Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I look to the doorway. “You all know what my beef is.”
“Yes, you think that he got most valuable player your senior year because he’s a Steel. And he agrees that the choice between you and him was impossible. You probably should’ve both been chosen.”
“But we both weren’t chosen. That’s a fact.”
Maddie interjects. “You know how tired I am of hearing about this? It was fourteen years ago, Jesse. Get over it.”
“Yeah, sis. You’re right.” I drain the rest of my glass of water. “Back to the salt mines for me.”
“Salt mines?” Brianna asks. “The pool tables are salt mines?”
“Yeah, they are. The way I’m playing tonight, anyway.” I set my empty water glass down on the table more harshly than I mean to. “Ciao.”
I walk back, resisting the urge to look at Brianna again.
Damn.
What the hell is getting into me?
That fact that it’s been so long since I’ve been laid is part of the problem. I don’t particularly like indiscriminate sex, but tonight?
If someone comes my way, I’ll be biting.
Chapter Thirteen
Brianna
Maddie finishes her drink.
“You want another?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “How about a game of pool?”
I promised myself I wouldn’t go to the pool tables and flirt with Jesse Pike. I promised myself that tonight was about kindling my friendship with Maddie.
But…this is her idea, right?
“Sure.” I gesture to Ava. “I’ll have another.”
“You got it, cuz.” Ava gives me a thumbs-up, her diamond sparkling on her left hand.
“Where’s Brendan?”
She motions toward the back of the bar. “He’s doing some inventory. He’ll be out in a little while.”
I nod and follow Maddie back to the pool tables. Just our luck. The one next to where Jesse and the two others are playing is free.
“You want to rack?” Maddie asks.
“Sure.” I grab the triangle and rack the balls quickly. My pool cue of choice is being used by another person, so I grab a different one.
“I rack, you break.” I nod to Maddie.
Jesse’s standing, drinking another glass of water, watching Dragon and Cage finish their game. Cage is beating Dragon.
Maddie takes a perfect shot, and the three ball hits one of the side pockets. “Looks like I’m solids.” She takes another shot, missing.
I’m good at pool, and I always hope that Jesse is watching me when I win a game.
He’s usually not.
I have a perfectly lined-up shot to land two balls into one of the corner pockets. I breathe in, out, line up my shot, and shoot.
“Yes!” I make the shot.
“Was this my idea?” Maddie asks. “I forgot how good you are.”
“I can give you some pointers,” I say.
“I get all the pointers I need from Jesse.”
Jesse’s eyebrows rise at the sound of his name.
“You need something, sis?” he asks.
“Nope.” Maddie scans the remaining balls on the felt. “I’m just gearing up to get my ass kicked by Bree here.”
“You want to bring in a ringer?” Jesse asks.
“A pinch hitter?” Maddie shakes her head, chuckling. “Hell no.”
“Tell you what, Jesse,” I say. “If you’re that into this game, you can play the winner.”
Maddie laughs. “We already know who that’s going to be.”
I seriously did want this night to be about Maddie and me, but now I’m determined. I line up my next shot, sink my ball into the side pocket.
Again. Again. Until I’m down to one ball…and I miss.
“Ha! You mean I get a turn?” Maddie says.
“Looks that way,” I say dryly.
Maddie makes her shot and then…to my ultimate surprise…every shot after that, until she downs all her balls, and then the eight ball.
I stand, hands on my hips, my mouth dropped open. “Wow.”
“Right?” Maddie shrugs. “I didn’t know I had it in me. I guess I get to play my big brother now.”
Jesse walks over. “Since Cage and Dragon are still fighting it out, sure, sis, I’ll play you.”
“And you’ll kick my ass,” Maddie says. “But since that’s what I was expecting from Bree, it won’t be so bad coming from a family member.”
Watching Jesse Pike play pool is a turn-on.
Usually.
He is way off his game tonight. Even his form is suffering.
I’m not sure what’s going on with him.
He ends up beating Maddie, but only because she missed an easy shot.
“I guess you’re mine now,” I say to him.
He looks me over in a way I’ve never seen a guy look at me before.
My nipples harden.
“You’re up, Jess,” Cage says from the next pool table over.
“Sorry. I’m up over there.” Jesse gestures to his sister. “You all play together.”
My heart drops. Oh, well. This night was supposed to be about Maddie and me getting closer anyway.
“Okay, Mads.” I chalk up my cue. “I racked the last game. You rack this time, and I’ll shoot first.”
“Good enough.” Maddie racks the balls, and I do a really lousy break.
What is wrong with me?
I sigh. “Your shot, Mads.”
She shoots, sinking the three ball. “I’m solids.”