"The phrase lucky break. Is that from pool? Like you're breaking the pool balls, and you got lucky?"
She blinked and stared at him, waiting for his answer, and wearing the most serious expression. The sight tickled Sam, and so did the question. He let out a laugh.
"What?" she said. "That could be where it comes from. But oh, I guess it could be an actor in a breakout role… like lucky breakout role…"
"I actually have no idea," he said, shaking his head at her.
"Why are you laughing?"
"I don't know. It's just cute."
"Oh, it looks like it's from a wishbone," she said, looking at her phone while he took a shot.
Sam missed, and he leaned against the pool table and did the same thing, searching the phrase on his phone as she continued to read hers.
"No, I found somewhere that says billiards is right, too," Sam said. "You might be right. It might be from pool."
"It doesn’t matter," she said, stashing her phone in her back pocket. "Either way, I was lucky on that actual break. They usually don't spread out that much."
"Are you feeling lucky right now? I'm getting scared."
"I'm feeling amazing right now. I feel normal, which is… I can't even tell you how good it feels."
"I heard Judd talking to you about that bourbon."
"It's not just that," she said, shaking her head. "Well, maybe… I don't know… all I know is that I had about eight panic attacks today. I even had one when I first got here tonight. But now I feel so good. I don't know what it is. It's like something was gripping my body, and now it's gone."
"I've had those before," he said.
"You have?" she asked, turning to stare at him.
"Yes. Never eight in one day, but maybe eight total in my life. Is it where you're just in fight or flight?"
"Yeah, but I don't know. I think I get it differently or more extreme than other people. I'm not sure. Every time I search about it, it's when I'm feeling bad, and then I just get scared and start feeling worse." She tilted her head and stared at him withsweet relief and sincerity. "But right now, my body feels normal, Sam. I'm so thankful. When I'm feeling good, I'm feeling good, you know? It's like all the stuff that was scaring me is suddenly no big deal. I had all these thoughts that were about impending doom, and suddenly they're not there."
"Well, I'm glad you feel better," he said.
"Thank you, I started to feel better right when we left the ranch earlier…" Ty trailed off like she might finish that sentence, but she didn't. She took a shot, sinking the ball she was aiming for. They went on talking about something else.
That round of pool was the most fun twenty minutes Sam had passed in a long time. He could easily be smitten with this girl, and he relished that fact because it would make playing this role easy. He and Ty hung out the rest of the time they were out, which was only an hour or so. But then they sat next to each other on the way back to the ranch in the car.
They were riding in a car with Judd and Cameron, and ten minutes into the trip home, Cameron figured out that she had left her phone. They turned around, and the four of them were later than the others getting back to the ranch. It didn't matter because they got along so well and were having fun.
Cameron and Judd had to stop at the set building for something, so Sam and Ty ended up walking back to the trailer area alone. They had been talking to each other for the last two hours, and now they had a few more minutes on a path. Sam couldn't help but think that something might happen.
"I know Alex is happy we get along so well," Ty said, glancing at him. It was dark on that path, and they were in a stretch of it that was shielded by trees.
They were alone, and when they came upon a part of the path with uneven ground, she reached out for his arm. She used a light touch, but she kept her hand there for stability. She was holding onto his elbow. Her fingertips gently touched theinside of his arm, lightly gripping that sensitive flesh. Sam was attracted to this woman, and his body responded accordingly. He didn't react to her touch, but it was difficult because he was hyperaware of it.
She let go once the path cleared, and Sam missed having her hand there. "Sorry," she said. He glanced at her, and she flashed him a smile. "About hanging on to your arm," she clarified, looking adorable.
He shook his head a little. "No, I'm fine with it," he said. He paused and then added, "As long as your boyfriend doesn't mind."
They took a few slow steps in silence before she stopped walking. He turned to her, and he assumed she would deny having a boyfriend and maybe even kiss him. Instead, he watched as her face turned to one of extreme dread. She slapped a hand to her mouth and turned away from him. It all happened so quickly that he heard the sound of heaving and saw her vomiting before he quite registered what was happening.
Chapter 6
Ty
