Dean didn't consider himself to be the jealous type. When it came to Alice and other guys, he didn't feel like he had any business telling her what to do, or what not to do, mostly because of his own wandering eye.
Still, there was something that irked him whenever other men did approach her. Like when he played pool, and his opponents seemed more interested in Alice than they did the game. Granted, this should have been good for making money. Would have been, if Alice was... well, anyone but Alice.
Dean stepped up to make his shot, one eye on Alice and the tall, wiry man who sauntered up to her like he hadn't just sunk the cue ball.
"So, hot stuff, you play?" he asked, leaning on her table and resting his pool cue on his shoulder.
"No," Alice said shortly, taking another swig of her whiskey. She watched Dean as he lined up his shot.
"Why not, sweets?" the man asked persistently.
"I don't enjoy the game," Alice lied. Dean knew that she actually sucked, and got embarrassed every time she missed a shot. If she tried to play while she was drinking, she often had trouble hitting the cue ball with the stick, much less pocketing a ball.
"That's a shame," the man said, seemingly oblivious to Alice's disinterest. "It's the greatest game there is. Maybe I could help you appreciate it..."
"I doubt it," Alice said as Dean made his shot, successfully. She knocked back the rest of her drink in silent celebration, and winked at him. The other man didn't notice, and wasn't paying attention to what Dean was doing either.
"So, what games do you like?" he asked, either oblivious to Alice's disinterest, or too drunk to care.
"I don't like any games," Alice said flatly. Another lie, Dean knew. Alice loved darts and chess, even though she was horrible at the latter.
"Come on, there has to be something," the man pressed. Dean thought he was starting to sound a bit whiny, although to be fair, Dean supposed he was a bit biased.
"Nope," Alice said as she finished her drink. Meanwhile, Dean sunk two balls into the same pocket.
"You drinking whiskey?" the man asked.
Alice pretended that she didn't hear him. He was starting to look a bit irked, but hid it behind a smile.
"Say, why don't I cover your next drink?" he offered.
"No thanks," Alice said.
It was the most obvious 'go away' signal a girl could give in a bar. Visibly diminished, the man muttered something and turned back to the pool game, to find that Dean had run the table while he tried to pick up Alice.
"Come on, fork it over," Dean said with a smirk.
Whatever else was to be said about the man, he was a good sport. He handed Dean the money, and shook his hand before declining a rematch.
Dean made his way over to Alice, and sat next to her.
"Hey hot stuff," he greeted her.
"Hey yourself," she returned with a smile.
"What do you say I buy you a drink?" Dean offered.
"You can do that," Alice said, her eyes twinkling, "But you'll probably have to drive me home after."
Her tone was full of suggestion, and Dean couldn't help grinning.
"I think that can be arranged," he replied easily.
Dean didn't know what he was worried about. He'd never seen Alice flirting with anyone but him anyway.
