“Wanking is your domain, Sinclair. I’ve no need for any of that,” Beckett said and tugged Eve into his side.
She laughed and hit his chest.
“I’m sure Asher loves to hear that,” Brody chuckled.
Asher glared at Beckett across the table, making everyone laugh.
Brody lined up his shot and bent over the table. His shirt rode up his back, revealing a firm, tattooed strip of skin.
“The thing you have to understand, lads…” Brody muttered, his attention on the ball. He hit it gently, just a tap really, and it went rolling toward the pocket before sinking inside.
He brought his eyes up to mine, and I couldn’t look away.
“…is that I always win.” He smirked with satisfaction as Beckett whooped.
“Yes, nailed it. I’ll forgive how annoying you are, on account of winning that for us,” Beckett announced and then grabbed Eve. “Okay, guys. It’s past my girl’s bedtime, and I need to get us home so I can tuck her in.”
Winter laughed and tossed her long cloud of white-blonde hair behind her shoulder. She put her arm around Asher, who stared at his best friend and sister with narrowed eyes.
“Time for you to go home, too, before you burst a blood vessel… I’d rather burst one in a more fun way,” she said and then sauntered off.
Asher’s eyes followed his girlfriend like they were tied with a string. He quickly grabbed his jacket.
“Later,” he called as he followed her toward the exit.
Beckett and Eve drifted to the bar.
“And then there were four,” Brody announced and looked at me and Aisha. “Ready to go home, heathen?”
“Nope. Me and Aisha are celebrating, and we’re not going home yet, right?” I glanced at her.
She was looking at her phone, frowning.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just missed a video call from my parents. I know why they’re calling. They have a guy they want to introduce me to.”
“Oh, really? That’s… nice?”
She shook her head. “Not nice. Traditional, yes, but not nice.” She sighed. “Let’s just hope they haven’t decided that he’s the one.”
“They can decide that for you?” I asked, appalled.
She nodded. “They can, and they will, one day,” she muttered. “I should go.”
“Okay, whatever you want.”
She thought for a second and then nodded. She turned to go, just as Eve reappeared.
“Anyone want a ride back to campus?”
“Me, that would be amazing!” Aisha said quickly.
They left together, Beckett in the lead.
I turned to Brody and Cal, only to find that Cal had disappeared somewhere.
“Well,” I said. Why was my heart beating so fast?
