Elly & Kent - The Complete Story: Includes Books 1-3 (23 page)

I was so proud and relieved as I stepped off the stage. My first performance had gone great. No one had snickered or booed. What more could an amateur musician ask for?
 

As I stepped down off stage I sat back down to listen to the other acts of the evening, letting the adrenaline slowly leave my body.
 

The MC announced Nate and I felt my breath catch in my throat as this dark haired Adonis stepped onto the stage. His speaking voice had a soft quality to it but his singing voice was incredible. I couldn't take my eyes off him, his stage presence was amazing. He sang about love and loss and admiration.
 

I watched as he walked off the small stage and disappeared into the crowd. I turned back to the stage and sat for another twenty minutes before making my leave. I had to get up early for an early morning class. I stood up and grabbed my guitar and headed towards the exit.
 

Just before I reached it, I stumbled into someone's guitar. "Woah! Sorry." I reached for the guitar laying on the floor at the same time as its owner. Nate. My heart stuttered but somehow I managed enough courage to speak, softly because people were still performing, "Hey, you were great up there."

He stood up, his hands still holding onto the guitar. I released it, and hoped he didn't think I was trying to run away with it. "Thanks. You were great too. You have a beautiful voice."
 

I blushed and pushed some of my hair behind my ear. When I glanced up his dark eyes were still looking at me. He was taller than I realized and I had to tilt my head back as he stepped outside with me.
 

"Want to grab a coffee or something?" My eyes searched his, a small smile played on his lips, his face was darkened from the scruff of a day old shave.
 

"We just left a coffeehouse..." His lips turned up into a grin as he glanced away briefly and then looked back at me.

"You're right. I had three cups of coffee too." He chuckled softly and tugged on his left ear, drawing my attention to it. I wanted to nibble on it and whisper into it. "Well, how about we go get dessert somewhere then?"

I looked back at his face, which was flawless except for a tiny scar above his right eyebrow. I nodded, "Sure." I looked around trying to gather my sense of direction. "Um, there is a diner down that way," I pointed to the left, "or a bakery a couple blocks that way." I pointed to the right and watched as his head turned in both direction as he considered the options.

"A bakery sounds less skeezy."
 

I nodded my agreement. I'd probably agree to anything he said. He was gorgeous and my disappointed heart would take whatever he would give me.
 

"It'll sound more romantic when we tell our grandkids," he said.

I laughed softly, trying to calm my foolish heart, which thought that Nate might be
the
one. "Wow. We're having grandkids together already?"

"A guy can dream." He winked at me and then turned around, guitar still in hand, and nodded in the direction of the bakery. "Come on, I really want a cupcake now and if the bakery closes before we get there I might just cry."

* * *

It had been a month or so of dating Nate and there were no hiccups in sight. We spent our time together singing and playing guitar. We attended open mic nights together, and we made out a lot. I explained my past relationships, if you could call them that, and he knew I was nowhere near ready to jump on his saddle and ride. He said he respected that and that we could go as slow as I wanted.
 

After months of retelling my dates to Kent, I realized it was time for them to meet. I wanted to know if Kent's gut feeling about Nate was the same as mine. I wanted approval from my best friend and the only way to get it was for them to spend time together. Kent hadn't liked Will the Cowboy and he had been spot on about him.

I arranged for them to meet us at the bowling alley. It wasn't really Jen's taste, but I had to remind her that I was on a very tight budget. Nate and I were already seated next to each other on the plastic chairs facing the lanes, our dorky shoes on when Kent and Jen walked in. Nate's chocolate brown eyes were accentuated by the maroon and black plaid button down shirt he was wearing.
 

Tonight was cosmic bowl. Crazy black lights, cheap beers, and ultra loud pop music surrounded us as we sat together, reserving our lane.

"Oh, there they are!"

I waved to get Jen's attention and watched as she approached us. Kent let his eyes move around the bowling alley slowly, I knew he was uncomfortable in loud, crowded public places but he'd just have to get over it.
 

