“Thanks, mate.”
“Cheers.”
Weaving my way through the crowd, I find Liv perched on a barstool near the back wall. Her eyes are bouncing around as she takes in the place. Based on how wide her eyes are, I’m guessing she’s never been here before.
“Is this place not your usual haunt?” I ask, startling her.
“I think you know the answer to that. I don’t have a sporting bone in my body.”
“I think there’s a bad joke in there somewhere.” I laugh.
Liv groans before taking a sip of her drink, smacking her lips together. “You know, sometimes I forget how much older than me you are until you say things like that.”
“Hey, I didn’t actually say it. You’re the one who said it.”
“And I regret it.” Liv hops down off the stool. “Now, why don’t we get started on Ping-Pong.”
Resting a hand on her hip, I guide her through the crowds toward the table I reserved for us.
“You know, I don’t think I have ever played Ping-Pong before,” Liv tells me.
“You haven’t? Not even as a kid?”
Two paddles and a handful of plastic balls are resting in the container that hangs from the table.
“It was more dinners with my father’s colleagues and sitting quietly or playing the piano to impress them.”
“No skinned knees from playing outside?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “Now, are we going to play or what?”
“For someone who’s never played, you sound pretty cocky there, Liv.”
Taking a sip of her drink, she sets it down on the ledge next to the table. “Maybe I have a hidden talent of kicking your arse at Ping-Pong.”
“Wow. The trash talk starts.” I set my own drink next to hers and take the paddle she hands me. “I’ll have you know, I’m fairly good at Ping-Pong.”
She rolls her eyes as we each move to an end of the table. “Considering you were a great hockey player, I’d assume you have a natural talent for sports.”
That stops me from serving the ball over the net. “And how do you know I was a great hockey player?”
I’ve talked about playing with her, but more in generalities. It’s not like I was part of a winning team. I loved my team, but yeah…we sucked.
She looks sheepish. “I may or may not have looked up your career highlights.”
Setting the paddle down, I walk around the table and pull Liv into me. “Why Miss Montrose, who knew you were into hockey players.”
“Retired hockey players.” She pokes my chest. “And I’m rethinking my feelings for them at the moment.”
I lean down, kissing the corner of her mouth. “It’s okay to admit you like me.”
From Liv? That’s practically a confession of love. But I don’t let myself think that far ahead.
“I’ll admit no such thing.”
An idea comes to mind. “If I win, will you tell me?”
“Now who’s getting cocky?”
