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“Sorry. I wasn’t sure how it would go. Seems they’re pretty evenly matched.”
Rachel turned back to the table and lined up a shot. “I’m about to change that.” The cue ball hit its mark with a loud clack, sending two balls rolling in opposite directions. They bounced off the side, then passed each other in the middle of the table, before dropping into the side pockets.
Rachel was as surprised as the rest of them, and she raised her arms triumphantly. “How did I do that?” She turned to Mathias. “I totally meant to do that.” She took a deep breath, lined up her next shot, then missed it by several inches.
Mathias walked up to the table. “It seems it was a fluke.”
“Wow. Trash talk.”
“You started it.”
She put her hands on her hips and looked at Milo. He shrugged. “You kind of did.”
Mathias sank the rest of his balls, then the eight ball for the win. Rachel walked up to him and shook his hand. “Good game.”
“Likewise. Not bad for a principal.”
“Wow.”
“Seriously, where did you learn to play?”
“I grew up with the Buchanan brothers.”
“Ah…that would do it.”
Wilda walked over to her. “That was impressive. Not too many players can hold their own with Mathias.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll get him next time.” She turned to Milo. “How about you?”
“One game, Rachel.”
“Right. When are the guys going to be here?”
“Soon.”
“Fine. I’ll go.”
Wilda held up a hand. “Hold on. I wouldn’t mind some female companionship during this bro fest.” She looked at Milo. “It’s okay, right?”
“You live here, too. I suppose you should have some input as to who comes to visit.”
Rachel hugged him. “Thank you, Milo. I promise we’ll stay in the kitchen and do woman stuff.”
“I’m sure that’s going to happen.”
She took Wilda’s arm. “Come on. Let’s go bake some bread or something.”
They left, and Mathias laughed. “Wow.”
“Yeah. That’s Rachel.”
“You know, at first, I thought you and she were…together.”
“Lifelong friends with a slight detour into a short-lived romantic relationship.”
“Didn’t work out?”
“No. And um…I wouldn’t recommend it.”
