my hand over the fan to cool it down from any perspiration forming on it. Being the tenth frame, I still have two more attempts before declaring a perfect game so my nerves are flowing as I stand there and wait for my ball.
Matt comes up behind me and places his hands on my shoulders. My body instantly relaxes under his touch as I close my eyes and take in how wonderful it feels having him this close to me. I’m expecting him to say some encouraging words before I go back up to the line, but instead he just stands behind me gently massaging my shoulders.
Seeing my ball shoot up from the return, I glance back at Matt and give him a quick smile over my shoulder before stepping out of his embrace and picking up my ball. He gives me the same gentle tap on my butt as before and whispers “you got this,” before I walk up to the markings. Using my same form as before, I release the ball and I’m awarded with another strike.
You’ve got to be kidding me!
I’m jumping with joy again.
This time as I walk back to the return I’m basically shitting my pants, completely freaked out that if I bowl another strike I’ll have a perfect game. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be bowling a perfect game tonight. Sure, I thought I’d bowl a few strikes and do pretty well. I didn’t even know if I actually could beat him since it’s been so long, but holy hell, I’m one ball away from bowling a perfect game with the guy I dream about beside me. I’m pretty sure I can chalk this day up as being pretty frickin awesome.
My nerves are so out of control as I wait for the ball to pop up that I contemplate wimping out and stopping. I just bowled eleven straight strikes and all I need is one stinkin’ more. The pressure is so unbelievable that I have to laugh at myself for freaking out this much over a frickin bowling game. But what really throws me–and sends every last nerve I have off the charts–is that instead of coming up behind me, Matt stands in front of me and cups my cheeks with his hands.
“You are so fucking hot right now,” he whispers, only inches away from my face.
Wait. What? Did he just tell me that I’m hot? Like, sexy hot?
Swallowing back the knot that has just magically appeared in my throat, I respond with the only thing I can think of.
“Huh?”
“I’ve never seen anyone do this before, and the fact that it’s you doing it…total turn on,” he answers with the sexiest grin I think I’ve ever seen.
Holy fucking Mother Theresa! He did NOT just say that me bowling a perfect game is a turn on!
“Um…” I say again, trying to swallow down the knot that doesn’t seem to want to go away. “I, uh…” I continue, desperately searching for the right response, but I’m speechless. Tongue tied and in awe, again.
Thankfully my ball pops up from the return, breaking the intense, panty-wetting stare that Matt is giving me.
“Go get’em, Babe,” he whispers before kissing my forehead.
I’m secretly thanking god that he didn’t just kiss me on the lips. Even though I’m longing to have his mouth on mine, doing it right before I’m about to bowl a perfect game would throw me completely off and I wouldn’t be surprised if I totally wiffed and threw my ball in the gutter. That is, if I was even capable of making it up to the line. I can only imagine the way my body is going to react when I finally have those perfectly cushioned lips against mine.
Just as I did the last few times I pick up my ball, line myself up with the markers, take a deep breath and let the ball fall smoothly off my fingers. Unlike the last eleven times, the ball glides a tiny bit more to the right. My whole body freezes and everything goes into slow motion as I wait to see if it’s too far over to be a strike. Once the ball connects with the pins they all slowly fall, except for the tenth pin in the back right corner that is teetering back and forth. My body naturally tilts to the right, mimicking the way I want the pin to fall. I feel like if I just blow on it slightly it’d probably fall over. Finally, after what feels like hours, it falls just as the bar to clear the other pins drops down.
Before I can even grasp what just happened, I feel a large body come up behind me and swoop me up into his arms. At the same time, I feel his soft plump lips push hard against mine.
Holy shit, we’re kissing!
Just as I imagined, his mouth feels like heaven pressed against mine and I’m thankful that he’s holding me because I’m sure I’d have collapsed if I was standing. Even though I was pretty sure my nerves would be running wild and the butterflies on high alert when this moment finally happened, I can’t feel any of it because my body is completely numb.
Pulling his lips away from mine, but still close enough where I can feel his breath on my face, he softly whispers, “That was so frickin amazing.”
I’m not sure what he’s referencing, the perfect game I bowled or the kiss we just shared. Even though bowling a perfect game is frickin amazing as hell, I’d pick our kiss ten times over if asked which felt better.
Chapter 11
After an hour of celebration and an endless amount of congratulatory beers provided by the random townies in the bowling alley–which, by the way, I shared with Collin and Summer, it’s already ten-thirty and flirting with Matt’s curfew. Returning our shoes, and getting a few more pats on the back from people I’ve never seen before, we make our way back out to Collin’s car. The mood going home is much different from the mood when coming. Matt can’t seem to stop staring at me with the most ridiculously adorable grin, Collin, Summer, and I are a little louder than necessary due to the amount of alcohol we’ve consumed, and my questionable thoughts about where Matt and I stand are clearly a question of the past–especially after our mesmerizing kiss that was followed by a few others. If cloud nine really does exist, I’m sitting there very comfortably at the moment.
Even though I know Matt has a big game tomorrow and his coach will be checking in on him soon, my stomach knots when I realize we’ve passed the road that leads to Matt’s house and are heading in the direction of the dorms. I’m aware that every day eventually comes to an end, but today is one that I wish would go on forever. There’s no denying the doubt I feel–that tomorrow I’ll wake up and everything will be back to normal, like this day never really happened. Although I’m starting to believe it’s a possibility, especially after tonight, the thought of having a real relationship with Matthew Jacobs still seems insane and out of the question.
