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This is the 8th installment of Cami’s First Kiss. For the first 7 excerpts, click Cami’s Page OR Free Reads above.
“I am not named after a porn star.”
Honestly, you’d think people would get tired of asking that. Ok, so the same people didn’t keep asking it, but everyone did.
“Not that I’m a porn expert or anything,” Ben said. “But I believe Jenna Jameson is not only a porn star, but the most famous one ever. I mean, even my mom’s probably heard of her.”
I must have given him a look, because he rushed on before I could point out just how weird that was.
“You know what I mean. You know who Heidi Fliess is too, but that doesn’t make you a prostitute.”
And I’d thought the conversation couldn’t get weirder. Next to me, Dane cleared his throat, his brows raised over the hand covering his mouth. Apparently I wasn’t the only one wondering what was going on with Mocking Guy – who was quickly becoming Weirdo Guy. Before things could veer more, I jumped in.
“And, anyway, it’s Jenna Drake. Jameson is my middle name.” I rushed on when Ben started to turn to Lisbeth for verification. “It was my mom’s maiden name.”
Ben nodded. Dane nodded. Ben looked at Lisbeth who began nodding. Yeah, this was an exciting night out alrighty.
“So, are we going to bowl, or what?” I almost added that the sooner we got this over with, the sooner I could have my notebook back and escape. But that seemed rude even for someone as desperate to leave and socially manipulated into staying as me.
“Of course.” Lisbeth stepped into the center of our small circle. “Why else would we be here?”
She slid a sly grin toward Ben. Yeah, we all knew why we were really here: So she could add another guy to her Ken Doll Collection. Did anyone remember my notebook?
I glanced at my watch. How could it possibly only be 11:09?
“So,” Lisbeth continued, stepping up on the edge of the alley. “I’m not much of a bowler. I take it there’s some type of form you need to do things right?”
She ran her hand over the ultra-pink ball she’d chosen before hefting it. Turning sideways, she glanced toward us, that grin teasing more than just her lips.
“Are they all this heavy?” she asked as she set it back down and checked her manicure. “That seems a little unfair for the girls.”
Dane spun the balls, looking at the numbers carved into them. “Try this one. It should be a little lighter. Sorry it’s not pink.”
Good Lord he was gorgeous. When he was being his normal charming self he was charming, but when he focused that smile on a girl he was absolutely stunning. My heart stopped from collateral shivers. No wonder Lisbeth was working so hard to keep both guys in the game.
“Why don’t you guys give me some pointers before we get started?” she asked, and just like that, Lisbeth was back where she liked to be: in the center of attention.
She did a replay of that shoulder roll thing that had her sack-dress dropping elegantly off one shoulder. Then, tossing her hair over her shoulder, Lisbeth gracefully eased her hand back and swung it forward is if to throw an imaginary ball down the alley that was – of course – no where near her since she had strategically turned sideways for the greatest viewing angle.
One guy’s eyes went right, one left. Well, I guess we now knew who liked legs in the group.
Lisbeth held her pose for a moment before straightening and flipping her hair over one shoulder.
Oh for crying out loud. First the guys ask me if I’m named after a porn star and now Lisbeth is acting like a stripper.
“Actually,” Ben said, making me wonder what he was replying to. “A stripper takes her clothes off while she makes a spectacle of herself.”
I cannot believe I was having a ‘Did I say that out loud’ moment.
I turned to face him, not even considering letting him off the hook. “Same difference, right? She had your full and undivided attention in a manner that isn’t what someone might consider modest. It must be hard be so easily lead astray.”
I peeked in her direction to see what she was up to now. At the head of the alley, Lisbeth grasped the bowling ball between her two tiny hands, Dane rearranging her stance. But, he wasn’t who had her attention. Ben was.
I’ll give Ben this – He was one smart cookie. He’d gotten her game from the beginning and now he gave her just enough attention to keep her working the flirt instead of looking at him like he wasn’t good enough to polish her rented shoes. He hovered at my elbow, that cocky grin and lifted eyebrow mocking me…a state of affairs I was depressingly used to in only two hours.
“You know,” Ben continued as if he was going to say something I might be interested in. “You don’t have to let her grab all the attention like this. I brought Dane to make the numbers nice and even.”
Seriously? He brought the most gorgeous man on Earth for me so he could flirt with my friend?
“You know what you need?”
It was never a good thing when someone asks you that. For years I’d been trying to come up with a way to stop that sentence in its tracks, but I never seemed to find one. Instead of looking lame, I just cocked a brow at him.
“You just need some lessons in flirting.” He grinned and I wanted to kick in his perfectly straight, white teeth. “Sunshine, the endof the night you’re going to need that notebook back for all those kissing notes if you listen to me.”
This Wednesday I’ll be interviewing Jenna Drake about her writing. Hopefully we can get some straight answers about her personal escapades as well!
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Funny, Bria! “Did I just say that out loud” moment. Great stuff!
I’m about ready to kick Ben in the shins too, but Lisbeth needs that ball dropped on her head first. Grrr. Looking forward to the next installment and the interview too, of course!
You mean I have to wait a whole ‘nother month! Not to play favorites, but I always read your post first. I am dying here. I want to know, TEASE!
Sorry guys
You can come back Wednesday for the interview with Cami – Maybe YOU can get her to tell you more.
Flirting lessons, tee hee…Can’t wait for the next installment.
Liked the “thinking out loud” part, lol. I think I was just as shocked as Jenna when I read Ben’s response.
Oh good LOL – I’m glad to could catch you off guard
I too loved that “thinking out loud” moment. That’s a classic! Can’t wait for the next part.
Lisbeth is so getting on my nerves. Grr. Like… she was simply annoying at first… but now… I’m in the ‘I just want to smack her’ mode.
LOL We alllll know a girl like Lisbeth