“It’s not worth it to me. I’ve tried.” Her last two words are spoken so low I don’t know if she realizes she’s said them out loud.
My mind flits to what I know about her past relationship, and I realize I don’t know much, really. I get the sense the guy was a bad dude. At the thought of someone hurting Noli, something deep in the core of my chest cavity aches. I open my mouth, not sure what I’m going to say to her but wanting to say something about how she deserves love. How she should give it another chance. But she speaks first.
“Anyway, is this where we’re going?” Noli bobs her head toward the bowling alley’s neonopensign.
I clear my throat. “Yep. This is it. How’s your bowling game, Kasper?”
“I’m a little rusty,” Noli says, stepping out of the car and slamming the door. It rattles against the chill of the night air.
“Never fear. I’m happy to teach you all my tricks.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her. If I can get her back to a place where she’ll go toe-to-toe with me in a verbal sparring match, then maybe I can salvage our evening—and our arrangement.
“I’m terrified,” Noli deadpans.
I laugh and reach for her hand. I consider it a small win that she doesn’t yank it away.
We walk inside, and I make eye contact with Tim, the owner of Coveside Lanes, who also serves as the bartender.
“Officer Rattler.” Tim greets me with a grin. “And…a lady friend.” I don’t miss the surprise in his tone.
Noli steps forward and holds out her hand. “Noli Kasper. I’m sure it’s tough to keep us all straight.” She shoots me a grim smile.
Tim, bless him, laughs out loud, and Noli pulls up short. She looks between the two of us, her brow knit with confusion.
I shake my head, but Tim fills in the blanks. “Actually, you’re the first woman I’ve ever seen in here with m’boy Collin.”
“Really?” Noli’s tone drips with disbelief.
“Cross my heart.” Tim traces an X over his chest. “In any case, lovely to meet you, Ms. Kasper.”
“Likewise,” Noli replies, sounding less sure of herself.
“What can I get for you guys? The usual?” Tim asks when his gaze pings to mine.
“Spotted Cow in a bottle. Thanks, Tim.” I put my hand on Noli’s back and shift her forward. “And whatever this one would like.”
“That sounds good to me too.”
“Coming right up. What about shoes?”
We give Tim our shoe sizes, and he puts two pairs on the worn counter. As soon as he hands over our beers, we collect everything and move to the far lane. The alley is all but deserted.
Noli glances at me out of the corner of her eye as she laces up her shoes. I wish I could tell what she’s thinking. I wish I knew what to say to her, but it seems like the one woman I can’t charm is the same one I’m in a fake relationship with.
She stands and heads toward the shelves of bowling balls. “What’s the story here?”
“What do you mean?” I tie off my laces and join her, searching for the perfectly weighted ball.
“You come here a lot?”
“A decent amount, I guess. Why?”
Instead of answering my question, she lobs one back in my direction. “Just not with any otherlady friends?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“Actually, yeah.” She meets my gaze with a challenging look of her own.
“I think you have the wrong impression of me.”
