Page 65 of Wild About You
Jack’s sitting on the chair closest to me, not playing but watching them. A girl is perched on his lap and one hand rests on her thigh. “Looks like our little stunt at the school worked?”
“I guess so. She made a friend.”
His nod is slow, and he takes a long swallow of his beer before he says, “Good for her.”
Scarlett arrives a little later. Leo hands me the controller so he can say hello to his girl by attacking her mouth.
I sit and play, but as soon as they come up for air, I ask, “Have you heard from Piper tonight?”
Scarlett shakes her head. “I talked to her earlier. Why?”
“She’s not here.”
“Is she supposed to be?” Scarlett asks with a smile. “She said something about going out to dinner. Do you want me to text her?”
“The boyfriend,” I mutter. Fuck. I keep forgetting about that dickwad.
Scarlett’s gaze narrows and she bites the corner of her lip before saying, “Yeah, maybe. I’m sure she has her phone if you need something.”
“Nah.” I stand and thrust the controller back at Leo. “I don’t need anything.”
I bounce around the house, saying hey to everyone and keeping one eye on the door. I should have asked her to hang out tonight. Would it have stopped her from going to see him? Maybe not, but at least I wouldn’t be standing here wondering.
Declan and Maverick are playing pool in the game room. The latter steps up to me and offers me a wrist bump.
“Ty, my man. You’re just in time. Declan is kicking my ass. I can’t take any more.”
I take the pool stick when he hands it to me and nod toward the Mad Dog bottle sticking out of the back of his jeans pocket.
“I think it might have something to do with that,” I say, pointing the cue toward it.
“If you mean I haven’t had nearly enough yet, you’re absolutely right.” He takes the bottle, unscrews the cap, and takes a long drink.
Chuckling, Declan rounds the table and asks, “Do you want to break?”
“Nah, go for it.”
“Let’s make it interesting,” Maverick says. “Every sunk ball earns someone a drink.”
“Fine by me.” Declan shrugs and looks at me.
“I changed my mind. I want to break.” I move to the end of the table and rack the balls.
The music is going, more people are starting to show up. By the time I rack the balls and set to break, we have an audience of three girls.
Maverick might be happily married, but he’s never met a stranger. They gravitate to him, and he chats them up. Which is good because neither Declan nor I give them more than a nod and hello.
I sink the first three balls. Declan drinks after each one. I move robotically dropping ball after ball. Thoughts of Piper on her date have me in some sort of trance.
“Eight ball to the left pocket,” I say without even realizing I’ve just run the table. It isn’t until I stand tall and everyone is looking at me that it hits me. “Guess I won.”
Maverick laughs and comes over to slap me on the shoulder. “Damn. That was impressive. Another round?”
“Maybe later. I have something I need to do.”
I drop my beer in the kitchen, grab my keys, and then text Piper on my way to my car,Need to talk to you. Where are you?
She responds immediately.Having dinner atPink Mamas. Is everything okay? Did Everly call?
