Hang Your Halo

Twenty Four

There is an indentation in the shape of you,  made your mark on me; a golden tattoo
Dress x Taylor Swift

Beckham

I'm extremely excited for bowling tonight!  We usually go once a month back home and it's become a big thing with high stakes and repercussions involved if you don't follow through.   The terms are predetermined so the winner can't intentionally make the loser's life a living hell.  The last time we went, the loser had to refer to the winner as "daddy" for a solid week.  There was only a four point difference between first and last place, and Jake absolutely reveled in Rooster having to call him daddy.   The best part was that we got called out on a mission before the week was up and I almost peed my pants laughing at one of their exchanges. 

"Rooster, we're 3 clicks out from the target.  Halo and I will approach from the south, you take the north."

"Copy that, Hangman.  Breaking left to alter approach angle."

"Try again, Bradshaw.  Unless you wanna choose consequences instead of holding up your end."

"Ugh.  Copy that...daddy."

The disdain and disgust in his voice will forever make me laugh.  I fully intend to continue the tradition of repercussions and consequences tonight, regardless of whether or not Kate and Jensen want to join in. 

Jake holds my hand in the truck for the entirety of the drive and the small action leaves a smile on my face.  When we pull up, he hops out, opens my door, then reconnects our hands as we walk inside.  Nat and Bradley parked not long after we did, and Bradley can't hold back his sassy comment.

"You guys are sickeningly adorable.  It simultaneously makes me happy and wanna vomit," he says as he bumps his hip against mine.

I roll my eyes before replying.  "As if you two are any better!  Y'all have any ideas on what repercussions and consequences should be this time?"

"Oh I absolutely do," Jake says with a mischievous smirk. 

"Uh uh, no way.  That face means nothing but trouble, beasty. I'm slightly terrified but also excited to hear what you've got planned."

We make our way through the doors of the bowling alley and immediately spot Kate and Jensen.  We gave them hilarious stories of our shenanigans over dinner this weekend and they were so amused with the idea that they asked to join in next time we went.  Since it's their inaugural bowl, we let them choose the loser's task.  They settled on the one chip challenge, the lowest scorer having to eat a single tortilla chip coated in the hottest pepper seasoning. We did change things up a little tonight and are playing as teams consisting of each couple. It'll definitely be a new dynamic and will probably keep the over competitiveness from running the Coles off.

Ugly shoes on our feet and neon bowling balls in hand, we find our lane and order drinks. We're all pretty evenly skilled and it makes the game even better. Jake narrowly misses a strike leaving two pins behind and I tell him he needs to throw the ball a little faster next time and he'll be golden. The ball returns and he takes his next shot, only knocking down one of the remaining pins.

He walks back to where we're sitting and I place my palms on his chest with an overdramatic pout before asking "Aw baby, do I need to explain the difference between harder and faster?"

Jake grips my hips and narrows his eyes at my snark, then fires back with "Do I need to remind you of the difference between hold on and hold it, sweetheart?"

"Jesus you guys, it's just bowling! Leave your foreplay far away from me before I vomit in your lap!" Bradley grimaces, making the rest of the crew bust out in hysterical laughter.

"Sorry, brother. You know I can't help it!" Jake laughs with a rough clap to Bradley's back.

"You two nauseate me to no end," he mumbles under his breath. Nat giggles and shakes her head as she gives him a kiss to try and cheer him up. Having too much fun to stop after one game, we decide to make it the best two out of three games. Our strategic questions end up flowing easily as we actually get along well with Kate and Jensen. We find out that they were both sales reps when they met and had done quite a bit of traveling and working together before Jensen eventually made a move on Kate while on a work trip. Jensen's natural charisma and charm moved him up through the ranks quickly before he landed his current position. Kate, who enjoyed the role she filled, was happy to continue on with her current job and eventually took on a part time status so she wouldn't have to be away from home as much after they got married. As we talked, we learned that they're trying to get pregnant but haven't been successful yet. Jensen teased that he's thoroughly enjoying the process and Kate playfully smacked him in the chest before kissing his cheek and agreeing.

Jake and I emerge the victors, the Coles coming in second and Nat and Bradley the losers. Of course, Jake couldn't let the moment pass without teasing Bradley.

"You're snug on that perch, always waiting for the right moment that never comes," Jake playfully ribs him, and Bradley pulls him into a headlock as we walk outside.

We say our goodbyes to everyone and Jake helps me into the passenger seat of the truck. Once the truck is on the highway, I release a heavy sigh as I process the events of the evening.

"What's got you huffing over there, tiny?" Jake asks.

"I dunno, Jake. I'm just having a hard time reconciling the fact that they're basically these cold hearted criminals while they're so loving and fun. It's not sitting right with me," I tell him.

"I know, sweetheart. I feel the same way. But we gotta remember that they're our targets and that they're trafficking lethal weapons to some of our nation's biggest enemies. We've gotta try and make sure we keep that at the forefront of our minds before we wind up tangled in a dangerous web."

After we arrive home, we shower together like we do every night and because he picks up on my distress, he tenderly washes my hair again.

"You're really a big teddy bear, you know that right?" I ask him as he rinses the conditioner from my hair.

"Only for you, short stack. Well, you and my mama. But I'll call you a liar if you ever tell anyone that!" With a laugh, he steps out of the shower and grabs our towels, tying his around his waist before wrapping me up like a burrito in my own. I twist my hair into two French braids and climb into bed, happily clad in my regular pjs that consists of Jake's giant tshirt and boyshorts, and snuggle into Jake's warmth.

"Goodnight, my big bear," I mumble into his chest.

"Goodnight, my little hellcat," he replies, leaving a sweet kiss on my lips.

We're both out cold before we can blink again.