He chuckled. “Oh, you can try.”
He made two more shots before one went awry. I was annoyed, so I sank my next shot, then the next, then the next, wiping the floor with him.
His smile dropped. He scowled. “Yeah, you’re a hotshot. Let’s go again.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Your funeral.”
We played again and again, exchanging names and small talk but mostly focusing on the pool as the next couple of hours slipped by.
Leo brought me a soda on the house, and Teddy laughed. “Jesus Christ, you reallyarea baby.”
At some point, I noticed Flynn come in with a group of guys. He didn’t seem to notice me, but my attention slipped.
Teddy went in for the kill. Actually managed to win, too. He crowed. “I knew you weren’t invincible.”
I scowled, my pride smarting. “Want to put some money on that?”
He cocked his head. “Nah. I’ve bested you already.”
He sauntered off, smug as all get out, and I huffed an annoyed breath. I’d just lost in front of Flynn. I couldn’t let that stand—even if he hadn’t noticed me.
I scanned the room for another taker, and a wiry, mean-looking guy caught my gaze. I nodded toward the table.
He came over. “Didn’t Teddy just teach you a lesson?”
“Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment.”
He gave a raspy laugh. “Well, I don’t play for funsies like him. I play for cash.”
I dug into my pocket and pulled out a fifty. “Good enough?”
“Not as good as a hundred, but it’ll do.”
I slapped my fifty down on the edge of the table. He did the same. While we racked the balls, I made small talk to put him at ease and make him think I was an easy target.
“Where you from? You and Teddy are just passing through, right?”
“Yep. Though we look like we belong here a lot more than you do, college boy.”
That threw me for a minute. Had I startedlookinglike the kids at Thurston? I forced a chuckle. “You got me. I’m looking for a distraction from studying. God, I hate it.”
It was incredibly freeing to just say the words out loud.
My opponent snorted. “Well, get ready for a whole new type of schooling.”
He broke, the balls rolling every which way, and I knew this would be child’s play. I glanced over my shoulder and caught Flynn’s gaze.
Yes. He was watching.
With a grin, I went to work teaching yet another man not to underestimate me.
I lined up my shot and let fly.
CHAPTER 10
Flynn
It was justafter six when I got to the pool hall.
