Matthew rolled his eyes. “We can play three games before he gets here. We can just alternate.”
“Or I can sit out. I don’t mind watching,” I said, shrugging. I wasn’t too fussed. It was more fun watching anyway.
“Nonsense. She can play with me,” Darius said before taking a swig of his beer. Then I realised I didn’t bring my phone. Damn it, this would have been a perfect picture.
Darius, drinking beer, in shorts, he looked like the typical male who is laid back and care free, which I had never seen, and which looked really, really good. “We’ll take turns when it’s our turn. Kristoff, you okay with it?”
“Of course! The more, the merrier,” Kristoff said with a shrugged. He grabbed a stick and handed it to me.
“Settled,” Darius announced. “Matthew and Lee verses us. Just like old times.”
I watched as Lee set up the table. It had been a long time since I played, a really long time, and I was sure I was going to mess it all up.
“Kristoff, you break?” Matthew asked and Kristoff nodded, taking his position. The break was one of the most fun things and the hardest, in my opinion, to do. You have to break it so all the balls went in different ways, but also try to get one of them in.
We called them stripes and coloured, also called big and smalls, to differentiate between the two types of balls. Whoever hits the first ball takes claim of the stripe or colour they hit. From there, their team must only hit that type of ball at all times, or penalties apply. When all of that type of ball is hit, they can go for the blackball.
If someone else throughout the game hit the black ball into the pocket successfully, game over, they lost. It must be the last ball to hit. And, of course, when Kristoff went for it, two striped balls went in.
“Fu-Screw you,” said Matthew and I smiled. If they only knew how much I swore. It was Lee’s turn as he walked around the table trying to find a position. Man, they should hear Rose. She put sailors back in the day to shame.
Matthew missed and it was our turn. Darius looked at me and I shook my head. Hell to the no.
“You go first,” I said.
“It’s fine, you go,” he said, waving a hand. Now was not the time to act like a gentleman. Ladies first my arse.
“No, seriously. I’ll go next.”
He gave me a look before nodding and I smiled evilly. It was because the white ball was in a horrible place. There was no way I was going to hit something and get it in.
Lee went next and it was Kristoff’s turn, after I declined his offer of letting me have a shot. They were good. Some of their shots had perfect aim. One ball hit the other and that went right into the pocket, while the other stayed exactly where it touched the other ball. The amount of force used was amazing.
I watched until the dreaded moment arrived. Matthew finished his and everyone looked at me and I sighed. Here goes nothing. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? Poke someone’s eyes out? Not too bad.
“Darius, help your damn wife,” someone said as I stood up from where I was, looking embarrassed and all.
“No, I’m all good,” I waved a hand as Darius got up to move.
“I got this,” I nodded when he said he was sure. I did have this. And when I got the ball in, the looks on their faces were priceless.
Kristoff had a smile, like he knew all along while Matthew was slightly choking. I smiled, patting his shoulder. “I know,” I said as I nodded at him and Darius cracked a grin, shaking his head.
“Well, okay then,” said Lee, breaking the silence. “Continuing on from that.” He walked around the pool table. I walked back over to Darius, leaning against the table as well.
“Your dad said you played, but I didn’t realise you could play.”
“Does my dad tell you everything?” I asked. They talked an awful lot about me. Dad probably told him the time I sneezed so loudly that the neighbors came over to see what was happening.
“He adores you.” Darius looked down at me.
I gripped my stick harder. “I know.” I shrugged. I adored him as well, he was my dad.
“And yes, he does,” he confirmed and I groaned. Goodbye secrets.
There was a loud clattering noise and we looked to see Adrian holding a bag which knocked over the row of cue sticks standing there. “At least no one died,” he said and I smiled. Adrian.
CHAPTER FORTYFIVE
“Miss me?” Adrian stepped over the sticks and walked toward us. I shook my head. Typical Adrian, leaving the sticks there.
His face went from happy to confused as everyone started yelling at him for being late. “Alright, okay, I got it,” he huffed, chucking a box onto the pool table. “I brought doughnuts?” he said. It was his truce offer. They all just stared at him before Matthew lunged at the box.
“Okay, I’ll accept them.”
Kristoff shot Matthew a look as he shook his head while Lee handed Adrian a stick. “You’re on our team.”
“Wow, you guys nearly finished,” Adrian said, looking at the table.