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Walking slowly toward her, ry, that much is clear, but he’s still interested The lust in his eyes et everything I said to hi, ju mouth

Head in the gaon my new friend

“You know they have gutter guards I’ll ask the guy to raise them for us”

“Gutter guards?” Sally lifts her head like I’ve just told her the holy grail is hiding under the ball carousel

“Hang on” I skip around the row of chairs, focusing on the guy who gavemy eyes to scan the area for Koa

“Mercy! Dude!” Jim is at the counter when I arrive

“Hey!” I say, feeling inordinately relieved to see hi here?”

“Oh, nothing I was having dinner with Aunt Doris, and I noticed Koa was upstairs alone He’s with me here Did you see him?”

“Oh…” I struggle to find the right response

“She did” A deep male voice comes from behind me, and my eyes automatically slide closed

His tone is tinged with irritation — of course it is! Still, I can’tI’ plain on my face Instead I wave to the pimple-faced teen behind the counter

“Hi, would you be able to raise the gutter guards for us?”

“Dude, you don’t need gutter guards,” Jim interrupts me “I saw you You’re like a scratch bowler”

I’

“It’s for Sally,” I do a little smile-frown, and Ji