Page 40 of Eternal

Declan doesn’t take his eyes off me as I line up my next shot, and I sink two balls in a row. Even with theconfidence boost, my nerves are back the second I miss. With anyone else, talking is talking. It costs me nothing. But Declan always has ulterior motives.

“You’re up, Tealene.”

I glance at Declan, who is standing with his weight on his pool stick as he watches me. He must have missed a shot, but I was spacing out, not paying attention.

I’m never nervous. I never lose at a game of pool. Leave it to Declan to draw out all my weaknesses.

This time, I only sink one ball before it’s his turn again. He has his shots lined up, and given his skill level, I’m counting down the seconds until this is over.

With a final shot, Declan wins.

“Crap.”

Declan chuckles under his breath at my irritation.

“Here.” I hand my pool stick to Patience.

Her eyebrows pinch. “You’re not actually entertaining him with this, are you?”

“It’s just a conversation.”

Just a conversation.

As if such a thing exists where Declan Pierce is concerned.

Luckily, Patience believes me, taking the stick as someone else at the party walks up to play against her.

Declan doesn’t say a word as he walks past me. He barely even glances in my direction. Still, I follow him deeper into the hellhole they like to call Sigma House, like the idiot he makes me.

We weave through the party, and I expect him to pull me upstairs, but he doesn’t. Stopping in a quiet hallway instead.

“Well, you won.” I click my tongue. “Let’s talk and get this over with.”

Declan crosses his arms over his chest, maintaining an unnerving distance. “You’re avoiding me, Teal. Not very girlfriend-like of you.”

“Stop pretending this is real.”

“Stop pretending it isn’t.”

I narrow my gaze. “I’m not avoiding you. We just played pool.”

“I’m talking about before that.”

“When you were sitting up on your throne when I arrived?” I mock him.

“So you did notice me.” He winks.

“It’s not a compliment.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Are your feelings hurt because I didn’t bow down to you the second I walked in the door?”

Declan doesn’t react to the comment, and I hate that he’s calm while I’m out of breath from our verbal sparring match.

“What do you want, Declan?”

“I thought that was clear.” He quirks an eyebrow.

“Well, it’s not.”

“You.”

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