Just before she shoots her shot, I lean in close to her ear and whisper, “Don’t miss.” She hits the ball, and it goes perfectly into the hole she was aiming for. So much for my attempt to distract her.
She makes no move to step back; instead she steps into me. “Your little games won’t work. I have dealt with worse.” She chuckles and pushes past me, getting ready for the next shot.
“It’s all down to this last ball. You really better not miss this time.” Viper says from behind her.
She waves him off. “I have basically carried this game; just let me work.”
She grunts and sets up her shot. When she hits the cue ball, everyone around the table holds their breath, waiting to see if she will land her shot. When the eight-ball drops into the pocket she called, the people standing around the table roar with excitement.
Even I have a smile plastered on my face. Candace however, stomps off in the opposite direction with a pout.
I roll my eyes and give my attention back to Blake and the crowd that starts to surround her. She looks at each one of them in awe as they congratulate her on what seems like such a small victory.
What can I say? It’s the small things in life that make us happy most days.
“Thank fuck!” Viper yells on the other side of the crowd. “I finally beat you!”
I laugh. “Technically, Crash beat me. Did you even help her win at all?”
He squints his eyes. “I don’t care. I’m taking this win no matter what. You are officially defeated, Mr. Undefeated Champion.”
I smile at Blake, who looks over her shoulder at me, and then clap Xavier’s back. “I’ll accept defeat.” I point to Blake. “If she is the one giving it to me.”
Chapter 40
Blake
After I won the game, the rest of the evening seemed to breeze by. Charlie spent most of the time playing with the other children, and Viper challenged me to another game of pool.
I haven’t seen Candace since the first game. It would seem she is upset with me again. Usually, I would be in a spiral about howsomeone feels about me, but right now, I am just too happy to give a damn.
Now, most of us are sitting around the bonfire for dinner with our plates of burgers in our hands. Charlie sits on the ground in front of me with some of her other friends, and Hunter stands by the grill with Xavier.
Looking around the area, we all look like one big happy family. Is this what having people in your life looks like?
Hunter catches my eye and I smile at him. He waves his spatula at me, and I blush. Things have been different since our bike ride. I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but it just seems easier between us, like the past few days aren't weighing us down.
Once he cooks the last burger, he makes himself a plate and takes a seat next to me. “How’s your food?”
I finish chewing the bite I have in my mouth and nod. “It’s very good.”
He leans forward and swipes a drop of ketchup off the side of my mouth with his thumb and then sticks it to my lips. I am frozen on what to do next. Do I lick it off his thumb or move my face away from his? I have a strong urge to dart my tongue out and lick it from his thumb.
Fuck it. I slowly stick my tongue out and grab the dot of ketchup, but he doesn’t pull away like I thought he would. He grips my chin tighter and sticks his thumb into my mouth a little. His eyes darken, and he inches closer.
The air in my lungs has escaped me and just as quickly as it left, it comes rushing back to me when Charlie says my name. I clear my throat and turn toward her. “What, baby?”
“I want to go play.”
I nod my approval and watch as she bounds toward her friends, too afraid to meet Hunter’s gaze.
But that doesn’t last long. “The vile things that I wish to do to your mouth are going to be the death of me,” he growls next to me, then takes a bite of his food.
I swallow hard and bring my fingers to my lips. My mind races with thoughts of all that he could possibly do to me. And all the things that I would probably let him do.
Is it bad for me to want him to do things to me after all that I have been through? Especially considering how we met in the first place? I think that might be what confuses me the most.
Hours pass as we watch the kids rush around the fire, playing tag and hide and seek. Charlie looks happier than she has in a long time. She didn’t have many friends at home. Especially considering Craig never let me have friends, so it was hard to schedule play dates for her growing up.
