But I know better.
Everyone goes silent as she gets into position. After a deep breath, she knocks in the eight ball with ease.
The onlookers begin to cheer like it’s a fucking movie or something.
The guy she was playing against says, “Wait, you’re a shark, aren’t you?”
She counts the stack of cash. “You have no idea.”
“Do you maybe want to get out of here? We could go somewhere quiet.”
She still doesn’t look at him. “No, thanks. I’m good.”
I don’t know why, but something about that has a small smile pulling at my lips.
We get back to our game, but it doesn’t take long for Jo to notice us. She sees Adam first and then comes over to say hi.
Looking back and forth between us, she says, “Hey, guys.”
“Hi, Jo.” We both say it, but Adam’s is much more enthusiastic than mine.
“What are you guys doing here?” She smiles that bright white smile.
Adam replies, “We are celebrating. I just graduated college.”
“No fucking way!” She gives him a hug. “Congratulations! That’s awesome!”
“What are you doing here?” Adam asks.
“I was hanging with my sister, Ronnie, but she wasn’t feeling well, so she bailed.”
“Ah. Well, do you want to chill with us and play some pool?”
Immediately, she turns to me for my reaction. “Only if it’s okay with Beau. I don’t want to impede on guy time.”
I know spending time with her wasn’t on my Bingo card tonight, but Adam wants her here. And tonight is supposed to be about him—not me.
“Fine with me,” I say, trying to really mean the words.
She smiles again. It’s not cocky. It doesn’t look like she’s gloating. It’s the same smile I used to get all the time.
But that smile isn’t going to change my opinion of her. And to ensure that fact, I opt to let the two of them play while I watch.
I take a seat on the stool and nurse my beer while they play through. I do my best not to focus on Jo, but between her and every other person in Giddy Ups, she’s the better option.
As the game goes on, I realize once again I’m not the only guy watching her. At least a dozen guys are sneaking peeks at her.
And Jo has no idea, or if she does, she doesn’t acknowledge it. That’s always been how she is. Although she normally had a boyfriend, she never realized how awesome she was, which is why all of those boyfriends were usually pieces of shit.
When my beer is empty, I announce I’m going to grab another. I figure I’ll grab Adam one, but I have no idea what to do about Jo.
Do I get her one too? That may send a message that I’m more okay with her than I am. Or do I not get her one and seem like an asshole?
I opt for putting my pettiness aside and just getting her one. I get to the bar and order, and while I’m waiting, I hear a voice next to me.
“I’ll get this round.”
I look over and see Jo and say, “You don’t have to do that.”
