Yooo, I'll tell ya what I want, what I really, really want!
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want!
Carisi leaned back and watched Amanda dance with Jesse and Billie up on the lane, their hands in hers as the strobe lights flickered and the disco lights lit their faces. I could watch 'em all my life, he thought, shaking his head as Jesse stepped up to the line and pushed her ball down the dinosaur-shaped helper.
It rolled down the lane and knocked two pins to the ground, and Amanda cheered her like it was a strike. Billie bounced up and down with enthusiasm.
"All right, kid, you're up," Carisi clapped Jacob on the shoulder and pushed him up. Jacob tentatively walked up to the girls. He said something to Jesse, but from where he was back at the table, Carisi couldn't hear what he said.
Amanda scooped up Billie, and motioned for Carisi to join them. He unfolded his long legs and got up to join them, mindful of the other folks around them, trying not to crowd the lanes. "Jacob doesn't know how to bowl," Amanda told him over the music. "But he asked if Jesse would show him how."
Jacob looked at Carisi. "Can I use the dinosaur too?"
"Absolutely, buddy," Carisi assured him. "And Jess, you're a great friend, helpin' him out."
She grinned, then turned to Jacob to show him how to place the ball on the plastic ramp. "Then you just let go!" Jesse proclaimed. Jacob gave his Day-Glo yellow ball a push, watching it roll down the back of the blue dinosaur and down the lane. He darted back to Carisi as if he was afraid to watch it.
The ball kept a steady course down the center of the lane. There was a domino effect of pins, and the ten-pin toppled over. A large red X appeared on the video screen. "Yeah!" Carisi cheered, throwing his hands in the air. "A strike! Good job, Jake!"
Jesse took her friend by the hands. "You did it!" she said. "He's a good bowler, huh, Mommy?" she asked Amanda.
Amanda smiled as Billie clapped her hands. "Yeah, he is!" she agreed. "Nice job, Jacob!"
Jacob grinned up at Carisi and his Big Brother ruffled his hair. "All right," Carisi said, leading him back to the table as Amanda took her turn. "Now, if you get three of those in a row, it's called a turkey."
Jacob frowned. "Why?"
"I…." Carisi made a face. "Good question. All I know is that it's a really good thing in bowling."
"Okay," Jacob shrugged, climbing onto his chair and stealing a fry from the basket in the middle of the table.
"You're up, Counselor," Amanda waved Carisi up. He picked his bright pink ball out of the ball return (Jesse had picked the color for him), and walked up to the line. He studied the scoreboard. "I get a strike here, and I'm ahead of you," he noted.
"Bring it on," Amanda shrugged.
Carisi prepped, lowered the ball into a low swing-
And felt something tap him on his back. Surprised, he let go of the ball and it rumbled into the gutter. He whirled to see Amanda with a wide grin on her face. "You cheated, Detective," he accused.
"You've got no proof," she shot back, her hips swaying to the Britney song on the speakers. "Maybe you oughta stick to Wii Bowling, Carisi."
"Game's not over yet," he replied, moving in so he could whisper in her ear. "I've still got time to stick it to you."
"This is a family-friendly establishment," Amanda replied, sliding her fingers into the belt loops of his jeans.
Carisi glanced around to make sure no one was listening. The kids were back at the table. "How soon can we finish these frames?" he asked her.
"The way Jacob is bowling?" Amanda smiled. "Won't take long."
"Good," he told her. "'Cause I plan on a whole other game when we get back to your place." Her eyes widened at the implication. He snaked a hand around her waist, swaying with her to "Crazy." Then, he gave her a gentle push. "You're up."
