“Lake?” I swiveled to face the sound of the familiar voice at my back.

“Hey Willow. What are you doing here?”

“Oh, uh –” she gestured to a guy with dull brown hair and square-framed glasses standing behind her. He was of average height and wearing khaki pants with a dark brown collared shirt. He was cute but shockingly plain and so not Willow.

“Hi, I’m Thomas.” He moved forward to shake my hand but when I reached out to grab his, I was moved away. Keiran placed me behind him with a scowl on his face before I could shake his hand. I glared at his back and then peeked around him to mouth sorry to Willow and her date.

“Who’s the square?” I heard Keenan ask as he released Sheldon and moved forward. He blatantly looked the guy up and down, challengingly with a sneer on his face.

“Really, Wills? You couldn’t do better?” he directed at Willow.

“It’s not your business, Keenan.”

“You’re right. You’re Dash’s business. I’ll let him handle that.” He nodded once and stepped back to perch himself on a nearby table. Everyone turned their focus back on Willow and Thomas however I watched Keenan pull out his cellphone. I immediately became suspicious at the sneaky look on his face.

“Hi, Thomas. I’m Sheldon. Do you –”

“Don’t get that ass spanked, babe.” Keenan warned, never taking his eyes off his phone. His fingers moved over his keyboard swiftly. When he finished, he pocketed his phone and made eye contact with Keiran and nodded. Keiran nodded back and ended their silent communication.

They were up to something.

It became really awkward, the air filling with tension since the guys wouldn’t let us speak to Thomas and they continued to glare at him. She finally pulled him away with a promise to talk to Sheldon and me later.

“Don’t go too far Wills. I have something on the way for you,” Keenan called. I saw Willow’s back stiffen as she continued to walk away. There was a gleam in Keiran and Keenan’s eyes.

I poked Keiran in the back and he finally pulled me back around in front of him. “What was that?” I demanded while sending Keenan a displeased look.

“You got the first roll,” he said, gesturing toward the lane and ignoring my question. I was pretty sure there was steam coming from my ears as I walked to the lane. I took one last look at Willow who was at the counter getting shoes with Thomas before picking up a ball.

Two strikes later, I was admitting that I sucked at bowling but didn't have time to pout about it because in swaggered a pissed off Dash. Right now he was a far cry from the easygoing, playboy who could charm the panties off any girl he chose.

He headed straight for Willow where she was two lanes away looking bored. Willow had yet to see him when he came up behind her. He snatched Thomas’ arm from her shoulder before gripping the back of her neck, picking up her purse and shoes and guiding her towards the door.

He gave a brief nod to Keiran and Keenan as he passed us with Willow who never said a word. She was either in shock or just happy to be ending her date. Just like that he was out the door with her. It ended as fast as it had begun.

I turned accusing eyes on the culprits who shrugged and feigned innocent looks. I wasn’t buying it. They called him here. I looked over two lanes at Thomas who was red-faced and confused. Poor guy. He seemed nice enough but he unknowingly entered a battle he had no hope of winning. Ever.

“Are you going to let me call her?”

“Why?” He picked up his ball for his turn.

“To make sure she’s okay?” Guys could be so dense.

“She’s okay.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know Dash.”

“And I know Willow.” I held out my hand, indicating that I wanted my phone. He held my gaze and reached into his pocket.

“You’re a handful, you know that?”

“So they keep telling me.” I turned away and immediately dialed Willow. I had to phone her twice before she answered.

“Aren’t you on a date?” I heard Dash’s smooth voice filter through the line.

“Why are you answering her phone? Put her on.”

“No.”  That was all I heard before the line went dead.  I looked over at Keiran who was trying his best not to look amused.

“Satisfied?” He asked with a smirk. I made a face and pocketed my phone.

“Whatever. Is it my turn? Where did Keenan and Sheldon go anyway?” I was more than annoyed and didn’t do anything to hide it.

He shrugged and picked up my ball then handed it to me. “You suck at this.”

“Thanks. I didn’t notice,” I quipped.

He ignored my sarcasm and wrapped his arms around me, duck walking us to the lane. “You got a good ball but you need to adjust your stance. Your legs are spread too wide.”

He kicked my left foot forward slightly and adjusted my stance.

“Now when you aim, aim for the right since you are right handed. You’re aiming for the middle, which is causing a split that is when you actually do hit the pins. It makes it hard to get the rest. I want you to release the ball in front of you. Don’t swing back so much because if you hurt yourself and hit those pretty, long legs and can’t wrap them around me, I’ll be mad as fuck at you. Bend at the knees not at your back. The only thing allowed to break your back out is me and I promise you will love it but this way, not so much. Pay attention to your aim. You’r3 not aiming at the pins, your aiming at the arrow you want the ball to follow. The pins just happen to be in the way.”