Chapter 44--Bowling

*Amber*

This is exhilarating.

The look on Emily’s face. The way her cheeks redden as her eyes are fixed on me. It sends waves of satisfaction cascading through me. And not only that, but also the way Ryan’s large arms are wrap around my waist in such a protective manner.

It sends shivers down my spine.

“I-I see,” Emily stammers as her eyes fall to the ground. “Very well then, I will take my leave.”

And with that, Emily marches down the hallway, he stilettos clicking as she goes and a feeling of utter satisfaction settling deep within me. I let out a sigh from my nostrils as a smile plays on my lips.

But as Emily disappears down the hallway, I suddenly become hyper aware of the distance between Ryan and I, rather absence of personal space between us. His hands grip my waist even tighter, causing my breath to hitch in my throat.

“She’s finally gone,” Ryan breathes, his breath grazing my cheek.

I try to stop myself from turning red, but clearly, it is impossible. Slowly, I feel Ryan’s arm slip away from my waist, and it almost feels like he is reluctant to let me go. Ryan’s gaze turns to me and there is a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Do you like bowling?”

I blink at him rapidly, unsure of why he was asking me about bowling all of a sudden.

“Bowling? I’ve never gone bowling before.”

“Perfect,” he grinned. “We’ll go bowling, right now.”

My eyes widen as my mouth gaped open. “Why are we going bowling right now?”

Ryan cocks and eyebrow at me. “Well, I figured you might be uncomfortable staying here all day, so I thought going out on a little fun date would be better.”

“Ryan! I wanna go bowling!” Ash chants as he claps his tiny hands together.

“Yeah, yeah, we’ll go bowling.” Ryan smirks, his gaze retuning back to me. “So? What do you say?”

A soft chuckle escapes my lips as I nod. “Sure, bowling does sound like fun.”

Ash squeals and his cheerfulness seems to light up the tension that had settled in the air.

“Alright, let’s all get ready.”

***

Taking a deep breath, I pause to examine my appearance, smoothing down the fabric of the dress I’ve chosen for the occasion.

The dress is a deep shade of sapphire blue, hugging my curves delicately before flowing down in a graceful A-line silhouette. The silky material caresses my skin, and the low-cut neckline adds a touch of allure. The skirt ends just above my knees, revealing a pair of matching blue heels that elongate my legs.

Turning to the side, I adjust the thin straps, ensuring they sit comfortably on my shoulders.

I run my fingers through my hair, smoothing out any stray locks before securing it in an elegant updo. Soft tendrils frame my face, accentuating my features and adding a touch of romance to my look. A hint of pink blush adorns my cheeks, and my lips are painted in a subtle shade of rose, emphasizing their natural shape.

I take one more look at myself in the mirror, when a knock comes on the door, drawing my attention away from my reflection. I walk up to the door and I open it to find Ryan standing there, looking incredibly handsome in his jeans and a casual shirt.

How can this man be so breathtaking in any outfit?

I look down my his side and see Ash, all bubbly in his casual outfit that matches Ryan’s.

“Are you ready?” Ryan asks.

I nod, feeling a jitter of excitement course through my veins.

***

I step out of the car, taking in the sight of the bustling bowling alley before me. The neon lights and the sound of crashing pins fill the air, creating an atmosphere of excitement. Beside me, Ryan steps out as well, reaching into the back seat to unbuckle Ash. His laughter rings out as he squirms in his seat, clearly eager to start the morning.

“Are you ready for some bowling, buddy?” Ryan asks, a wide grin on his face. Ash nods vigorously, his messy hair bouncing with each movement. I can’t help but smile at the scene before me.

“Alright, let’s do this!” I say, trying to match Ash’s enthusiasm.

I step in place beside Ryan and we walk into the large colourfully lit building.

Inside the bowling alley, the sound of rolling balls and friendly banter fills the air. Ryan guides us to a vacant lane, helping Ash into a pair of rented bowling shoes. Ash’s excitement is palpable, and I can’t help but feel a surge of joy seeing him so happy. Ryan looks up at me, his eyes softening.

“You ready, Amber?” he asks, extending his hand towards me. I hesitate for a moment, then place my hand in his, feeling a jolt of electricity shoot through me. Ryan’s touch is warm, his palm rough against mine, and I try to ignore the way my heart races in response.

“Yeah, let’s do this,” I reply, swallowing the nervous lump in my throat. We take our positions at the lane, and Ryan shows me how to hold the ball, guiding my hands gently. His touch lingers longer than necessary, and I catch a hint of a smile on his lips before he releases me.

“I hope you’re up for some friendly competition.”

I grin, feeling a playful spirit rising within me. “Oh, you’re on. Just be prepared to lose.”

Ryan chuckles and ruffles my hair gently, causing my heart to skip a beat. “When you can barely pick up the ball? We’ll see about that,” he says teasingly.

I turn my gaze to the bowling alley and listen to Ryan’s voice as he speaks.

“Okay, now just aim for the pins and let it roll,” he instructs, his voice gentle and encouraging. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and release the ball. It rolls down the lane, hitting the pins with a satisfying crash. I turn to Ryan, a mix of surprise and triumph on my face, and he grins at me.

“Nice one, but your posture is wrong,” Ryan says as he moves closer to me again.

I pick up another ball and face the lane when I feel Ryan’s breath on the back of neck.

“You need to relax your shoulders, there’s a lot of tension in them,” Ryan whispers into my ear as his hands glide along my shoulder blade.

Involuntary goose bumps pop up on my skin, and a slow, yet enticing shiver runs down my spine.

“Relax my shoulders, got it,” I breath, a futile attempt to calm to racing heart.

“Good, but your whole body is quite stiff too.”

I feel Ryan’s hands move from my shoulders and expertly glide down to my waist. I flinch, the bowling ball falling out of my hands. I snap my head back, my eyes wide as I gaze at Ryan, who is shooting me a mischievous smile.

“Seems like your posture is fine now, why don’t you try again?” He grins.

From the way his eyes are gleaming it obvious that he is doing all of this intentionally. I exhale and pick up the ball again, ignoring the way my heart pounds against my chest.