It was also nice to see her let loose. Jenna leaned toward me once the food arrived and told me this was the happiest she’d seen Aspen in years.

When I ran into Jenna at the grocery store yesterday, I broached the topic of a double date. She was skeptical of me going out with Aspen after all the torment we caused each other growing up. But when she agreed, I made sure that Betsy, the town gossip, overheard us. I was sure the news would spread like wildfire by the end of the week.

Which was most likely the reason no one was on the lanes closest to ours. Everyone requested lanes on the complete other side, knowing the chaos that surrounded us whenever we were in the same room together back in the day. I was thankful the owners hadn’t grown up in Ashfield with us. They probably wouldn’t have let us into their establishment together at all.

Two rounds, a large pizza, and two pitchers of beer later, we were laughing so much we didn’t notice the group of college-aged kids who took up the lanes close by. There were no colleges in Ashfield, but there was a small private university in the next town over, which catered to kids who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths.

I worried they’d recognize me when a few of the guys started eyeing our lane, so I turned my back to them, unsure if I should suggest ending the game. We were having a great night, and I didn’t want my fame to ruin that. I was used to being noticed, but I knew from my time with Vanessa that not everyone could handle it.

“Everything all right?” Aspen asked as she took the seat beside me, leaning her head on my shoulder.

“Yeah, I just think those frat guys might’ve recognized me. I… uh… just wanted to have some fun, you know?”

Reaching down, she used her right hand to squeeze mine before standing and walking away. I didn’t dare turn around to watch, but I was certain the group was watching her every move. Across the way, Jenna’s attention was on Aspen, which gave me peace of mind.

Suddenly, the entire room was bathed in blackness, before purple-tinted lights clicked on.

Uncontrollable laughter bubbled to the surface, and I bent over to catch my breath. I knew this had to be Aspen’s doing, since I’d seen on a sign that Cosmic Bowling wasn’t until tomorrow evening.

What better way to keep people from recognizing you than to make it dark enough no one could see you? The only thing that stood out was my white Henley shirt and the laces of my clown shoes.

Soon, Aspen was back, and I immediately reached out and pulled her close.

“You’re the fucking best. Thank you,” I told her before I pressed my mouth against hers in a chaste kiss.

She looked a bit surprised when I pulled away, before she mumbled, “You’re welcome. Now… I challenge you to the next round.”

“You’re on.”

An hour later, we left the bowling alley, Derek and I both driving since we limited our beer consumption to two glasses each. I had originally planned on only drinking one, but we stayed until midnight when the bowling alley closed, which was a long-enough time for two beverages.

Jenna gushed about Aspen’s and my new relationship the entire way to the car, and as I settled my date in her seat, her best friend exclaimed she wanted to be the maid-of-honor at our wedding. She was getting a little ahead of herself, but the thought of marrying Aspen didn’t scare me the way it did when it came to Vanessa.

During the drive home, I thought back to my ex and our engagement. I had never actually asked her to marry me. Instead, she wanted to live with me in my house and said we could only move forward like that by getting married.

The next day, she had a ring on her finger that she purchased with my credit card and gushed to everyone that I proposed to her over dinner the night before. I went with it, because I was happy with Vanessa, but looking back, I realized I was merely complacent.

Looking across the car, I caught Aspen’s tipsy smile and returned it. “Have fun?”

“It was the freaking best. How’s your shoulder? I saw you wincing toward the end.”

Damn her for being so observant.

“It’s okay. I probably need to ice it later.”

We exited the car together, something that bothered me more than it should have. I wanted to be the one to open her door for her. When we reached her porch, I hoped she would ask me inside, but I also didn’t want to overstep. Everything we were doing was fake, and even though I spent the night with her… twice, it was because of unforeseen circumstances.

Bugs danced around the porch light next to the door, buzzing whenever they got too close to the heat.

I pulled Aspen into the shadows. “I had fun tonight.”

Smiling up at me, she replied, “Me too, even if it was all for show.”

“Yeah,” I agreed in jest. None of it felt like a show, and it was only the first date. “Maybe on the next one, we’ll go to a cricket farm or something.”

She reminded me of a tarsier, with her eyes widening and pupils shrinking to the size of a pinpoint.

“You do not joke about that.”

Chuckling, my body shook, jostling my sore shoulder. One stupid tweak while I was showing off at the bowling alley, and now I was worried about my throwing arm. It had been worth it though.

“Sorry. I couldn’t resist.”

“Well, goodnight, Owen.”

“Goodnight, Aspen.”

I followed after she stepped over to the door, walked inside, and closed it behind her. I stood at the threshold, contemplating my next move.

The light on the porch clicked off either due to the timer or Aspen flipping a switch, and I took that as my cue to leave.

Only… I didn’t want to go back to my rental. Not yet, at least. I reached for the knob and twisted. The door was still unlocked. “Fuck it.”

Once I opened the door, there she was… waiting.

Chapter Eleven – Aspen

My entire body shook as I contemplated rushing back out to flag Owen down. I was so new to dating that I didn’t know the etiquette for first dates and the bases, but I knew I wanted more from him. The kisses we shared earlier were just a taste of our chemistry, and I needed another. I was hungry for it.

I should’ve probably worried he’d pull some stupid prank with garlic or fish breath, but even then, his kiss would’ve been better than any of the ones I had before.

I’d just turned around at the entrance after depositing my bag on the small console table, when Owen stepped inside. He mumbled a few unintelligible words, and then his body was pressed against mine.

My arms instinctively wrapped around his neck as his hands came up to cup my face. His thumbs pressed against my jawline, tilting my head in whichever direction he craved.

I rocked against him as his tongue swirled with mine, feeling the bulge in his pants against my stomach.

“Owen,” I whimpered, needing more of… something. Needing to be closer to him.

His lips left my mouth but trailed down toward my jaw and then neck as his hands skimmed over my body, landing on my backside. He squeezed the globes, and before I knew it, he hoisted me into the air. My back landed against the wall as I wrapped my legs around his waist.

I groaned as my center rubbed the zipper of his pants.

“Ah, fuck, cricket,” he moaned as he pinned my body against the wall with his hips. One of his hands reached under my skirt and cupped my thin-cotton-clad ass, while the other slipped under my shirt and palmed my breast covered in a soft but plain bra. Even with our clothing still on, I could feel the heat from his skin penetrating the material. “Damn, you feel good.”

His lips were back on mine, exactly where I needed him, as he trailed a finger just inside the elastic of my panties. He skimmed just close enough to tease my center, never giving me what I desired.

My fingers clawed at his hair, seeking a way to pull him closer. His body still felt too far away, though a piece of paper wouldn’t fit between us.