I stood up and moved to greet them. "Hey! You guys made it!" I had to yell because the music was so loud. Nate came over too and held out his hand, first to Jen then to Nate.
 

"This is Nate!" I held onto his elbow, an unconscious warning to Jen but when I realized what I was doing I quickly let him go.

"Hey!" He said to both of them in turn. Kent stood there beside Jen with a smile and shook Nate's hand, pumping it a couple of times. I watched as both men sized each other up. When the boys dropped hands Jen took Nate's and shook it gently, she twirled a piece of her hair round her finger as she stared at my man.
 

"Can I get us a pitcher of beer or something to eat?!," Nate asked.

Kent shook his head towards Nate in response to the question. "I'm good, but Jen might want something to drink."
 

Jen nodded her head. "A pitcher and some nachos."
 

Kent made a face and shook his head.

I bit back my grin. "And some waters for me and Kent?!" I motioned between us and smiled when Kent winked at me.
 

Nate nodded, "Sure thing! You guys go get your shoes and get ready for a bowling ass-kicking!" He grinned, and headed towards the bar to order.

Jen couldn't seem to get the grin off her lips as she watched Nate walk away. My fists clenched at my sides.
 

"Your shoes are waiting!" I forced a smile and pushed them towards the shoe counter. I watched them walk away and blew out a slow breath as I sat down. I was being a little paranoid. Jen was here with Kent. And they were both here to reassure me that my feelings towards Nate were valid. That was it.
 

They eventually came back and switched out their shoes. I was sitting at the computer, in the process of typing in our names. It was alphabetical so I was up first.
 

Nate came back with a plate full of nachos slathered with highly processed plastic cheese and a pitcher of beer. The girl behind the counter followed him out with the waters and extra cups for the beer and set them on the table.
 

Nate smiled at the food and then came up behind me and smacked me on the butt. "Good luck."
 

I jumped with a grin. "I don't need it!"
 

I grabbed my hot pink ball and took my first turn. A strike. I whooped and then cabbage patched my way back to my friends, sitting down across from Nate. "Jen! You're up!" Nate and Kent laughed at my antics.
 

Jen had antics of her own. She had just taken a nacho and put it in her mouth. She licked the cheese from one of her fingers and took a little too long doing it. She stood up and grabbed her pink ball, a perky smile on her lips.
 

She knocked down a grand total of four pins. She cheered and came back to the food, downing half a cup of beer quickly followed by some twirling and a giddy laugh.

I raised my eyebrows and gave Nate a look to see if we were seeing the same thing. He shrugged his shoulders at me as he shoved another nacho in his mouth.
 

It was Kent's turn. After his ball busted through all the pins he turned around and winked cockily at me.

I half smiled, my teeth biting the straw on my cup. "Oh it's on, Mr. Lytle." I said softly. He probably didn't even hear me but the threat was there.

Chapter Thirty-One

"My turn." Nate stood up and jogged to the lane. He grabbed a gold ball and lined up, he was super serious. He took his time and finally threw the ball down the lane. It looked like it was going well and then it went into the gutter.
 

"Booo!" I yelled.
 

While Nate waited for his ball to came back he grabbed the two pink balls and held them low, "Blue, er, pink balls!"
 

Jen whistled loudly. He chuckled, picking up the rest of the pins for a spare.

It was back around to me and when I got up to take my turn, Kent yelled, "Gutter ball!"

I looked at him over my shoulder and smiled. There hadn't been much to do all summer long in the small town my grandma lived in, except bowl and dance. I picked up my pink ball and chucked it down the lane. Another strike. I smiled triumphantly as I made my way back to the table. I winked at Kent and promptly stuck my tongue as Kent did the same. I sat down next to Nate and fed him a nacho.

I rolled my eyes at Jen who sauntered up to get her ball and let her hips sway. Before I could turn away Jen picked up her ball and then dropped it. She giggled and bent over to pick it up. I felt bile rising in my throat. The jeans she was wearing were so tight I was amazed she could even get down that low.

