The shift in timing had made it possible for Sam to do that other movie, and that was the biggest thing that had ever happened to him. He was just coming off an amazing experience, and now he was doing this one with friends. Life was good. The storyline of Paths Crossing was based on Alex's real family, and it was special to him. Sam was happy to be a part of it.
He was not disappointed about the charming, gorgeous young woman who was playing opposite him either. Trinity Banks. She and her sister were both really nice girls who hadnever acted a day in their lives. Ty was a spitfire version of her sister, and both of them were friendly and seemed confident in spite of their acting inexperience. Sam had talked to Ty more, and he really liked her. He figured they'd get along fine as co-stars.
She had a boyfriend, and it was so serious between them that she refused to do the kissing scenes. Sam had already met the woman who would stand in for Ty. Her name was Natalie, and she was a local girl—someone who had come out when Alex and his team held open auditions in Missoula. Natalie wasn't there hanging out with them tonight, though. It was just about eight or ten of the main people.
The restaurant had a bar in the back, and there were two pool tables. They had been occupied earlier in the night when they first arrived, but eventually the crew from Paths Crossing took over the first table, and then finally, the second.
"I'm playing the winner," a woman's voice said from behind Sam after he took his shot. He turned to find Ty standing there. She had been at the bar talking to Cameron, and she just walked over. She was smiling at him, and she motioned to the table.
"Those are my quarters," she said. Her smile was mischievous, challenging, and if Sam didn't know any better, he would think she was…was she flirting?Her eyes sparkled, and she was absolutely captivating. The two of them held eye contact long enough that he thought maybe her boyfriend situation had changed.
He cleared his throat, glancing at the pool table, toward Ash, who was taking his second shot. "I missed that last shot, but I sank three before that," Sam said, coming to stand next to her.
"Are you just saying that to brag?" she asked.
"No, I'm saying you're probably going to be playing me."
"Hey, I still have a chance here," Ash said defensively. He sank his next shot and made a face at Sam.
"You do not want to get into a smack-talking war with this guy," Cameron said, coming to stand next to Ty and gesturing to Sam.
"You're just salty because I destroyed you so bad," Sam said.
"I only had like four balls still on the table," Cameron insisted, looking at him like he was crazy.
"You're right, you're right, you did really well," Sam said, patting her shoulder and reassuring her. Cameron made a silly face at him, crossing her eyes and sticking her tongue out, and Sam made a face back at her.
Ash missed his shot, and Sam shot the next one without hesitating. He sank his last regular ball, and then he casually pointed to the corner pocket where he easily landed the eight ball, striking the final blow and ending the game. Ash still had two balls on the table, and he and Sam shook hands when it was over.
Something happened with Judd at the other pool table, and everyone reacted to that.
Sam looked at Ty, who had already picked out her pool cue. She casually rested it against the table, and she started racking the balls in the wooden triangle. Sam just watched her, smiling at how confident she was and that she knew how to play pool. He made a face like he was impressed, and she shrugged.
"I've only thrown sixty-eight college parties," she said. "It's a dog-eat-dog world out there with frat boys. I'd better know how to play a little pool. Not to brag, but I can handle myself at pretty much all party games," she said, chalking her stick. "Now, sit me down with an algebra test if you want to see me sweat."
Sam glanced at Judd's table. He was playing pool with one of Ash's crew, one of the musicians, and something had happened again, and they were replaying some amazing shot. Sam only vaguely took them in because Ty wasted no time in breakingthose pool balls. She went to the front of the table and only lined up her shot once before letting that handle fly.
"Gaww," Sam said, covering his mouth and gawking at her.
She laughed and pointed at the table. "I think I got one of each, so I'll pick stripes," she said. She lined up a shot and dropped the twelve ball into the side pocket.
"Dang, girl, you don't waste any time," Sam said.
"I'll waste a little now," she said, staring at the table. "I don't really have much. I wanted that cue ball to stop about five inches behind where it did."
"Do you not have anything with that fourteen? No, I guess not," he said, moving to look from a different perspective.
"I’m just going to try for…" She trailed off, taking a shot for the ten in the corner pocket, but it didn't make it in. It settled right next to the opening, and Sam made a sound of disappointment.
"That was a good shot, you almost had it."
"Don't take it easy on me," she said, turning and staring up at him. She was only about a foot away, and there was no denying that he was attracted to her.
"Don't worry, I won't," he said. "I can see how good you are. I'm not going to take it easy."
"I got a little lucky on that break," she said. "Is that where that comes from?" she added, staring off like she was lost in deep thought.
"Is that where what comes from?"
