“Doesn’t matter. Tonight is just about us having fun. If you don’t sink a single ball in, that’s fine.”
She laughs. “I’m definitely down then.”
I offer to let her break, but the balls barely move, so I let her take another shot and she sinks in a three.
“I guess that means I’m solids?”
“You can be anything you want to be. Just sink in any ball you have your eye on. No fucking rules right now. We both deserve it.”
“Okay. Well if that’s the case, then I think I’ll take this one right here.” She smiles and hits the eight-ball in that happens to be right in front of the corner pocket. “Does that count?”
“Sure.” I nod. “Keep going until you miss.”
“I might just win if you keep letting me choose which ball to hit in. Then what?”
I lean over her shoulder and whisper in her ear. “Then I’ll congratulate you and we’ll play another game.”
“How many games are we going to play?”
I smile against her cheek. “As many as you want.”
The flash on someone’s phone has my attention going to the back corner of the room where a group of four guys is hanging out doing shots.
“That’s going to end up on the internet. Think my brother will see it?”
She stiffens below me for just a split second before relaxing and taking her shot. “Well, if he does, then maybe he’ll question why he was such a dick to let me go in the first place.”
I back away when she misses her shot. “Do you want him to question why he let me take you on this trip?”
She’s silent for a moment, watching as I sink a few balls in, before finally saying, “I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe I become a little more pissed the longer I’m here.”
“Why is that?”
She grabs her beer and takes a gulp. “Because the longer I’m with you, the easier it is to see why you’re easy to fall for. He knows you better than anyone else, and yet, he let me go anyway.”
I’m not sure if what she just said is the beer talking or not, but my heart races in my chest anyway. “Yeah, he did. Maybe he’ll regret it after seeing us together on social media and start treating you better.”
“Maybe,” she says softly. “Or maybe it’ll be too late.” She said the last part so softly that I barely heard it. I’m not sure if she meant for me to, so I keep it to myself.
“Can we get next game?”
Two of the guys from the table taking pictures of us join us by the pool table, pulling my attention from Natalie leaning over the pool table. “Sure, man. No problem.”
“Damn,” the second guy mutters under his breath, his attention focused on Natalie’s ass. “That’s one fine ass. I noticed it from across the room.”
I try my best to ignore his comment, but the moment he licks his lips and adjusts his dick, I swing out, hitting him across the face. Apparently, I’ve had enough beer for my reckless nature to come out.
He stumbles back and grabs his jaw. “What the fuck! Did you see that?” he asks the bartender. “The fucker just hit me. He thinks that just because he’s famous he can go around punching people. You all see that?”
I get in his face after tossing a handful of cash down on the pool table. It’ll be more than enough to pay for our drinks. “Next time keep your comments about my girl’s ass to yourself.” I reach my hand out. “Let’s get the fuck out of here, Nat.”
“Yeah, you better get the fuck out of here. Unless you want my friend here to beat your ass and then call the cops. You don’t just come around here swinging at people.”
Natalie pulls my arm when I attempt to confront the piece of shit. “Let’s go, Madden.”
“Yeah, listen to your girl, Madden. Your band isn’t here to back you up. Go on now. Walk away.”
“You, shut the fuck up!” Natalie seethes. “We’re leaving.” She pulls my arm again, and only because I don’t want to end up in the back of a police car I let her lead me outside before I lose my shit completely.
“What the fuck?” she says once we’re alone by my truck. Her chest is quickly rising and falling as she looks me over. “What was that about? Why did you hit that guy?