I glanced at Nate out of the corner of my eye, he was watching but quickly looked away when he realized what she was up to. He smiled at me and opened his mouth for another nacho. I smiled, approving of his ability to resist Jen's backside, and fed him one as a reward.
 

I looked up at the scoreboard and saw the Jen had managed a strike. "Great job, babe!" Kent smiled proudly as he stood up. Jen leaned in and gave him a kiss, pulling back with his bottom lip between her teeth.

I wrinkled my nose and took a drink of water. I guess whatever shit they had been going through was over. If they wanted to play the PDA game I could play too. While Kent bowled I fed Nate more nachos and rehydrated. I was going to need it because Kent didn't like to lose and he wasn't going to go easy on me.

Kent got another strike.

After I matched Kent's strike, I pulled Nate with me to the jukebox. While we were looking for a selection he held me against him, cradling me against his chest, his hands resting innocently on my stomach.
 

After picking a couple of songs I turned in his arms and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him down so I could suck face with him. My body bent backwards as he held me close and kissed me senseless. Nate turned us around and pressed me against the wall, his hips grinding against mine, making my panties wet. My hands were in his soft black hair, gripping it tightly. His hands slipped under my shirt and mine slipped down to the bottom of his shirt.

Kent was there behind Nate and practically yelled us out of our love bubble, "Should Jen and I just go?!"

My lips peeled from Nate's as I froze in his arms. "Oh, sorry!" I pushed Nate away gently and touched my swollen lips. I smiled innocently to Kent though inside I was cheering myself on just a bit. My boyfriend couldn't keep his hands off of me and wasn't embarrassed to be seen with me. Score one for me.
 

Nate looked over his shoulder at the board, "My turn!" He ran off and bowled himself another spare.

"Sorry..." I said to Kent as I followed him back to the table.

"It's alright." He said as he stepped down to the bowling level and sat down next to Jen. She didn't make any effort to hide her hand which was running over Kent's thigh as he looked down the lanes at the other people. The intimacy she was showing him made something knot in my chest.

I turned my attention back to Nate, who was on his way over to me. He distracted me from my misery by kissing me gently. I smiled at him, "Thanks. Missed you."
 

I squirmed in my seat, my wet panties distracting me, "Be right back!" I got up and went to the restroom leaving Jen and Nate alone while Kent bowled.

When I came out of the bathroom I saw Jen was getting more beer and standing alongside Nate. They were talking together, Nate had Jen laughing.

I came up behind them and slapped Nate on the ass. "You're up!" Nate gave me another gentle kiss and then went to the lane, bumping shoulders with Kent on his way down. I glanced at the board and smiled. "Yay! I'm in the lead!"

Jen leaned over to me. "Good job. Nate is a hot one, girl."

"I know. My panties know too, if you know what I mean." I giggled as Jen kissed my cheek and then coughed, wiping the merriment from my face as Kent came back. "Feeling a little...behind?" I grinned at him, the score was quickly adding up for me and slowly adding up for Kent.
 

"Yeah. You'll fuck up eventually." Kent smiled sweetly as Nate threw his first strike.

Nate came back, checking Kent on his shoulder again, "Sorry, man." He put his arm around me and nibbled on my earlobe, making me squirm and giggle.
 

Kent nodded his head to Nate and pulled his eyes away from our PDA.

I ducked out of ear licking territory and stepped up to bowl. I had to wait for the other bowlers to go first so I looked around. I noticed that my shoe was untied and bent down to tie it. As I stood up I fell off balance and landed on my ass. I heard Jen snickering behind me. "Thanks," I smiled as Nate helped me up. Kent would probably think this would be my black moment but it wasn't. Another strike for me.
 

I was still blushing as I walked into Nate's arms, burying my face against his chest. "So embarrassing..."
 

He held me and swayed gently, "No way, doll. No one even noticed."

"Yes they did!"

The game ended with me pounding Kent into second place. Followed by Nate and Jen, not that she cared because she was pretty drunk. Nate and I said goodbye to Kent and Jen after we returned our shoes. We walked home in different directions.

On the walk back Nate confided in me that Jen had hit on him when I was in the bathroom.