“And you must be Meredith,” he replied, unfazed.
“Damn right. So, are you just here to see Nat or do you play pool?”
“I play,” Will said with a grin.
“Perfect.” She gestured toward the pool table in the back. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
We grabbed another round and headed to the table. Will racked the balls while Meredith picked a cue, twirling it like a baton.
“Nat, you’re with me,” she said, already sizing up her opponent. “Will and Camille can lose together.”
Will laughed. “Confident, huh?”
“Always,” Meredith shot back.
The game started lightheartedly, but Meredith couldn’t resist digging into Will.
“So, Will,” she said as she lined up her shot, “What do you do when you’re not sending drinks across the room or stealing married women for ballroom escapades?”
I choked on my drink, glaring at her. Will smiled, unflappable.
“I’m in commercial real estate,” he said, leaning on his cue stick. “Keeps me busy.”
“Interesting. So, do you always mix business with pleasure?”
“Meredith!” I snapped.
“What? I’m just getting to know him,” she said, feigning innocence.
Will met her gaze evenly. “Not always, but sometimes things happen when you least expect them to.”
Meredith raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with his answer. “Are you just staying busy now, too? I mean, what are your intentions with my sister?”
“Meredith!” My cheeks burned.
Will didn’t flinch. He glanced at me, then back at her. “Honestly? I just want to spend time with her. Because…she makes me feel alive.”
The sincerity in his voice silenced her, and for a moment, I thought she might relent.
But then she gave a smile that was half a scowl. “Well, if you’re feeling so alive, let’s see if you can keep up in this game.”
The game went on, and while Meredith kept up the banter, the tension between Will and me simmered just below thesurface. Every stolen glance, every brush of his hand as he passed by, felt electric.
When the game ended, Meredith and I somehow lost, and Meredith finally backed down enough that Camille suggested we dance, “This is a girls night out isn’t it?” she asked.
She and Meredith took off immediately, but I stayed behind with Will.
“You held your own at the table,” he said, leaning closer. “But now your sister probably hates me even more.”
“She’s impossible to impress,” I replied, laughing softly.
“I’m not here to impress her,” he murmured, with his eyes locked on mine.
The heat between us was undeniable, but Meredith’s voice snapped me out of it.
“Nat! Get over here! We’re dancing!”
Reluctantly, I joined them. Will stayed by the pool table, and I could feel him watching me.
