Page 18 of Switch

“Careful,” I say, stepping up to take my turn. “We don’t play nice when we’re cornered.”

“Oh, please,” Brooke says, rolling her eyes. “You’re already losing.”

“I’m about to turn this around,” I reply, leaning over the table. I line up a shot and sink two stripes in a row, drawing a low whistle from Brianna.

“Well, look at you,” Bella says, her voice teasing.

“Stick around,” I reply, grinning as I line up another shot.

The game stays neck-and-neck, every shot met with either groans or cheers. Brooke and Brianna are relentless, teasing Rev and Blade so hard that even Blade starts cracking under the pressure.

“Man, I’m trying!” he exclaims after missing an easy shot. “You guys are brutal.”

“We’re honest,” Brooke quips, tapping the table with her cue. “It’s not our fault you can’t keep up.”

“You’re ruthless,” Rev mutters, shaking his head as Brianna knocks another striped ball into the pocket.

“Damn right,” Brianna replies, blowing on her fingertips like she’s cooling them off.

By the time we’re down to the last ball, the energy around the table is electric. It’s Bella’s turn, and all eyes are on her as she lines up the shot. The eight ball is sitting just off-center, and I can tell she’s focused, her brows furrowed in concentration.

“You’ve got this,” Brooke says, clapping her on the back.

“No pressure,” Brianna adds with a wicked grin.

“Plenty of pressure,” Blade fires back. “Miss it. Miss it!”

Bella laughs, shaking her head as she leans down, her grip steady. She takes the shot, and the eight ball rolls smoothly into the pocket.

“Boom!” Brooke shouts, throwing her hands up in victory.

“We win!” Brianna adds, doing a little dance around the table.

Bella straightens, her cheeks flushed from laughing as she turns to me. “Told you we don’t lose.”

I grin, shaking my head. “I’ll admit, you’re better than I thought.”

“Better than you, you mean,” Brooke corrects, smirking.

“Don’t push it,” I say, though I can’t stop smiling.

As the sisters celebrate their win, Blade groans dramatically, leaning his forehead against the edge of the table.

“We just got hustled,” he mutters.

“By the Pin Sisters,” Rev adds, laughing as he walks to the bar to grab another beer.

I lean back, watching Bella laugh with her sisters, her whole face lit up with joy. We might’ve lost the game, but standing here with her, it doesn’t feel like losing at all.

The laughter around the pool table is still going strong when the music shifts to something faster, something with a beat that demands movement. Rev, who’s always been a sucker for a good dance floor moment, sets down his beer and turns to Brianna with a grin.

“Come on,” he says, holding out a hand. “Let’s see if you’ve got moves as good as your pool game.”

Brianna raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but then she laughs and takes his hand. “You better not embarrass me, Rev.”

“No promises,” he shoots back, already leading her toward the dance floor.

Blade isn’t far behind, nudging Brooke with his elbow. “Your turn. Let’s go.”

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