Page 41 of The Soldier

“All right, who wants to be thrashed today?” I pick up a pool cue and prop out a hip.

Cole, one of the BHS guys, comes sidling into the room, confident as he usually is...given I always beat him.

“Today’s my lucky day. Sign me up.”

Fool.

I lift another cue and toss it to him. He catches it out of the air and grins. “No crying when you lose sweetheart.”

“You wish.” I roll my eyes.

I hate that Cole’s teasing me and not Marshall. There’s a real vibe when he’s here and without his cheeky banter it’s like something is missing.

Where the hell is he?

Was he meant to be gone this long?

Josh walks in rubbing a towel over his hair and says hello to Alice and Briar who are sitting at a nearby table with Aidan and one other guy I don’t recognize.

Josh shoots a grin my way when he sees me playing Cole. He knows I’m going to beat him. I destroy all of them. It’s my superpower. “Who taught you to play?”

I shrug. “My dad.”

“You must like punishment, Cole.” Josh laughs.

“Nope. I’m going to beat her today. Heck, I can beat you, boss.”

“That happened once.” Josh tosses the towel onto a chair. “Then I took back the champion title three more times.”

“Whatevs.” Cole shrugs.

I clear my throat.

Josh lifts his brows, then shakes his head. “Now Trina holds it.”

I snicker, then lean over my cue, line up the white ball, and break. The balls go scattering and, bingo, the number two goes into the pocket in the left-hand corner.

Cole groans.

Straightening and studying the balls which slow to a stop, I walk about the table. This is a great distraction but not completely. After finding my next ball, I glance around the room and then can’t help myself.

“So, where’s my archnemesis?” I shrug as casually as I can.

Briar glances over at me.

I look away.

I know she knows. But it’s not what they think. We had one kiss. I’m not in love with the guy. We shared saliva. So, I guess I just want to know he’s alive.

“Me? Or Marshall?” Cole asks.

“Please. You’re a pussy cat.” I snort. “I meant the giraffe.”

Josh laughs. “Is that what you call him?”

“No.”Yes.“He doesn’t qualify for a pet name.”

“He’s still away.” Josh leans against one of the beams in the room and sips on the beer he just cracked open.

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