8
E
There's an arcade inside the bowling alley. Half of the games have been out of order for years, and it smells like sweat and nacho cheese, but that does nothing to deter Bella's interest when she calls it a night. Her wrist is aching, so she pops a couple Advil and looks directly at me as she speaks. "I'm going to hang out in the arcade. Anyone wanna come with me?"
Instantly, my palms sweat, and it's hard to breathe. Surely she isn't insinuating that she wants me to join her.
The guys' team has to decide who's going to sit out the round to keep the teams even, and Mike, the lapdog that he is, jumps at the chance.
"I could take a break," he offers, leering at Bella.
She's still looking right at me, and I now understand what a deer feels like when it gets caught in the headlights. I can't look away, but I want to break eye contact at the same time.
"No, thanks," she says.
Rose gasps. "Oh, no. I accidentally erased Edward's profile." She smiles innocently. "You don't mind sitting this one out, do you, Ed?"
I want to hate her, but I can't. Rose knows how I feel about Bella. She's been telling me to make a move for ages now. This might be my chance. I wipe my hands on my jeans and follow a now smiling Bella to the arcade.
It's crowded, so we're standing close together as we wait in line at the token machine.
Bella's rifling through her little purse, but I stop her and wave a five-dollar bill. "I got it."
Her smile brightens. "Okay."
We call next for the air hockey table and watch the current game while we wait.
"Are you any good?"
I shrug, and Bella sighs. "You're very quiet, Edward Cullen."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay." She playfully punches me in the shoulder. "I don't bite, you know."
"Okay?" I choke out.
Bella just laughs. "I mean … not unless you want me to."
I never thought I'd pop a boner in the smelly bowling arcade … but here I am.