Country Mile

STAY THAT WAY

Genna looked her reflection up and down before turning to Delilah who laid sprawled out on her bed.

"Good?" she asked as she gestured to herself.

Delilah playfully rolled her eyes. "The first forty outfits were good. What's the matter with you? It's just bowlin' and you already know I'm gonna kick your ass. You don't gotta look good while I do it."

A knowing smile crept across the brunette's face, and though it was unlike her to be nervous, she couldn't ignore the way her heart was fluttering in her chest. She couldn't stop her stomach from doing cartwheels at the mere thought of what she had planned for the evening. As she turned back to the mirror to run her fingers through her hair, she couldn't see her reflection. Archer's handsome face was the only thing on her mind.

Delilah headed toward the door. "You comin' or are you gonna just stare at yourself all night?"

Turning away from the mirror, Genna smiled at her sister and stiffly passed by with a deep, nail-bitting look on her face.

The blonde quirked an eyebrow. "You really are a weirdo," she mumbled.

"I'm not weird. I'm just.. I'm ready."

The girls threw goodbyes over their shoulders to Adam and Anne as they ran out to Aunt Ellie's waiting car. When they pulled up to the bowling ally, the woman turned around in her seat with a big smile.

"Alright, I'll be back in about an hour. Ya'll have fun!"

"Thanks Aunt Ellie!" the girls beamed. They giggled and nodded their heads when the woman rolled down her window and called out behave before driving off.

The sounds of discernible chatter, pins being knocked down, and arcade games blaring all merged together in a Friday night harmony the moment they opened the doors.

They looked around and found Archer and Logan hanging out by the claw machine. A small pink bear was in its clutches as Archer maneuvered his body in synch with the joystick. His hand eased it with precision and the tip of his tongue stuck out the corner of his mouth in deep focus as he brought the claw slowly over the open hatch. He pressed the button and it released the little bear just in time to fall where he guided it.

"Yes!" he pumped his fist and Logan punched his arm as he reached down and grabbed his prize.

When he brought his eyes up, the sparkle in them intensified upon seeing Genna. The close lipped smile on his face turned into a large toothy grin and he proudly approached her, moving one of the bear's stuffed arms to give her little a wave.

"Got somethin' cute for the cutest thing I know," he placed it in her hands and pressed a kiss to her lips.

"Thank you!" She smiled up at him and hugged the pink plush. "I..." she paused and took a deep breath. "I love it."

His brows twitched in slight confusion at her odd reservation, but he pulled her into a hug and kissed her temple. "I'm glad, baby."

The pair followed Delilah and Logan over to the counter where they paid for shoes and were assigned a lane.

"Who's up first?" Archer asked.

"Ooh me! Me for sure!" Delilah clapped her hands and bounced on her toes.

"Let the eager beaver go first," Genna laughed. "I'll be last."

The boys turned to one another. "Rocks paper scissors shoot for who goes second?" Logan suggested.

Unsurprisingly to Genna, Archer won.

They all fell into easy conversation about school and every day life. When Archer's turn came around again, Genna found herself watching more than the bowling ball. She watched his hands. Large and steady that lead up to firm forearms and broad shoulders. Her gaze lingered upon his back, then shifted to his dark head of hair. A gorgeous shade of ebony with strands of chestnut that only revealed themselves when warmed by the sun. She found herself wanting to run her fingers through it.