Pulling up outside my building, Matt puts the car in park and gets out of his side to meet me on mine. Grabbing my hand and making my heart race, he walks me to the entrance of my dorm.
“Thanks for tonight,” Matt says once we come to a stop outside the door. He positions himself in front of me, holding my hips with his hands. “For everything,” he adds with a grin.
My head races with all the things he could be thanking me for; meeting Collin and Summer at his house, our kiss, the wonderful night. The list goes on and on–at least for me it does.
“Of course,” I respond, looking up at him with heartfelt eyes.
“I’ve gotta be down at the field early, but the game doesn’t start until noon so it’s up to you guys when you want to head down there.”
I smile. “I’ll text Collin in the morning. Don’t worry about us.”
Without responding, he looks in my eyes for a few more seconds before leaning down and softly kissing my lips. It’s not as intense as our first, but sends an overwhelming warmth of emotion throughout my body, making me go limp in his hands.
“Goodnight, Leah,” Matt whispers against my lips.
“Goodnight,” I whisper back, still unable to open my eyes.
Even though I can’t see it, I can feel the grin I know is plastered across his face. Giving me one more kiss on the forehead, he drops his hands from my hips and I open my eyes to watch him walk away.
Letting out the breath I’ve apparently been holding, I bite my lower lip to try and control my excitement. Once he gets back to the car, he turns slightly and gives me the smile that makes my heart flutter and my body go weak. Even if this has all been a dream, it’s been the best damn dream of my life and one that I will never forget.
Waking up to the now familiar chime on my phone–and a god-awful pounding in my head–I check the screen to see who has texted me and smile.
Even though my stomach feels about ready to hurl from all the alcohol sitting in my gut, the butterflies are on high alert as I read his message over and over again.
After responding, I get a little shock of nervous anxiety. Today is one of the most important days for a Cortland football player, and even though Matt seemed unaffected by the upcoming game last night, I know he has to be nervous today.
Although I’m still sitting on that cloud of happiness from last night, I’m instantly freaked about the thought of sitting in the family section. Am I going to be meeting his family today? Do they go to all his games? I’m sure this wouldn’t be one they’d miss.
Holy shit, I’m going to meet his family today!
Throwing my pillow over my head to not only shade out the light that’s making my head ache even more, but to hide myself from the world and reality that I’m meeting Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs in just a couple hours, too.
Ahhhhhhhh…
“What’s got your panties in a bunch?” I hear Kayla ask from her side of the room.
“Nothing. I’ve just got a headache,” I answer in a grumpy tone, the pillow still over my head.
I know that if I get into the whole Matt and me situation with her, and then add the meeting his parents today on top of that, I’ll get that ridiculously high pitched squeal she always does when she’s excited. But what I know will come next and sure to make me scratch my eyes out of their sockets, is the makeover she’ll insist on doing. This in return will equal me looking like a ninety-nine cent hooker. Although I’ve yet to let her come anywhere close to trying it, I’ve seen it happen to another poor soul that was stupid enough to give into her. So keeping Kayla in the dark about Matt for as long as possible is the plan I’m going with to save my eardrums, and my pride.
“Are you hungover, Leah Bennett?” She asks like she struck gold. I can only imagine how far out of her head her eyes are bulging.
“I may have had a few beers last night,” I admit.
“Holy shit-balls! Has hell frozen over?” she asks, still shocked.
Actually yes. Hell has frozen over, but not for the reason you’re thinking.
She starts with the twenty-one questions. “Where did you go? Who did you go out with?�
��
Fearing my head will explode, I throw my pillow at her, grab my bathrobe and shower caddy, and start for the door.
“Seriously? I’ve been trying to get you out since we got here and you finally go out and get drunk, and I don’t even get details?”
“Nope,” I dryly respond, opening the door to go take a shower.
“Ugh. Not fair, Leah!” she shouts out after me.
Stepping in front of one of the mirrors, I almost gasp at the person looking back at me.
I look like shit!
My face is as pale as a ghost and the circles under my eyes are so pronounced that I look like I’ve been punched. Even though I’m not much of a make-up wearer, I’m thinking today may be the exception.
After scrubbing my face clean and brushing the cotton ball taste from my mouth, I take a nice warm shower, ridding myself of the gross bowling alley smell coating my skin and hair. Stepping out of the shower, I already feel less disgusting and more like a person. My headache is still lingering, but nothing a little Motrin can’t fix.
“Your phone has been beeping like crazy,” Kayla notifies me as soon as I walk in the door.
My stomach flutters, hoping one of the beeps is from Matt, but noticing the time on the clock it’s already 10:30 a.m. so I highly doubt any are from him. Putting my dirty clothes in the hamper and my caddy back in my closet, I pick up my cellphone to see three missed text messages waiting for me. Opening them up, I have two from Collin and one from Matt.
Yay, Matt!
Of course, I click on his first.
He got me a shirt?
Weird as that may be, at least I don’t have to worry about picking out something to wear today. I’m hoping Matt knows me well enough that he wouldn’t choose anything crazy for me to wear, so I’m going to trust him that it’s something suitable for my wardrobe.
I click on the messages from Collin.
Holy shit, 11 a.m.?
Noticing the lack of time I have, I text back a quick, “Yup, that’s fine.” before throwing a t-shirt and jeans on. Grabbing my blow dryer, I quickly dry my hair and apply some cover-up under my eyes, and mascara on my eyelashes. Doing a quick look in the mirror, I decide this will have to do.
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