The room is quiet and all eyes are on him. He pulls the cue back, then slams it into the ball, and we’re all locked in, watching as the shot unfolds exactly as Dane planned. The six sinks into the side pocket, and his hands go up.
“Anyone else wanna fucking doubt me?”
Laughing, Ricky collects the cash and divides it evenly between him and Dane.
“Lucky shot,” Sterling grumbles, resting against a stool to watch Dane go for the eight ball.
“Eight ball. Corner pocket,” Dane says, and no one bets against him this time.
A few seconds later, the game’s over, and Sterling’s resetting the rack. Chase and Ricky have next. They’re chalking the tips of their cues, getting ready to play, and without the distraction of competition, I feel both sets of my brothers’ eyes on me.
“Something you two want to say?” I ask, knocking back the last of my soda.
They’re quiet at first, which means I’m right, but Dane finally speaks up.
“It’s been a few weeks. Just wondering if there’s any news about your shoulder?”
I knew that was it.
My body sinks deeper into my spot on the sofa, and I sigh as Grandpa stares from a couple cushions away.
“Went for an MRI a few days ago, but I won’t know the results until tomorrow. Doc says we’re basically playing the waiting game. He gave the swelling some time to go down, so I’ll know where I stand after my appointment.”
The room falls quiet again, and I hate this, being the center of attention, knowing they’re probably all thinking the worst.
“So, just how much shit has Reed been talking with these couple wins under his belt?”
I don’t actually want to know, but I have to fill the dead space somehow. Honestly, it kills me a little that the team’s been kicking ass without me. Not because I don’t want them to do well, but because it sucks feeling unneeded.
My brothers don’t answer, but I lock eyes with Chase. He tries to break his gaze, but he knows he’s caught in the hotseat.
“About as much as you’d expect,” he answers, and I smirk.
“I fucking knew it.”
“But for what it’s worth, it never goes on for long. Your brothers always shut it down pretty quickly.”
I open my mouth to ask for specifics, but Grandpa cuts in before I get the chance.
“Enough of all this football talk. How’s that great-grandson of mine, Sterling? That kid’s a future heartbreaker. You know that don’t ya?” Grandpa teases.
Sterling’s face lights up like it doeseverytime Jax makes his way into a conversation.
“He’s good. Just saw him a few days ago. Lexi finally let me get him fromherplace instead of her parents’.”
Dane and I shoot him a look at the same time, because it’s a well-known fact that Lexi tries to keep her personal life separate from Sterling as much as possible. Which is why she made it a rule that they always hand-off Jaxon to one another on neutral territory.
“For real? How’d you manage that?” Dane asks.
“Trust me, it wasn’t because she wanted to switch things up. She was running late for class and didn’t have time to take him to Benny, so shehadto let me stop by.”
I arch a brow when heclearlywants to say more. One thing my brothers and I can never seem to do is hide our feelings from one another. Not sure if it’s a triplet thing or just because we’ve always had each other’s backs.
“So… how’d it go?” I ask.
“Fine, other than the fact that she’s living in a shithole.”
I feel my brow tense. “How? With what I’m sure she’s getting in child support, she should be living damn-near as comfortable asweare.”
