Distracted By You: Book 1 in The Exeter Running Girls Series, стр. 13
“Since you started dating me,” she kissed him lightly on the lips and steered him back towards the stairs with a slap on the butt.
We watched them go, waiting for them to disappear up the steps.
“He’s wrapped around your little finger,” I said appreciatively as I bent over the table to break.
“Just a little. His ego is too big for me to handle though.”
I sent the balls flying, potting two balls instantly. Savannah whistled in appreciation.
“I think you’re better at this game then you claim to be,” she leaned on her cue with a twinkle in her eye.
I lined up another shot and potted the ball easily. Well, it was certainly my game. That and darts, I was the queen of!
“My dad used to own a pub,” I explained with a pleased smile. “I had a very misspent childhood.”
“Oh, you have given me an idea.”
“Do tell,” I stood up and perched on the corner of the table to talk nearer to her.
“Fancy helping me bring Sam’s ego down to size?” She held out her hand for a shake. “You’ll also impress the boxers off Tye.”
“Wow, am I really that obvious?” I hit my head against the cue and scrunched up my eyes. Savannah had already noticed my ogling then. She pushed my head back up with a friendly smile.
“Only to me. Probably a girl thing. They see nothing.” She gestured with her head towards the stairs.
“What’s the plan then?” I took her hand to shake, agreeing to the deal.
“A hustle,” she whispered in my ear, just as the others comes down the steps. “Just, play along.”
“Sounds fun to me,” I laughed, standing as the guys reached us. Well, I could certainly do with a little more money if that was the idea.
“Here’s your drink,” Tye spoke with a smirk, passing me half a pint of something yellow. I took a big gulp regardless then felt myself gag.
“Yuck – that’s disgusting! What is it?” I pushed the glass back towards him as though he had handed me a beaten-up puppy.
“Lager,” he laughed. “Luke, you owe me five quid.”
“Damn it. Ivy, couldn’t you pretend to like lager for the sake of my bank account?”
“Not that good an actress, sorry,” I made sure Tye took the glass and heard my comment about being a bad actor, suddenly enjoying the prospect of Savannah’s hustle all the more.
“Here, it’s your favourite,” Tye produced a second glass. One taste proved it, toffee apple cider.
“Hmm, thanks.”
He drank from the lager I had refused. There was just something so intimate about sharing a glass that I found myself watching him again, distracted.
“So, we playing pool?” Sam asked suddenly, snapping me out of my daze.
“Ivy can be on your team,” Savannah spoke with panic, pushing me by my shoulder towards Sam.
“I’m not that bad,” I whined, pretending to look annoyed as she shrugged, yet Sam had taken the bait.
“Ah, that’s because we play for money, Ivy. Savannah doesn’t want to play with you as she’s afraid to lose. Again.” He flirted with her outrageously, encircling his arm round her shoulder.
“Girls against guys?” Tye offered, cottoning onto the idea that they could beat Savannah and me easily.
“It’s the oldest match there is,” Luke chinked glasses with Tye.
“Fine,” Savannah huffed, looking ridiculously infuriated.
“How much do we play for?” I asked, enjoying the fizzle of the cider as it added to my buzz.
“A hundred,” Tye watched my eyes widen. Imagine a deer in headlights, but also a deer that had been told it had no chance of running away. I did not have that money to lose.
“Come on, let’s play!” Sam set up the rack and took the cue from my hand.
Tye leaned towards me and whispered in my ear –
“I’ll pay your half. Don’t worry.” It took me a minute to realise just what he had said. I had been enjoying how close he was stood. The sharp poke in my back by Savannah with the other cue alerted me to stop staring.
“I’ll break,” Luke called, already bending over the table.
I put some distance between me and Tye, perching up on a stool, and watching Luke, Savannah, then Sam take their turns. Luke potted nothing, neither did Savannah, but Sam got one.
“You’re up,” Savannah passed me her cue with a wicked smile only I could see. “We’re stripes.”
I circled the table, looking for the best series of shots I could set up.
“How bad at this is she?” Tye asked Savannah loudly as he took my seat.
“I can hear you, Tye,” I said pointlessly. “How about a little faith?”
“She knocked two balls onto the floor whilst you were upstairs,” Savannah proved herself a good actress as she shook her head.
“I think our money’s safe,” Tye smiled as the two other guys laughed. I lifted my hands helplessly, as though I couldn’t help being such a mess. “I tell you what. A tenner says she doesn’t make this shot, Sam.”
“I’m not taking that bet,” Sam shook his head, just in case.
“I will. It’s a bet,” but Savannah had spoken very quickly with a firm nod, earning a sharp look from Tye.
“Savannah… what are you up to?” Tye turned his cocoa eyes back to me with a question.
Seeing the perfect series of shots suddenly align themselves out of nowhere, I leaned over the table and took my first shot – it was perfectly angled to knock two balls in at once and they landed cleanly.
“Shit,” Sam exclaimed.
“We’re being hustled,” Luke appeared tempted to take the cue from my hands, but I held it away and lined up another take, sinking the striped ball perfectly.
“We’re