Read Online Death by Tea by Alex Erickson - Free Book Online Page B

know if I like bowling,” I said after I managed to swallow back my pounding heart. “I feel stupid every time I get up there.”
    â€œMe too,” Will said with another laugh. His eyes were sparkling. They were a deep brown that made me think of warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. “But you’ll get over it eventually.” He cleared his throat as his friends started our way. “But if you aren’t interested . . .”
    I was struck with a sudden fear that he would turn and walk away and I’d never see him again. It was stupid considering my heart belonged to Paul Dalton, but I couldn’t help it. It wasn’t every day a guy hit on me with Vicki in the room.
    â€œI am!” I just about shouted it. “Well, maybe.” I looked down at my hands. Why couldn’t I say what I meant? “Maybe learning wouldn’t be so bad.”
    â€œWe’ve got to get back,” one of Will’s friends said as he approached. He winked at me before patting Will on the shoulder. “You can hit on the girls later.”
    Will checked his watch and frowned. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
    His friends, grinning, walked past him, talking and laughing. I knew, without having to hear them, that they were making fun of me.
    â€œYou don’t have to stick around,” I said, feeling about as small as I could get. “It’s okay.”
    Will’s eyes darted to his retreating friends. “Don’t mind them,” he said. “They’re both married already and think I need to get on board with the program. Of course, if you’d met their wives, you’d wonder why anyone would ever trap themselves like that. We’re talking stuck-up snobs here.” He smiled. “Just don’t tell them I said so, all right?”
    â€œSure.” I found myself smiling right along with him.
    With a sigh, Will spread his hands in defeat. “But I really do have to go. We shouldn’t have stayed out this long.”
    â€œOh, okay,” I said. The brief moment of flirting was nice, but it was good that it was over. He couldn’t honestly be interested in me.
    â€œLet me give you my number.” He patted his pockets and frowned. “Do you have a pen and paper by chance?”
    I winced. Foiled by lack of stationery? That was just my luck. “Sorry,” I said.
    â€œHow about a cell phone? I left mine in the car.”
    This time I groaned. “Mine’s in my purse, which I also left in the car.” Go figure.
    â€œAh well.” He smiled. “We’ll figure something out.” Another glance at his watch. “I best get going.”
    â€œDeath by Coffee!” I shouted it at him like I’d completely lost my mind.
    He raised his eyebrows at me in confusion.
    â€œI work there,” I said. “Well, own the place, really. You could stop by. We can work things out then.”
    He smiled. “Okay, then, Death by Coffee.” He nodded slowly, and I could tell he had no idea where that was. “I’ll see you sometime soon.” Another quick peek at his watch and then he started away. “Have a good time, Krissy.”
    â€œI will, Will.”
    He chuckled and walked away.
    â€œLook at you,” Vicki said, grinning. “Making friends.”
    It was then I realized she’d been done with her turn long ago and had stood back to watch our little interaction.
    â€œIt’s nothing,” I said. “He’s going to show me how to bowl.”
    â€œUh-huh.” She was smiling so wide, she looked like she might split her face in half. “You’re going to let a man show you how to handle balls, all right.”
    â€œVicki!” I looked around to make sure no one had heard her.
    She laughed and gestured toward the ball return. “It’s your turn, by the way.” She sat down, still laughing.
    I picked up the bowling ball and moved to the line, head