Page 111 of Can't Text This

“He’s showing you why he calls me Not Pam, isn’t he?”

I nod. “The resemblance is…wow.”

“I know. I get it all the time. Good thing she’s a cutie.” She winks and bends below the counter for a second, popping back up holding a tray full of cue balls and chalk. “Here you guys go. You know the drill. I’ll be around to check on ya in a bit.”

Then she’s heading back down the bar again, tending to another couple who just walked in.

Robbie hops off his stool with his beer in hand. “Grab the balls?”

“How did you say that with a straight face?”

“I didn’t,” he admits. “My lips twitched, you just missed it.”

I roll my eyes and grab the balls as he leads us over to a table along the wall of windows.

For a place where I’m certain balls go flying off tables all the time, they’re quite brave having all the windows and mirrors they do.

He sets his beer on the table and begins racking the balls.

“We’re just gonna shoot, get ya used to the table before we start making bets.”

“Bets? What kinds of bets?”

“For kisses, fun new positions, butt stuff—the usual.”

My lips lift at his nonchalance. “First game starts the bet.”

“First game, huh?” He scratches at the stubble on his chin, thinking and studying me. “Okay. What do you want if you win?”

“Ten kisses, anytime, anywhere.”

He grins, like he knew that’s exactly what I’d say, how safe I’d bet.

He just doesn’t know what his kisses do to me.

“Okay, okay.WhenI win, I’ll decide what I want.” He rubs his hands together, excited. “I’m thinking a new position. I have some crazy things I’d like to do with you. You sure you wanna bet first game?”

I nod. “Positive.”

“No exceptions for what I come up with?”

“None.”

“Deal.”

We shake on it.

He shuffles through the pool sticks, searching for just the right one, testing it on the table before deciding.

“I’ll break,” he tells me, getting into position.

He scatters the balls with his power shot, sinking a solid and a stripe.

“I’ll take solids.”

Four shots later, it’s my turn.

I sashay around the table, looking for just the right shot, but nothing is working in my favor.

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