Chapter Seven
Watching the shoulder length curly haired guy win yet another staked pool game against guys who probably had a table like this in their games-room back home, she saw that the guy was good. But as her mother always told her when they were playing themselves, she was better.
"Thank you. Thank you," gloated the guy as he collected his winnings from the pair of losers he beat singlehandedly. The two pimply boys who looked about 15, walked away dejectedly.
"You are more than welcome to come back when you can actually see over the table," he joked and laughed with his friends who were sat behind him.
"Who's next?" he announced with his arms spread out.
The few guys that were stood around the table with drinks in their hands shook their heads.
"I don't think anyone has the balls to play you, Aaron," one of his friends joked.
"Come on," the guy, Aaron, jeered. "No takers?"
Georgina cleared her throat and stepped forward. Eyes fell on her and Aaron slowly looked her up and down.
"Oh baby," he said stepping closer to her. "I think of better things we could be doing instead."
She heard a few snorts for his friends but the others just looked on curiously.
"Why don't you leave this game to the boys," he said and then added quietly after looking at her chest, "And you can meet me later on. I'm sure we could think of something to do."
Georgina watched as his licked his lips and she had to fight herself to stop her lip from curling. Instead she stepped closer to him and leaned a hand on the table. She watched people enough to know how to work her body. It worked enough that his eyes disappeared south of her eyes.
"We can do that," she whispered huskily. "Or, I can call back every person you've played tonight and let them know you've been cheating them out of their money."
Aaron's eyes snapped up to hers. He frowned as he looked at her smiling sweetly at him.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I have no need to cheat," he replied with a cocky smirk.
"Really?" she said quietly so the people around the table still couldn't hear. "Because you've been racking the balls in a stacked pattern that's in your favor. I'm shocked that the people around haven't noticed how every single game you've been playing stripes and using the same maneuvers."
"That's not cheating. It's called a game plan," he said stepping closer to her as to intimidate. It didn't work.
"Well how about you try your game plan on me?" she said.
Aaron snorted as he looked around at the curious people around the table. His friends raised their hands in question.
"Here's the thing," he said turning back to her. "They all played with a little added incentive. How do I know-"
"I can. So are you going to rack up properly or should I?" Georgina interrupted.
He watched her for a few beats before pulling the cocky smirk back on his face.
"Allow me," he said and pressed the release button on the table. The balls thundered from the slots and emptied out into the collection space.
Georgina grabbed a cue and checked the straightness of it.
"If you like, I can show you how to use it. I know how sometimes people can get flustered," he stated as he pulled the balls out of the space and onto the table.
A few snickers came from his group of friends.
"I can manage, thanks," Georgina replied, as she took the cue and checked the tip with her thumb.
"I can manage," he said in a mock prim English accent. "So polite."
He had finished racking the balls up and walked over to her with his own cue. As he chalked up, he leaned towards her.
"I always heard that British people were prudes. But I have a feeling that your not. It's just something in your eyes. Am I right?" he said trying to psych her out.
"I'm afraid that's something you will never get to find out," she answered with a level stare.
"Oohh," he joked and pretended he was shivering. "Ice cold, babe."
"Just flip the coin," she said with a hard look.
"Already taking the fun out of this game," he sighed as he took a coin out of his pocket.
"It will be fun. For me when I win."
His friends sneered but one of the silent watchers shouted out, "You go girl!"
Georgina caught a glimpse at a small group of guys and girls who clapped for her after the obviously camp guy shouted out. She smiled in appreciation.
"Call it."
"Heads," she replied as he flipped the coin in the air. He caught it with a single hand and put it on the pool table. Taking his hand off, he looked and rolled his eyes.
"Ladies first," he smiled.
She side stepped him and went to the bottom of the table. Unfortunately, Aaron's friends were sat behind her. As soon as she bent over to shoot, they cat called and whistled. Aaron watched on smiling. Ignoring everyone watching, she focused on the triangle of balls. She shot the white ball forcibly into the triangle that they spread out and four balls disappeared into holes.
