Hell nah, I'm not taking that shit well.

Could you blame a guy for feeling down after that? Your girl's ex is close with her dad, works for her dad, and it's a coincidence?  Nope, it has to be a setup.

This means I gotta step my game up. I don't know what this guy is all about but I have to do something that'll keep Journee's attention on me, no matter how bad I feel right now.

This corny shit has to go because this dude can't be any type of soft. He's in the finance game, so he knows about stacking coins and shit. This is why Pops wanted me to be an engineer and I didn't even listen. Damn it.

He's probably direct, super manly, well-rounded, good head on his shoulders, and wants Journee back. Her pops even mentioned this guy was divorced. He wants Journee to date her ex again.

Now, I wish Journee would've said something about our relationship, just to combat this whole ex situation. She's just got a man and it's about to be ruined all from one phone call.

Then again, I get it. She doesn't want anybody knowing about our relationship because it's too fresh. We just started dating and I'm already jealous of this scholar finance guy.

Dude probably got big dick energy, got so much money that he could buy my whole life, and sly like a smooth operator. This is the guy that's captured Journee's heart before so I gotta be better than him.

Nah, I gotta be Journee's peace right now. I still got faith in our relationship because she confessed her feelings for me. Her feelings ain't changed for me. Even though it breaks my spirit, she told me the truth about all this so she still wants me.

To be her peace, I decide to bring her to our mall and take her shopping a bit. My plans are to get her what she wants, have a beautiful dinner at the hotel, and spend the rest of the weekend doing whatever she wants.

You already know that I don't make as much as this finance guy but that $5,000 was mine after that poetry contest. It was surprising but everybody liked my little off-the-top poem and I won. How did I want to splurge my winnings?

By showing Journee more of my hometown and making her happy. She's not even that hard to please. We hit up the mall and the first thing that catches Journee's eye is the ice-skating rink.

We get to the rink and Journee pulls out her wallet to pay. Thank goodness I paid way ahead of time. Don't judge me. I just renewed the annual membership that I had with a friend from college, keeping it for moments like this...

And coming to skate my stress away.

"Tripp, that could have gone towards something for yourself. You didn't have to do that."

But I did because it towards something for myself.

You.

"But I'm spending the little dollars I got the way I want to spend it. It's all good. Now, come on. I hope you got game when it comes to ice skating."

And game, she has. Skating backwards and gracefully like she's not even on ice, she's cheesing so hard while showing off her skills. I'm sitting around just watching her have fun and it's time for the ice rink to shut down for a while.

Damn, no time on the ice?

After that short trip across the ice, we walk around the mall some more and I'm buying a few things that Journee wants. As I've said before, she's not so hard to please. All she asks for are a few outfits and a pair of shoes. In the end, I just give her a couple of bucks to do whatever she wants to do with it.

She holds my hand tightly as we finish our round about the mall and she finds one of our bowling allies. We talk about playing a game or two before going to the hotel and go about our plan.

"Just be prepared to hop in that loser's circle bowling is my shit."

It's my game, the only game I can actually beat Ryker and Isaiah in because I got a bit of background in it. We'd come here all the time in college. Every weekend, we'd play against some other old friends and we'd always win. I'm pretty competitive in this but I have to take it easy with Journee.

"Alright, big shot. What's your wager?"

She can't be serious. I'm not betting shit with her.

"You really want me to take your coins? I'm not doing that, J."

I call her by her nickname for the first time and chuckle at the thought. She's attempting to start something that won't go anywhere.

Putting on my bowling shoes, I see Journee standing there with her shoes in hand with a goofy smile on her face.

"So you too scared to get your ass beat by your girl? I see how it is. I'll go easy on you."

Where the hell this competitive attitude come from? Where was it when we were playing volleyball and she caught on quickly?

Shít, it was sexy as hell.

"You really good at talking shit now, huh? Because you going home soon and you think it won't come back to bite you in the ass?"

Her eyes widen as I set up the scoreboard and scuff at the way she was looking at me. This was entertaining to me.

She better watch her words wisely. They'll destroy her later.

"Nah because bowling is in my blood. My dad taught me how to bowl when I was in diapers. This is nothing like volleyball; it's not in the sand and I'm not smacking it back and forth." She says while picking out a ball.

"But you picked up on it quick. Let's see what you got, bowling expert. You're up first."

Journee's trying so hard but it ain't working. I just laugh at her attempt and find her slick smile amusing.

When she steps up to roll, she concentrates and appears determined to knock all the pins down. Will the ball hit them all like she says or miss them?

Unfortunately, they miss, rolling two gutter balls, and she comes back to the table with a frustrated smile on her face, as if she's not bothered by her performance.

"Aw, what happened, boo? You know what? Your new name is Gutter Ball." I laugh as I get ready to roll my turn.

"Boy, go play your turn so I can go again. We'll see who the gutter ball is. It's just the first frame."

If only she really called me 'boy'. The 'N' word pops from her lips and I cracked up. Journee was mad as hell.

"Damn, babe, why the potty mouth? I'm just saying. If this is how you starting off, I'm worried for you with the rest of the game."

Soon, we get six frames in and Journee's down by 30. It's still anybody's game but I had a good feeling I would win.

Journee's rolling another gutter ball this frame but has another chance to redeem herself. Why not go and help her out real fast?

As she prepares herself to roll, I come up behind her and feel her tense up even more. Bad idea, especially when my friend below decides to wake up. I can barely get my words out.

"Relax, J. You have a heavy ass ball, first of all. You want to hurt yourself? Second, relax your arms and find your speed."

I help her as I switch out her bowling ball and help her swing. Journee fit right up against my body like a puzzle piece.

I hold her in my arms as I help her swing and my heart starts racing. We watch the ball roll into a strike and she presses my cheek into hers. Seeing her happy pleases me and that's all I want her to be.

"Ha, I'm only down by 15 now! Come on, Tripp. Try me on that bet. I win, you strip. You win, I strip." She says excitingly, as I pick up a bowling ball.

Now, that's a wager I can get in on. Either way, both of us get something out of it. I think on the idea; a way to remix it. Since I'm winning...

"Add chocolate to the deal and I'm in."

Journee's eyes broaden in surprise but she seems to like the change. She agrees to the deal and we shake hands on it.

Well, all I can say is I hope the housekeepers are prepared for a huge mess.

We're in the 10th frame and Journee's growing close behind. Strike after strike from her. I guess the bowling gods are working in her favor now.

After she finishes her turn, it's my turn to go. Right before I go to roll, she calls on me with "Before you roll, I think you need a little something to boost you."

That's when her lips meet mine as her delicate hands wrap around my face. I'm done for after that. The ball drops from my hands, without my knowledge, and rolls away.

I put my hands around Journee's hips, not caring about the gutter ball I'm about to get. The way her lips sync up with mine makes me want to get it in the bowling alley, not caring who watches. My friend's wide-awake right now.

As soon as she breaks the kiss, she groans with a grin, saying "I fucking hate your ass. Even during a kiss?"

Even during a kiss, babe. You can't outdo the bowler in me. You just can't.

But you can turn this bowler out in bed later.

****
Heeeeeeyyyyyyyy everybody!

Hope y'all are having a great weekend!

I really want to get back into writing but it's hard since I'm working more now.

Anyway, do you think this perfect period will continue between Journee and Tripp? Do you think Davin will show up and tear things apart?

Find out on Wednesday!

Thanks for reading! Love y'all!