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Chapter Twelve
We startedwith shots of Jack, Sam’s favorite. After three in quick succession, I challenged the guys to a game of pool. Jay raised his eyebrow at me, silently questioning my request, but didn’t back down. I knew he wouldn’t. Neither would Spence. They’ve never been able to resist a challenge.
The thing is … I’m horrible at pool. I miss the easiest shots. Put the cue ball in the pocket more than any other ball. And constantly forget if I’m stripes or solids, especially after I’ve been drinking.
But there is a glimmer of hope on my side. Mia is a pool shark, and the guys know it. She’ll have to carry the team if we’re going to have any chance at beating the guys.
“Who wants to make a little side wager?” Spencer asks as he arranges the balls in the little triangle thingy.
I’m not surprised by his question. Spencer likes to bet on almost everything. Beer pong. Pool. How to spell words. He’s willing to wager money on the littlest things because he likes to be right.
“Dude, I already lost fifty bucks to you before I got to town. I’m out.” Jay holds his hands up in the air and backs away from the table slowly, almost bumping into a frenzied waitress as she darts behind him with a tray of drinks.
“You shouldn’t bet against me if you don’t want to lose,” Spence quips, removing the triangle and spinning it between his fingertips.
“You tricked me.”
“No. I hadn’t gotten an answer yet. How is that tricking you?”
“You knew if you bugged the hell out of her, she’d finally relent. I told you as much.”
“You shouldn’t have taken the bet then.” Spencer shrugs his shoulder and smiles at Jay, taunting him.
Stepping between the two of them, I place one hand on each chest and they both fall silent. “Why do I have the feeling you two were betting on me?”
“Because they were,” Mia whispers in my ear as she breezes past me, smacking Spence on the back of the head before snagging the cue ball and heading to the other end of the table to break.
“Seriously?” I ask, looking between the two of them.
“He said I couldn’t get you to come. You know I never back down from a challenge.”
“And what’s your excuse?” I ask, my question directed at Jay.
“I knew if I challenged him he would find a way to convince you to come.” Jay’s smile widens as he reaches for my waist, pulling me in close. “I would have called you myself if I thought it could have made a difference.”
“And if I hadn’t come?”
“If I remember right,” he begins, his lips grazing the shell of my ear, “you came multiple times.”
Wiggling out of his embrace, I smack him on the chest and walk to the opposite side of the pool table. Mia sends the cue ball sailing down the table. It smacks into the solid green ball in front, sending the rest scattering but nothing drops.
“What’s it going to be, ladies?” Spencer asks, leaning over the table and lining up his first shot. “Wanna put a little money down on the game or are you scared to lose like my partner is?”
Spencer pulls the stick back and very gently knocks the cue ball forward into the solid blue ball, sending it into the side pocket with ease. I don’t remember him being that good at pool.
“I’ll take that bet,” Mia finally replies as he lines up his next shot. “Best two out of three. Lord knows you only perform good once a night.”
The meaning behind her words catches him off guard, causing him to send the cue ball the wrong direction, knocking in our yellow stripe. Mia giggles behind her hand as Spencer glares.
“You did that on purpose,” he accuses, handing his stick off to Jay as he rounds the table, marching in our direction. Mia hands me her stick and pushes me away.
“Your turn, California beauty queen,” Jay says loud enough to draw Spencer’s attention away from Mia before they start arguing.
Spencer stops dead in his tracks, his head whipping around as he screams at Jay, “Mine! That’s my nickname for her.”
“Calm down, Romeo. We all know that,” I say, pointing the stick across the table at him.
All three of my friends are staring at me in shock as I refuse to break eye contact with Spencer, left brow raised. He’s waiting for me to back down and it’s not going to happen. That’s when I realize I defended Jay, something I have never done before. Not because he didn’t deserve it, but because it wasn’t my place.