She subtly raised her eyebrow to Aaron who's smile slid of his face and he focused on the table. She had potted both a stripe and colored ball. Looking around she tried to plot her game. With a smirk, she noticed a pattern. Pool always comes down to physics and geometry.
"What's the smile for?" Aaron leaned on the table. "The game has just begun."
That's what he thinks, she thought. The game was already over for him.
She leaned over and began her domination. Not getting too cocky as to miss, she hit and potted over and over till there was only one ball left. She had drawn quite a crowd by then. But she didn't noticed. Her focus was only on the green felt top.
"You're good, I'll give you that," Aaron said as he came up to her. She was chalking her cue. "But this shot is a frozen rail, you can't do it one shot."
Georgina ignored his comment and walked around to take her shot. Aaron scoffed lightly and shook his head. Bending over she looked down her cue to the target. The white ball was touching her remaining ball, practically lodging it against the bumper essentially 'freezing' her move.
But she knew a legal move to pot it in the opposite corner pocket. There was just a 50/50 chance of making it. Aiming for the top right of the ball, she took a breath and released her cue. It slammed into the ball and bounced away. Her remaining ball rebounded off the bumper and headed slowly to the corner pocket. A few people around her started to make a noise. Georgina didn't know if she hit it hard enough, as is slowed down near the pocket, it just reached the lip of the pocket when it fell in with a thump. Everyone but Aaron's friends that were stood around the table cheered for Georgina.
She stood up and let a small smile through as she looked up at Aaron. He looked pissed that he lost, but tried not to let it show.
"Best out of three?" he suggested as he walked up to her.
"Sorry, but I don't play people I've already beaten," she replied.
Aaron took a breath as he put his hand in his pocket.
"Good game," he said begrudgingly as he held out a closed hand.
She shook it and felt a wad of money in between their hands. He let go and walked over to his friends. Grabbing his jacket he went to leave, giving Georgina a small nod as he did. She turned around to put the cue back in. With her back against the crowd she looked in her hand. She raised her eyebrows. It was a bigger wad of money than she was expecting and she could a few hundreds in it. If she lost she wouldn't have had the money to pay him.
"You're not leaving already, are you?"
Georgina closed her eyes as she listened to the voice. She pushed the money into her pocket and turned to face Reid. He was leaning both hands on the table as he watched her. The spotlights above his head made him look slightly more devilish than usual. Behind him were the other three Sons and the two girls. She didn't know how long they had been stood there, but they were in front of a few people.
"I think it's good to leave when you're on top," Georgina said making a move to put her cue back in the rack.
"I guess you know you're not good enough to take on more seasoned players," Reid stated as he folded his arms.
Some of the chatter around them hushed as they listened. Georgina held her cue aloft from the holder. She knew he was baiting her, but the competitive side of her always reared its ugly head when it came to pool. She couldn't help it. When they kept moving around the UK, her mother would get bar tending jobs in bars and pubs. Georgina would either be sat in the corner painting, or the locals would take her under their wing and teach her to play cards or pool.
"I'm guessing you're a more seasoned player?" Georgina asked facing Reid.
"One of the best," he smirked. She caught a look that passed between the Sons behind him.
"I guess to make it more interesting we could place a wager. If I win, I get to buy you a drink," Reid said with a lazy half smile.
"And if I win?"
"You get to buy me one," Reid replied. People chuckled as they waited for Georgina to reply.
She shook her head and leaned on the table opposite Reid.
"You see, that doesn't really appeal to me as much as little green pieces of paper with dead presidents on them."
"I'm hurt," Reid answered putting a hand over his heart.
"How about for something else? Your choice?" he added.
She thought about it having a favor owed from a Son. It might come in handy.
"Okay," Georgina said to the pleasure for the viewers who started making their own bets and predictions.
"What's the price?" he asked as he walked around to her and picked his own cue.
"A favor. To be called in at anytime."
He thought about it and then said, "Sound's like a deal."