**Chapter 10**
“I don’t really wanna intrude on a friends’ night,” I replied. It was nice of Sara to offer, but I wasn’t keen on crashing her plans. I knew how awkward it could be when someone new showed up.
“It’s alright. Betty’s there, and the rest can get to know you too. They’re all cool,” Sara said before adding, “Besides, it’s not a whole night. Just a few hours.”
“Sure,” I nodded, then looked at Mira. “You’re coming too, right?”
“I…” Mira started, but Sara cut in immediately. “Of course she is.”
“If she doesn’t want to go, you shouldn’t force her,” Aunt Elise said.
“She’s a straight-A student. She can afford to let loose for one evening,” Sara insisted. Mira had always been the shy type, at least the last time I saw her. This time she didn’t seem particularly shy, but something else was clearly holding her back.
“Still…” Mira tried again, but Sara interrupted once more. “Oh, come on, just for one evening. Tyler’s here too.”
“If you’re really uncomfortable, I understand,” I added, not wanting to pressure her. “But I’d like it if you came.”
“Haa…” Mira sighed. “Sure.”
Sara shot me an appreciative look. “Thanks. She doesn’t go out much, and she wouldn’t have agreed this time if it wasn’t for you.”
“Can I come too?” Sasha asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.
“You have tennis class today, remember? The coach already wasted a day last time,” Aunt Elise reminded her.
Sasha pouted but didn’t argue. She could be childish, but she wasn’t stubborn.
After dinner, I went upstairs to change. I kept it simple: a black T-shirt and black dress jeans. I wasn’t into tight clothes, but dress pants felt too middle-aged. I still wanted to look my age.
“Ready?” I asked as I came downstairs. Sara was already waiting. She was the first woman in my life who had ever gotten ready before me. Well, the only women I was really close to were Mom and Grandma.
Sara looked great in shorts and a casual top. Mira wore a blue strap shirt with loose black trousers. The two sisters together were an incredible sight.
Good thing I couldn’t get hard anymore after earlier.
We left around four and headed downtown. Pittsburgh was a smaller city but catered to the elite, so it had everything we needed—including a nice bowling alley.
“Here?” I asked as we got out of the car.
“What did you expect? Bars?” Sara rolled her eyes. “We’re eighteen.”
“And this is America,” I replied.
“Touché.” She laughed.
Inside, the place was mostly empty except for one group of kids our age at the far end. I only recognized one of them. The rest were strangers.
Four were typical jocks in basketball jerseys. The fifth was a girl clinging tightly to one of them—clearly his girlfriend. But the leader of the group was a different guy: dark brown hair, typical white kid with an arrogant aura.
“Hey, guys,” Sara greeted them.
Betty turned around and lit up. “Hey! You’re late. And who did you bri— Tyler!!!”
She rushed over and hugged me tightly, arms around my shoulders. “When the hell did you get here?!”
“Just today,” I replied as we separated. I noticed she was actually wearing a full shirt for once. “And I see you’ve started wearing full clothes.”
“Seriously?” She put a hand on her hip. “Is that the only thing you have to say to your friend you haven’t seen in years?”
“Well, the said friend was hoping for some eye candy,” I shot back.
“Haha,” she chuckled sweetly. “You’re incorrigible.”
“It’s good to see you, Betty.” I hugged her again, and she squeezed me back enthusiastically.
Betty was about a foot shorter than me, with a mixed-race look—her dad black, mom white. Her skin was a beautiful dark tone, with deep black hair and eyes. She wore a loose T-shirt that covered her thighs and long black jeans.
We rejoined the group.
“Who the hell is this?” the arrogant leader asked, frowning at me.
“Hey man, I’m Tyler,” I said, extending my hand.
“I asked, ‘Who the hell are you?’” he replied rudely. He reminded me way too much of Jackson back home.
“Hey man, ignore him. He’s not very friendly,” the guy with the girl quickly took my hand. “I’m Donald, but you can call me Dan.”
“Relax, Jackson,” Sara said. “He’s my cousin.”
Jackson, huh? Do all pompous assholes share the same name?
“I don’t care who he is. He better not be making moves on you,” Jackson warned.
That confirmed whose boyfriend he was.
“He’s my cousin, Jackson,” Sara said, clearly annoyed and fed up.
“Hey,” Dan shook my hand properly. “I’m Dan. This is Lucy,” he said, nodding to the girl in his arms.
“I’m Todd.”
“I’m Aaron.”
“I’m Ross.”
They seemed like a friendly bunch overall. The only problem was Jackson.
“It’s a surprise to see you, Mira,” Ross said shyly, his crush obvious to everyone.
“Thanks,” Mira replied, her expression hard to read. She clearly wasn’t interested.
“So, Tyler, where are you from?” Lucy asked.
“L.A.,” I answered.
“Really? My uncle lives there too. He’s an attorney for some big company,” she said.
“Really? If he’s an attorney, I might know him,” I replied.
“Yeah, he works at Harriet Bay Law Firm.”
Well, fuck. Small world. He’s one of my lawyers.
“That’s good to know,” I said with a smile.
“You play, Tyler?” Aaron, the only other dark-skinned guy, asked.
“Sure.”
“Teams of two?” Todd suggested.
“Sure,” Betty replied, immediately clinging to my arm. “Tyler’s with me.”
Was I imagining things? Or had she been extra touchy since the hug earlier too?
“Sure,” Todd said with a grin. “But I’ll warn you—Aaron and I are a killer team.”
I smiled. “May the best team win.”
“Then the teams are set,” Aaron announced. “Lucy and Dan as always. Sara and Jackson as always. Todd and me as always. Unfortunately, Ross is with someone new this time.”
It was cute how they were all trying to set Mira and Ross up.
“I’m not playing. I’m not very good at it,” Mira said, making the atmosphere a little awkward.
Everyone looked at Sara, who shook her head, signaling she’d stay out of it.
“It’s… it’s okay. I’m not very good either,” Ross replied, looking dejected. His arms suggested otherwise, but no one pushed him.
“The loser buys the first round,” Todd declared.
“Hey, that’s not fair,” Lucy complained. “You know Dan and I aren’t that good.”
Something told me it wasn’t Dan who sucked at bowling.
“Actually, I was thinking the first round’s on me,” I offered.
“We can’t do that, man. We should be treating you,” Aaron said.
“It’s no big deal,” I insisted.
“Well, if you say so… but I’ll warn you, I go big on the first round,” Dan said with a grin.
“Knock yourselves out,” I replied.
“Great! Then let’s get this show on the road,” Dan said excitedly. He took the first shot with perfect form—then tilted his hand at the last second, sending the ball straight into the gutter.
He really was the submissive one in that relationship.
~~
Betty Character art:
/Erowriter69/posts/ftad-betty-164674139?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link