“I think I’ll hold off,” I answer, not wanting to be around in case Caleb shows up.
“C’mon, Izzy. I’ll be there. I’ll keep him away from you.”
I roll my eyes. “You just want me there to try and win, but we both know you can’t.”
“See? You’re getting cocky! That’s my opening,” he says, rubbing his hands together as if he can already taste his victory.
It’s a victory he’ll never have. I can shoot pool with the best of them. I was trained by all the Devil’s Blaze, and most of the Savage Brothers. It’s something that came naturally to me. I can study a trick shot for a while and then manage to pull it off. Someone told me I could make millions just shooting pool. I didn’t try to do that. I did, however, join some amateur tournaments. I have a rising name in that. It’s all done underground, but it’s big enough that I’ve paid for most of my own schooling—well, what the scholarships haven’t paid. I’m proud of that fact. Dad and Mom always tried to pay it, but I wouldn’t let them. I’ve always had an independent drive to stand on my own two feet.
“Fine, I could use the practice. I joined a tournament in Knoxville next week.”
“Does your dad know you go to these things?”
“Yeah,” I laugh. I don’t keep it from him. Of course, I’m pretty sure Dad thinks pool tournaments are boring events filled with men with beer bellies that are old enough to be my grandfather. While some of them might fit that description, that’s not the truth at all. Still, I’m not going to shatter his illusion.
“I’m thinking he doesn’t have a good grasp of it,” Pez mutters.
“Mind your own business, Pez. I am allowed to have secrets, just like you are,” I murmur.
He looks at me with a sad grin. “Tonight. Don’t be late. If you’re a good girl, I’ll take you out for pizza later.”
“Be still my heart,” I laugh. “Doesn’t the club always have food out?”
“Well, yeah, but I decided I’d like to take you out and buy you pizza. Is that a crime?”
“I guess not. I’m warning you though. I want the good stuff, not Jack’s.”
“Apollo’s it is.”
“Oh God. Did someone mention Apollo’s? I’m starved!”
I look up to see Beau and my brother walking in. My brother is grinning from ear to ear. He’s been doing that a lot lately. I think Beau is amazing and we’re getting pretty close. Still, even if I didn’t know her, I’d love her for making my brother so happy.
“Pez is taking me there tonight after I beat his ass at pool.”
“Oh! I’m too hungry to wait. We were trying to get back quickly so Hunter could attend a meeting with King tonight. He starved me to death,” Beau huffs.
“Harper, I told you we could stop and grab something. You’re the one who told me you wanted to hurry and get back so Ty could eat with us,” BB points out, calling Beau by her last name. It’s kind of cute. They seem like they’ve been a couple for fifty years, instead of it being a recent thing. My brother is happier than I’ve ever seen him in my life. I know that is exactly what I want, too. I just need to get my medical degree in my hands, complete my residency, and then do a fellowship for my specialty. When I think about it, I’m panicked by how many years I still have in front of me to achieve my goal. Then, I remember, the need for a good trauma surgeon in our region. Hell, medical care in general is iffy in rural communities within the Appalachian Mountain region. Corbin has a lot to offer, but most medical care—especially trauma related—is either flown to Lexington or Tennessee. Bigger cities draw the more qualified surgeons. That’s just facts. I want to give the people of our region a chance. There have been too many who died waiting the extra twenty to thirty minutes. Don’t even get me started on the ones that have passed away because they tried to drive to the city for better care, or because a life flight was busy, and they had to wait or wasn’t available, so they sent them in an ambulance.
“I know, Hunter. I just wanted to eat with Ty.”
“Beau! Come look at the fender! Cal says I’m doing really good with it.”
“Well, duh. I told you that you were a natural. After I check it out, do you want to go to Apollo’s and get pizza with me and your dad?”
“Can Izzy come?” Ty asks, and I can tell he’s still worried.
“I can’t, Ty. I’ve got to go home and visit with Mom before I meet Pez at the club.”
“I’ll pick you up, Izzy. That way you don’t have to drive late at night,” Pez says.
I frown. “You do know that I drive in Lexington daily, right? I believe I can handle Corbin.”
“Corbin drivers get wild on Friday nights,” he replies with a grin.
“Bikers in Corbin get insane, too.” I mutter.
“I’ll pick you up at seven. That way we have time to go to Apollo’s before I beat you so bad that you go into hiding.”
