***
Michael didn’t even let me offer to help clean up dinner before whisking me off for my first competition of the night.
Sean. Color me unsurprised.
“Are we placing a bet on this game?” Sean squares his shoulders and asks Michael. Then he looks at me. “No offense, but I need to fill up on the way home, and I forgot my card.”
He’s very confident andclearlyresponsible.
I bite my bottom lip. “I don’t know.” I glance at Michael. He told me not to reveal myself in the first game, but I’m not sure if I’m a good enough actress to pull it off.
“Eh,” Sean waves a hand. “It’s just one game. Michael will spot you.”
Well, since he so kindly offered the assistance of his brother. “Okay. Will ten bucks do?”
Sean scoffs and gives me a pity grin, like I’m a little girl holding out four quarters, wondering if I have enough for a bike. “In today’s economy? Better make it twenty-five.”
I don’t have twenty-five dollars with me, but I don’t plan on paying up. If I do lose, this was all Michael’s idea, anyway. Hopefully, I don’t let him down.
“Okay.” I agree.
“What do you want to play?” Sean asks as he racks up the balls.
I shrug and twist the cue, acting surprised when it comes apart. “I only know a couple. You choose.”
His lips curl up in the corners. He thinks he’s already won.
I smile too, for the same reason.
“Let’s keep it simple then and start with eight ball.” Sean says, a touch of arrogance lacing his words.
This is going to be fun.
“Sounds good.”
“Do you want to break?” he asks.
I nod and position myself on the short side of the table. “How hard should I hit it?”
I catch Michael covering his laugh from the corner of my eye. For anyone else, I wouldn’t feign innocence in the game. Only for Sean. It seems he could benefit from a generous serving of humble pie, and I’m happy to serve.
Sean’s eyes glint. “As hard as you can.”
Oh, you poor pathetic boy. I lean over the table, playing with my hold on the cue, and taking an excessive amount of time to line up my shot.
Then I send the ball flying, and half of my solids drop into pockets.
I blow out my cheeks, then look up at him. “Was that good?”
Sean’s smile falters. “Yeah, it was pretty decently okay.”
I bite the inside of my cheek and line up my next shot.
I’ll show him decently okay.
“Let’s see, that red ball in…that middle pocket thingy.” I scrunch up my nose as I hit and sink it. Then I get another. And another. Until I’m down to my last ball, and Sean has smoke coming out of his ears.
I line up the cue and send the eight ball sailing into the corner pocket. I stand up straight and grin. “Hey, that was pretty fun.”
