Emily Shorn
Chapter 9
When she said 'anything,' he had expected a very specific outcome. That wasn't driving out to a bar to play pool. Not that he minded pool. It was a good game, and having a close access to liquor wasn't bad either. But still…
"Have you ever played before?" he asked, watching her look over the pool cues like they were decorations.
"Of course I have," she returned with a little snap.
He breathed in sharply. Had he offended her? Then he saw the look in her eyes and smiled. She was good at carrying a joke. He had actually believed her until she dropped her guard.
"You haven't, have you?" he teased.
"I used to play-" She cut off. After a moment she continued. "I used to play with my father." Then she regained the smile. "When I was eight."
"What happened to him?" Not that he was nosy, he hated nosy people, but she looked like she needed to say something.
"He's dead," she stated, finally picking a cue and turning to the pool table, "along with everyone else I knew." She mimicked a practice shot and then stood straight. "So can I start?"
"Do you need help?" he asked. If she didn't want to talk about her past, he wasn't going to push it.
"I can do it," she said and took her aim.
Logan bit his tongue to keep from laughing. She held the cue as close to the back end as possible, standing about two feet from the table. Granted when she shot the ball did hit the rack, but only one other broke from the formation.
"Here," he said, still holding his mouth tight to suppress any laughter. "Let me show you." He took his aim, leaning on the table slightly and balancing the cue at its center. "You've got to hold it like this and then strike." He did, but the result was even more miserable than hers. He stared at the still unbroken rack. How the hell did that happen?
Then he heard her chuckle softly. When he looked at her, she had a look that said she knew exactly what happened.
"Cheatin's not nice, girly," he commented.
"No, but it is fun," she replied. He could feel her release her hold on his strength.
He rolled his eyes. "Let me teach you. Then neither of us will look like it's our first time in a bar."
