“Bugger off,” Ace muttered as he handed Brianna the cue with a playful grin. “Fancy a game of ping pong instead?”
Well, of course, she was all over that like blue on sky. “Yeah… that’d be fun.” She dropped Leo like a hot potato.
Fine by me. I love potatoes.
Leo’s gaze darted to me. “You and me?” he asked with that irresistible smile of his. My heart skipped a beat or two, double-dutch style. I seriously needed to settle down. I knew this silly crush was really getting out of hand.
I nodded nonchalantly, attempting to look cool and unfazed, like I couldn’t have cared either way. He gave me a smirk, like he knew better. Damn, I realized it was no use pretending with him – he could read me so well.
I told him he could break. I didn’t want to embarrass myself. His silver cross hung low as he leaned down at the edge of the table to break the rack. His break was forceful and the balls raced all over the table. The cue ball even went flying off the table. Kendra, who was watching us, picked it up for me.
“Behind the line,” Leo reminded me. He wasn’t saying much, but his eyes on me were driving me crazy. I positioned my ball to sink a solid. My heart was pounding when I went for the shot. It was a shoo-in. And I actually missed.
So embarrassing.
He smiled, and then proceeded to pocket two balls. He missed the third one on purpose. I sensed him going for the shot, hesitating, and shifting his focus – it was a deliberate miss.
“You missed that shot on purpose,” I said. “I don’t want you to let me win.”
“No, I didn’t,” he lied. “I must be off my game.”
I smiled up at him. “I can read your mind, buddy. You can’t fool me.”
He sighed loudly. “Damn, that’s annoying. Yeah, you got me,” he confessed. “But you gotta know, I grew up in a pool hall… so…”
“No more missing shots on purpose.”
You’re adorable, he was thinking. “Sure,” he relented. “I promise.”
I was up for two easy shots. I got the first one in, and the second was a long shot. I went at it a little softly because I didn’t want to sink the cue ball, but it fell short, by just a half an inch or so.”
I actually grunted. “Oh for the mother of...”
A second later, the ball miraculously traveled the half inch and fell into the pocket. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I jumped up and down, celebrating. I think I even did a little dance.
Leo was smiling wide, enjoying the sight of me – my happiness was contagious. And then it finally hit me
It was him.
Admittedly, I’m not the fastest car on the racetrack. I couldn't believe it took me so long to catch on. “You moved it.”
“What?!” he said, feigning innocence. “I’m standing all the way over here. I was nowhere near the ball.”
“You did that thing you do… that freaky telepathic thing...moving things.”
He shook his head. “Nope, I didn’t. The ball just fell in… it happens.”
“It was still, for like, two whole seconds!! And then it suddenly moves?! What kind of idiot do you take me for?”
Ace was still in the middle of his ping pong game with Brianna. “Is Leo cheating again?”
Kendra was just awestruck. “How the heck did you do that?! No wonder you’re so good at this game.”
Leo shook his head, still wearing that obnoxious smile. “I’m good because I grew up in a pool hall, not because I can move balls with my mind.”
“So you admit,” I broke in. “You moved my ball.”
He sighed again and threw his hand up. “Guilty as charged.”
