Page 51 of Lust

And Kace stares at me. “Prove it.” And his two words, light a fire in me, and I grab a pool cue.

“I’m breaking.” I say.

“Good idea, your partner struggles to break.” Gabe says and I wonder how many games they had played.

I notice Kace roll his eyes. God, I was surprised he hadn’t killed Gabe. Gabe was annoying as fuck when he played pool—he becomes obnoxious.

* * *

“Is he normally this annoying?”Kace grits out as Gabe tries to distract him from his shot. And it works, Gabe got in Kace’s head and he misses the obvious shot. Scoring Elle and Gabe to shout burn at the same time.

“You should know, he’s your friend.” I give Kace a pointed look, and he hands me the cue. Turned out Kace was using my cue. So we were sharing.

“Yeah well at least I’m not related to him.” Kace mutters.

“One would hope not.” I say and watch Gabe have a shot. Then when he misses he blames me for looking at him! “You are pathetic Gabe!” I declare to the room.

“It’s not fair. She’s going to finish it now.” Gabe groans.

“She has four balls plus the eight to sink.” Kace said, looking at Gabe, like he had miscounted the balls.

But Gabe knew I had set them up for this moment. So I began to sink them into the pockets. Ignoring Gabe as he darted around the table to distract me from each shot.

I lined the eight. Looking at my brother. “Say the apprentice passed the master?” I mocked him, and he shakes his head. “Well I think our four up proves it.” And then I hit the ball, and it sinks into the corner right pocket. “Game.” I called it.

Kace has a slight smirk on his face. “Didn’t think you’d be carrying the team.” He reached for his beer. “Did Gabe really teach you?”

Gabe is complaining to Elle on the other side of the table, leaving me open for conversation with Kace. And Kace was taking advantage of it.

I just nod my head, not saying a word to him.

“You play much?” He has another attempt at conversation with me.

I just shrugged.

“Thought I was meant to be the one that doesn’t talk much.” He arches his eyebrows at me, waiting for me to bite but I don’t. “Come on Ivory, how long you going to freeze me out?”

As long as there is ice on the north pole. I thought but sipped my beer instead. I was beginning to feel seedy. Hadn’t really slept in a few days and had drank more than I should have. I was a tad unbalanced on my feet, and Kace noticed.

“I’m going to bed.” I put the cue back, and walked out. Not giving Kace another look.

KACE

I lastedanother five minutes before I called it a night after Ivory. Fuck Elle and Gabe bickering goes through you. I walked up the stairs and down the hall, pausing at Ivory’s door. And I hear vomiting. I don’t even think twice about it. I just open the door, and see the adjoined bathroom door open.

“Ivory, you okay?” I say, when I walk towards the door.

I hear a faintgo away. But like the closed door, I ignore it.

I kneel down beside her, seeing her gripping the towel bowl. She goes to be sick again and I hold back her hair.

She wants to fight me but doesn’t.

“God it’s just vodka and beer.” She mumbles gripping the bowl, as she goes to stand up. And I end up helping her, holding her steady.

She goes to get away from me, and when she does, she trips over her feet, and is that unbalanced she is heading for the ground, when I catch her in my arms.

“Come on darling, just let me help you get to bed.” I don’t want her hurting herself. But she tries to walk again, this time gripping the basin for support instead of me. I watch her go to the cupboard, and she pulls down a box of pills and I realize now, she’s been in a worse state than this.

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