Page 119 of Bid For Me
Today, though, we’re at a bowling alley, Seb’s arm slung over my shoulder as we wait our turn. The smell of popcorn and stale beer fills the air, the buzz of conversations around us blends with the sound of balls crashing into pins. I’m dressed casually, in jeans and a sweater, and Seb can’t stop looking at my arse, much to my amusement.
“Okay, okay, just watch me,” Seb says, stepping up to the lane, clearly confident.
I raise an eyebrow, leaning against the wall. “You’re going down, Sterling-Knight.”
He grins over his shoulder. “Oh, I don’t think so, love.”
My heart flutters at the term of endearment slipping so easily from his lips.
His first ball slides down the lane, a perfect strike. My eyes widen in mock disbelief.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I laugh, shaking my head. “How did you do that?”
“Practice,” he says smugly, tossing me a wink before taking a seat next to me. “It makes perfect, don’t you know?”
I wish I did.
“Yeah, well, I’ll still beat you,” I mutter, stepping up to the lane. My turn comes, and I roll the ball with everything I have, only for it to curve awkwardly and bump into the gutters.
Seb bursts into laughter, and I stick my tongue out at him. “Okay, that was one time. One time. I’m warming up. You’re still going down.”
Metaphorically. I wish you were going down literally.
“You’re cute when you’re competitive,” he says, eyes twinkling. “But you might want to work on your technique.”
Please!
I shake my head but smile at him, taking another deep breath as I line up my next shot. I need to focus. It’s time to get my ballandmy mind out of the gutter.
This time, I manage to get a few pins down, though nowhere near as impressive as Seb’s perfect strike.
We continue like that for a few rounds, teasing each other and laughing, until we finally decide it’s time to call it a night.
My body is thrumming with anticipation. We’ve been flirting and slowly teasing each other all night, and I’m sure it’s finally,finallygoing to lead somewhere.
As we walk out of the bowling alley, Seb nudges me. “So, what’s next on our list of adventures?”
I smile, feeling that familiar warmth spread through my chest. “How about something…creative?”
Seb nods. “Sounds perfect.”
Later in the week, we take a cookery class together. It’s a beginner’s pasta-making class, and as soon as we walk in, I’m greeted by the smell of fresh herbs and garlic. Seb and I are paired together, and I love how he’s so willing to let me take the lead, teaching him how to knead the dough and roll it into thin sheets.
“Your pasta skills need a little work,” I tease, but his eyes are warm with affection as I show him how to handle the dough properly.
I’m grateful for how patient he is in our relationship, for how he guides me without making me feel like a total novice, and it’s nice to be able to return that for once.
At one point, he accidentally spills flour all over the counter, and we just laugh, grabbing a dish towel to wipe it up.
“You’re adorable when you’re messy,” he says, brushing some flour off my cheek.
“Thanks, I think.” I laugh, wiping my hands on my apron. “But we better not burn the kitchen down with this pasta.”
After a lot of laughter, a little chaos, and some seriously questionable attempts on his part at making ravioli, we finally sit down to enjoy our meal together as the final part of the class. Hispasta isn’t perfect, but it’s our perfect mess, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Next up is roller skating, a date idea Seb suggested because he’s been raving about it since we started talking about trying new things together. At first, I’m skeptical. I’ve never been roller skating before, ever, and I really don’t like the idea of trying to stay balanced on four wheels. I much prefer the ice.
“Trust me, Elle, it’ll be fun,” Seb says, squeezing my hand as we step onto the roller rink.