Free Being Jane: A New Adult Erotic Romance: Fountain of Love by Arabella Quinn Page A

friends around for support.”
    I swirled the beer
around in my cup. “Michelle, we need to talk. About us.”
    She smiled
brightly. “How about I come over to your place after bowling. Then we can have
privacy to talk and do… whatever.”
    Her tone was
confident and even seductive. There was no way she could be that clueless. But
maybe she was.
    It was Nate’s turn
to bowl and he was getting grief from the guys because he had been too busy
making mushy eyes at Jane to notice. When he stood and announced that Jane was
going to bowl that frame for him, the teasing only grew louder.
    Chad called out,
“Hey Jane, you better get a strike or else Nate’s gonna be pissed. He’s a
competitive bastard.”
    Nate brushed aside
the good-natured joking as he helped Jane pick out a ball. “Give her a break.
She’s never bowled before.”
    Ace laughed. “This
should be good. Are you sure you want to do this, Jane? The pressure’s on now.
Everyone’s watching.”
    Jane looked around
the crowd and shrugged before she stepped up to the lane. “I like to try new
things.”
    The guys exchange
amused glances, reading perverted meaning into her comment, but luckily Jane
didn’t see that. Nate was trying to show her what to do while everyone watched
the spectacle with rapt attention.
    I had forgotten
about Michelle standing next to me for a moment until she spoke again. “I can’t
believe Nate is into that girl, Jane. She’s the one from the other night. The
one he met and fucked at the party.”
    I couldn’t stop
myself. “That’s how I met you.”
    Michelle frowned.
“That was totally different, Dusty. Anyway, I can’t believe Nate is slobbering
all over her. Look at her. She’s a total slut.”
    I felt my body
stiffen with annoyance, but I said nothing.
    Jane finally sent
the bowling ball down the lane. Everyone watched as the ball curved to the
right and just nicked the side pin before tipping into the gutter. Jane was
laughing as the crowd around our lanes cheered as the one pin toppled.
    Jane shrugged her
shoulders in apology to Nate and his head sunk in mock despair. He retreated to
the ball return and grabbed Jane’s ball for her. This time she knocked down
three more pins. Nate’s score was toast, but he didn’t seem to care.
    I could
practically feel Michelle bristling with anger next to me. She loved to be the
center of attention and Jane getting the spotlight pissed her off. Not that I
was enjoying the moment any more than she was.
    It was my turn to
bowl on the other lane. When I was finished, I noticed that Michelle was over
talking to Nate and Jane. From where I was standing, it looked more like she
was flirting with Nate. She wasn’t the slightest bit drunk, but she was all
over him. Jane looked uncomfortable.
    I was so busy
watching Jane that I didn’t notice that Carrie, one of Michelle’s nicer
friends, had sat down next to me. “You’re so quiet tonight, Dusty. Is something
wrong?”
    Everything was
wrong, but I couldn’t tell Carrie that. I faked a smile and tried to ignore
what was going on ten feet away from me while I talked to Carrie.
    I finished my
beer. “I need a new beer. Do you need anything?”
    Carrie declined my
offer and headed back to her friends when I stood to head for the bar. When I
saw Jane sitting alone, my feet decided to take me over to her instead.
    I sat next to her.
“Hey Jane.”
    She looked wary.
“Hi Dusty.”
    “I’m surprised
you’re here with Nate. He’s not the dating type.” It slipped out before I could
censor myself. I felt like a jackass.
    Jane’s eyes
narrowed. “Oh, right. You already warned me that Nate’s an ass. So far he
hasn’t been an ass to me, but I’ll be sure to be on the lookout.”
    “I didn’t mean it
like that…”
    Her eyes flashed
with anger. “Maybe you should be worrying about your girlfriend and
leave me alone.”
    Shit , this
was going all wrong. “Jane, I’m sorry about the other night. I’m not like that.
And