Chapter Six
Jason was drinking a beer and shooting pool at Jake's.
"Can I get you another, man?" asked Coleman
"No. Just leave me alone." said Jason
"Whatever you say, man." said Coleman as he headed back behind the bar.
Carly came through the door and called out in a sharp tone, "Jason!"
"Uh-oh." said Coleman giving Robin and Patrick, who sat at the bar, a look. "Here comes trouble in hells."
"She sure does work those stilettoes." Patrick said with a smile
Robin smacked him in the arm.
Jason said to Carly, "What?"
"Hiding?"
"No, they call this playing pool."
She walked over to the table and picked up a pool cue. " I call it hiding."
He shot the eight ball into the side pocket.
"Rack 'em up." Carly said "You and me, one game, one on one. And, Jase, do your best because the stakes are high this time."
"Oh, yeah. What are we playing for?" he asked
"Everything."
He put down the pool stick and said, quietly, " No bet."
"Come on, Jason." Carly said with a slight hint of anger in her voice " You have to give me a fair shot to win what I what. What are you scared I will kick your ass in pool and then you'll be stuck with me for life?"
"Isn't he already?" Robin said
"Looks like it to me." said Coleman
Jason heard them but kept his eyes on Carly. "You can't beat me so what is the point of this?"
"Then play me. And you can be done with this forever. I won't ever again ask you for more."
"Yeah right." Robin said rolling her eyes.
Patrick told her, "Come on, it's time for us to go home."
She followed him toward the door but said, "But this is a good show she's putting on."
"I'll give you a better one at home." Patrick said and smacked her ass as they stepped outside.
Carly was still staring down Jason.
"Fine." he said "One game. Then you drop this talk about us for life, deal?"
"Deal."
Jason racked the balls up and said " You go first."
Carly took her shot and made it. Then another and another. "See how good I am when I am motivated?"
Jason wondered what he would do if she beat him. He knew what she wanted, what she had always said she wanted even when she was married to other men, but he didn't think either of them could survive the fall out if it didn't work out. And he was terrified to try again only to lose her again.
She missed her next shot.
He gave her a sad look but picked up his stick and starting knocking balls in.
Carly watched as ball after ball disappeared from the table.
He said, "We can still call this off."
"Shoot."
He knocked a few more balls in then missed.
Carly said, "Shaky, Jason?"
"Your turn."
There were three balls left on the table. Carly knocked in two then said, "Here we go. Eight ball side pocket."
She shot the ball but it bounced off the wall of the table.
Jason said "Eight ball corner pocket."
Carly bit her lip. If he made this shot she could never again ask him to take their relationship beyond friendship. And she feared he would never suggest it on his own.
It will be over- forever, for real, Carly thought in panic.
"Wait!" Carly said "Let's just forget about this. This is no way to decide our future."
Jason aimed and knocked the ball hard across the table but it didn't go in. Carly narrowed her eyes at him. He had made that same shot a thousand times before.
She said, "Tough break."
"Take your shot, Carly."
"Eight ball side pocket."
She shot the ball and watched as it slid across the table and into the hole.
"Hot damn!" Coleman said " She pulled it off."
Carly smiled at Jason. "I told you I had skills."
"One lucky shot and you think you're a pool shark?"
"I beat you, didn't I?"
"Double or nothing?"
"No way, Jase. Too late to turn back now."
It had been too late from the start. Years ago, in this same bar, he got in so deep with her he would never be able to get out. But, on most days, he didn't want to. And on all the days since then he hadn't been able to walk away from her and stay away. Jason smiled despite himself. Though she could drive him up the wall, though he didn't think there was any way to make it work between them, though she scared the hell out of him sometimes, she never bored him.
She reached out a hand to him. "Take me home."
He took her hand and they left the bar.
In the car on the way home Carly said, "Sam stopped by today."
"Oh yeah?"
"Have you seen her recently?"
" She was in Jake's but left without saying anything to me. Sonny told me she spends most of her time at Alexis' bedside these days."
"Do you miss her?"
"Sometimes I do, Carly."
"I thought so."
"But, you know, oddly enough you make me forget how bad I am supposed to be feeling. There is no reason for me to be smiling, laughing, joking everyday after all that has happened in the last few months. And if I am around anyone else I don't. But with you... Thanks for that."
"See, I am good for you."
"You also drive me nuts half the time."
"Do not."
"Do too."
"Well, you can't get rid of me."
" I know."
Carly wasn't sure what she had won with that pool game. She knew Jason wouldn't just fall back in love with her based on that but all she wanted was an opportunity to show him how amazing they could be as a couple. If only Jason would give them a chance...
And I am telling you
I'm not going.
You're the best man
I'll ever know.
There's no way I can ever, ever go.
Dream Girls lyrics
