AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I sputter, unable to form a coherent thought for a moment. “You forget there are two sides to a relationship. He certainly doesn’t see me that way.”
“Are you sure? He is here after all. I’m willing to bet he only showed up because it would make you smile.”
I sit back in my chair, considering her words. Adrian came for me, but was it just because of our friendship lessons? Or because he cares about me on a level deeper than friendship? From what I can tell, he’s not one to do something he doesn’t like for another person. But he also hasn’t made any moves that would suggest he’s interested in me romantically. Well, aside from that flirty line when I saw his abs. My skin heats at the memory.
Adrian arrives back at our table and sits with a huff. His return drags me out of my thoughts. Probably for the best, since they aren’t leading anywhere good or healthy.
“That Fiona woman is infuriating.”
“She was just trying to get to know you,” I say with a laugh and he scowls.
“She wouldn’t give me what I paid for until I told her if I was single.”
I press my lips together, fighting back another laugh.
“Fiona is always trying to find a man for her granddaughter. I keep telling her that it doesn’t look good for her to be setting the poor girl up all the time, but she doesn’t listen,” Poppy says with a shake of her head.
A bell chimes, breaking up our conversation. Henry stands by the podium, one wrinkled hand poised on the handle of the bingo cage. He’s spry for his old age, still able to get around on his own.
“Daubers ready,” he says in his ‘announcer’ voice. He likes to lower his voice a few octaves and drawl. By the third number he loses the act because of people complaining they can’t understand him, but he still tries it every time.
I–along with everyone but Adrian–lift my dauber in the air in a ceremonious manner. Adrian looks around like we’re all short a few marbles. We probably are, but since we’re all together he looks like the odd one out.
When I use my other hand to gesture to Adrian’s dauber, his mouth turns into a thin line, but he lifts his blue dauber in the air. As if he was waiting on Adrian’s participation, Henry begins to roll the cage, the sound echoing through the building.
“B52,” he says into the microphone and everyone lowers their daubers to check for the number. Henry then repeats the number twice more.
I have two of that square on this sheet, so I mark them. Some people buy multiple books and have entire tables covered in cards, dotting away trying to win the jackpot. I usually just buy one book and come to get out of the house, not to win.
“What do you win if you get bingo?” Adrian asks as he presses a circle of blue paint over a square.
“All of the money is in a pot that gets split up throughout each round, except the first. The first-round winner gets a gift basket from local restaurants and stores.”
He nods in acknowledgment and we fall silent, listening to Henry bellow numbers into the microphone. The first round goes by rather uneventfully, with Larry from across the lake winning the basket. The next few rounds go to various residents, with little feedback until it’s time for the jackpot. I’m starting to regret bringing Adrian because we haven’t spoken nearly enough to deem this a lesson in socializing.
“Bingoooo!” Gerty sings in a raspy voice from her table.
“Bingo over here too!” Georgiana calls out.
“Uh-oh,” I say under my breath, and Poppy grimaces.
“What is it?” Adrian asks, looking up from his card.
“If two people get bingo, they have to split the pot,” Poppy says, shooting a wary look to the front of the room. Gerty is hobbling over to Henry with a scowl on her face.
“Gerty doesn’t like to share,” I add. We all turn to watch what is sure to be a fiasco.
“She cheated!” Gerty points a crooked, accusing finger at Georgiana, who gasps as if someone accused her of adultery instead of bingo forgery.
“I did not, you just don’t like splitting the pot.”
“Check our cards, Henry, and tell Georgie here that the money is all mine.”
“You know I hate being called Georgie!” Georgiana stomps one of her kitten heels with a huff.
“Both of the cards are correct,” Henry says, looking as though he might be sick. “You both have won the jackpot and must split it.”
“Rigged,” Gerty declares. “This whole darn thing is rigged! Down with the man!” She tips the bingo cage, causing the balls to spill out all over the floor.
