“He's not,” I said easily. “Though Charlie is multi-talented, this is not one of his strengths. To my knowledge at least.”
“See I suck,” Charlie said, gesturing for the table. “So let’s see if you suck worse.”
Tara pursed her lips, her narrowed eyes remaining playful as she caught my arm. “Either way, it's Jesse and me against you.”
“Fine, I'll take that bet.”
Charlie lined himself up on one side of the table with Tara and I on the other, our drinks left to wait for us on a small circular table nearby.
Tara stuck a pair of the tokens into the side of the machine listening to it fall with a clunk before the air table hummed to life, the puck clanking into Charlie’s side.
I could barely hear myself think over the sound of the fans whipping the small plastic disc around. Or maybe it was the faint scent of cherries that was making it hard to focus, Tara’s warm body so close to mine as she leaned over the table to grab our mallet.
Charlie threw the puck down, and we all watched with baited breath as it floated slightly above the table. Muscles tense as we waited for him to strike. About ten seconds in, Charlie set his long fingers into the rim of the mallet and flicked his wrist hard, rocketing the disc towards our side of the table.
“Got it!” Tara called as her hand flew across the table, the mallet impacting heavily with the small plastic puck. It hit the edge, that high pitchedtingit always made flaring up as it bounced back and forth until it finally made its way over to Charlie's side.
The alpha regained control of the puck easily, shooting it back in our direction for Tara to return.
Back and forth, back and forth. The puck moved so quickly half the time I could hardly keep up as the two fought their way around each other until finally Tara managed to hit itjustright past his mallet and into the goal slot.
“Fuck yeah!” Tara screamed, her hand meeting mine for an excited high five as a little red1lit under the home team badge.
Charlie grabbed the puck out of the return slot and started the game up again.
“It’s not over yet,” he taunted.
“Might as well be,” Tara shot back.
Every volley felt more intense than the last until we were finally on the game point, with Tara and I only leading by one.
Charlie had just scored, so Tara lined the puck up and hit it as hard as she could, flinging it to the other side. Charlie volleyed it back hard to my side, and I tried to stop it, but it was no use; I let it fall to the side and go right into our goal.
Now we were tied up for the final point.
Tara groaned. “Jesse!”
“Sorry baby!”
“I’m going to kick your asses,” Charlie called from across the table. “It’s just a matter of time.”
“Oh please,” Tara started, “You've been so focused on my tits this whole time I'm surprised you've gotten a single goal.”
Charlie was all smiles as Tara smacked the plastic once more, but I was a bit shocked at the comment. I guessed it was just a joke between friends, but I couldn't help but think about everything else that I’d noticed. Or thought I’d noticed.
And if I wasn't just being crazy, how I felt about it.
“Fuck,” Tara groaned as I let my distraction get the better of me, the puck flying past and landing in our goal. “Baby!”
“Victory!” Charlie cheered, his fists meeting the air gleefully.
I still felt a bit dazed, looking to Tara with a sheepish smile. “Sorry sweetie pie.”
She sighed, her arms wrapping around my neck as she leaned up for a kiss that made my stomach dip with its tenderness. “S’okay, it was fun.”
I smiled, stealing another sweet kiss from her.
Itwasfun, and despite losing Tara still seemed in high spirits.
