Page 68 of Never Stop

“Looks like I’m solids,” Black Widow stated.

I turned back to the table and assessed the rest of the balls that were left. She’d hit four of her seven in on one shot. Clearing my throat, I said, “Looks that way.” I turned away. I didn’t want to see our money go down the drain.

A minute later she called, “Your turn.”

I counted the balls, and another one of hers was missing, but so was the cue ball.

She shrugged. “Hit it a little too hard.”

I nodded and stepped over to the pocket she pointed at and took the cue ball, lining it up behind my green striped fourteen on the opposite end of the table. I aimed and hit the white ball, barley causing it to move. Then I turned, hit the striped red eleven in. The cue ball had darted across the table and lined up perfectly for me to hit the blue striped ten in. I did, and I heard Gary cheer before going quiet again.

I rolled my eyes and stepped up to hit the purple striped twelve in. I missed and took a deep breath, feeling frustrated. Gary and Avery both groaned.Fuck.

Black Widow stepped up to where the cue ball had stopped and before she could lean over to take her shot, I turned and looked at Avery and Gary. Avery caught my eye and I shook my head because I knew what he was thinking. Hell, I knew what all the guys were thinking in the room and I wasn’t about to be one of them.

Baseball.

Football.

Beer.

Brooke’s tits.

Yes, Brooke’s tits! I wanted to bury my face between her breasts and suck…

Hockey.

Golf—fuck, that’s boring as fuck to watch on TV.

She made a shot and then missed her next one. I turned to Gary because he’d stated she wouldn’t miss unless I sabotaged her. Which I didn’t. He shrugged.

This was my chance. I’d done it ten or so years ago. I re-chalked my stick, and as I stepped up to the table to align myself for the shot, I prayed that my body had a memory for this.Like riding a bike.I hit my purple striped twelve in, the yellow striped nine in, followed by the blue striped ten. I had two balls left. I turned and smirked at the boys. They were both standing with a look of hope on their faces.

I smiled and lined my shot to hit the maroon striped fifteen in. It went in and the cue ball teetered on the edge, wanting to follow the fifteen into the pocket. I held my breath, willing the ball to stop with my mind almost like Jean Grey from X-Men. If the cue ball went in and I lost my turn, I knew I’d be fucked. Black Widow would send me packing.

The ball stopped, and I watched it for a beat to make sure it wouldn’t go over the lip. It didn’t, and I swallowed hard, thanking my lucky stars. I had one final ball and the eight ball left. That was it. Two more balls and I would have a shitload of cash in my pocket.

Again, I stepped up to the table where the white cue ball lie and I took a few minutes, aiming my shot just right. The cue ball hit lucky number thirteen, and I watched as the orange striped ball disappeared in the pocket. I called the pocket I was going to hit the solid black eight ball in by pointing my stick at it. Black Widow rolled her eyes, and I smirked.

I totally had this.

I aimed and took my shot. The cue ball clicked against the black ball, and the eight ball glided across the table and into the pocket I’d called. Before I had time to throw my hands in the air and cheer, I heard a yell come from Black Widow.

“What the fuck, Trish? I thought you said I’d only have to worry about the one with the scar?”

I looked to Avery and Gary, and their eyes went to Rick. He had the money bag tucked under his arm and was making a beeline for the stairs.

“Oh, fuck no!” I hissed and ran toward him.

Before I could reach him, Avery had him by his neck collar. “Where do you think you’re going with my friend’s money?”

Rick looked to Black Widow and Trish. “I was—”

I snatched the envelope from his side and growled almost nose to nose with him as I bent down to be level with him. “You three better get the fuck out of here before we call the cops. I’m also going to talk to the every pool hall in this city and shut you down. I see what you’re doing, and if those two weren’t women, there would be a brawl happening right now. But we’re used to fuckers like you and have no problem taking this outside. Now, get the fuck out of here before I change my mind.”

Rick hurried up the stairs when Avery released him. Black Widow and Trish followed after him. We had a few cops who came into Halo, and it was time I had a chat with them about the shenanigans happening in their city.

“Since they were scamming us, can we get our money back?”

I looked and saw a guy walking toward us. I chuckled. “Fuck no. I have a wedding and honeymoon to pay for.”