Page 25 of First Chance

Someone hands me a beer at some point, but I only let it get warm in my hand, pretending to sip on it occasionally so no one notices. I watch Lochlan run the table once it’s his and Seiver’s turn. Sinking most of their colors with ease.

They win twice before it’s mine and Hayes’ turn to play and determine the winner. The pool stick looks too big in my hand compared to how Lochlan holds his. Each shot is solid and precise, he never slips up.

“Alright, listen. I’ll break, rack up as many as I can to give us a head start. Then you can show me what you got,” Hayes whispers.

My eyes are stuck over his shoulder on Lochlan and the way he’s watching us. The scar on his cheek is much more visible under the fluorescent lights in here, making him look as scary as he acts.

“Wait!” Seiver shouts before Hayes breaks. “There’s always a wager. What’s the bet?”

Hayes looks up at Lochlan from his shooting stance, a silent conversation happening between them.

“No, bet,” Lochlan answers. The entire room erupts in complaint. Apparently, this is an important topic.

“Fine. Jo, what do you want to bet?” Hayes asks.

“Umm. I don’t know, what’s normal?”

“Last time I lost, Lochlan made me run through the bear enclosure naked,” Arizona admits.

“No, I made you run through the enclosure. You were drunk and took your clothes off on your own,” Lochlan argues, and a couple of people start cracking up.

It’s so odd to see this side of him. There is still a line between him and the men who work for him, but there’s also camaraderie that I’ve never witnessed.

“I don’t think I want to do that,” I admit.

Lochlan looks at me flatly. “You’re not going near the fences, Jo. I don’t care if these morons get hurt.” More people laugh. Must be a guy thing.

“What do you want from Lochlan, Jo?” Hayes asks more specifically.

A mischievous grin graces my lips. “I want you to agree to come to the events with me this summer to raise money for the sanctuary.”

The room goes silent as Lochlan’s glare turns deadly. “And, if I win?”

“Then I’ll stop bending the rules and listen like a good littlegirl.”

I wasn’t expecting such a reaction, but you could hear a pin drop with everyone holding their breath, waiting for Lochlan’s response.

His stare burns straight through me as if he can see my heart thundering in my chest.

“Deal.” His voice raises the little hairs on the back of my neck.

Hayes breaks, and all the balls go rolling in different directions. “We’re stripes,” he announces, and the game begins.

Chapter Nine

Jo

Hayes sinks four balls before missing the corner pocket and giving our opposing team a turn, and I’m feeling even better about our chances when Seiver lines up a shot and misses by a millimeter.

His ball knocks one of mine right in front of a side pocket, and I tap it in no problem.

Unfortunately, my next options aren’t great, and I don’t want to look like a fool in front of all these guys. I take my time, circling the table before deciding on the 10-ball into the front corner pocket.

I have to lean deep over the table to line up my shot, but as I find the center of the cue, Lochlan zips a short whistle through his teeth. Everyone backs up, giving me a wide berth.

I don’t think it was intentional, but it throws off my trajectory, putting my focus on the man standing opposite me across the table and not the stripe I’m aiming at.

I miss.

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