Page 53 of Darkness Defined

I rubbed the back of my neck as Lucas adjusted the balls on the table. “Hey, uh, thanks for getting the cover.”

“No big. It’s nice to have someone else join besides that ham.” Lucas crossed his arms and rested his hip on the table. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great guy and a better friend, but he can be… a lot.” Lucas pointed subtly behind me.

I twisted around to find who I assumed was Sam, except now he had a deep bronze tan and dreadlocks that reached the middle of his back. He smiled broadly at a young woman with flushed cheeks and a high ponytail. Within seconds of me spotting him, her face morphed into blatant outrage and she stormed off. Sam sagged in defeat, then shrugged his shoulders and returned to himself.

When he rejoined us, Lucas gave him a level stare. “Striking out already?”

“Like you could do any better.” Sam stuck out his tongue and bumped Lucas aside so he could break. “What do you say you and me take first round, Matt?”

I leaned against my cue stick. “Sure. Heads up, though, I’m rusty.”

Sam smiled from his position laid over the table, ready to strike. “Don’t worry, I’ll take it easy on you.” He took his shot, and the break was… less than impressive. He scowled at the balls, none of which had found a pocket. “My hand slipped.”

“Sure, it did,” Lucas teased as I assessed the table. “What about you, Matt? Any luck with the ladies since you came to Arminius?”

I shrugged and took my shot. “Eh, not really. But then I haven’t exactly been trying either.” I sank the nine, making me stripes, but missed my next shot.

Sam smacked Lucas in the chest. “What if he’s not into that? Rude.” He squared up with the four and sank it easily.

“Shit. Good point. Are you into girls?”

My face scrunched in confusion as I watched Sam sink two more shots before finally missing. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Sam and Lucas shared a look, but neither offered clarity. Sure, it had been a while—a long while—but I hadn’t exactly had the time to pursue anything resembling a relationship lately. And if I was being honest, the interest, either.

Lucas cleared his throat. “No reason. Maybe we can hook you up. What’s your type?”

“Not sure I have one.”

Lucas chuckled. “So, you’re like Sam.”

Sam straightened from the shot he was never going to make. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“I’m guessing he means anyone with a pulse.” I kept a straight face for a couple of seconds, then cracked a smile.

Sam missed his shot by a mile and ended up sinking the eight ball instead. Meanwhile, Lucas was crying he was laughing so hard.

“I see how it is,” Sam said as he fished out the black ball. “I’m totally kicking your ass next game and first round is on you.”

“Fair.” I flagged down a waitress in an obscenely short skirt with a few buttons missing from her top.

She bounced up to me and beamed. “What can I get you, fellas?”

I looked at the guys.

“Pale ale on draft,” Lucas offered as he finished racking the balls, and Sam echoed him.

I turned back to the insufficiently dressed waitress and gave her my best smile. “Make that three.” Color rose in her cheeks before she confirmed the order and ducked away. I waited ’til she was gone before looking back at the others, both of whom were staring at me. “What?”

“I already hate you,” Sam stated without any real conviction.

Lucas shook his head and gestured for me to break. “I take it back. You do just fine with the ladies.”

“Right…” I wasn’t entirely sure what the hell they were talking about, but they were nice and this was fun. Honestly, the only thing that could make it better was if Alex had tagged along instead of hanging with Rubio… again. I pictured the guy’s face on the cue ball and cracked the stick into it. Balls rolled in every direction with three solids sinking into separate pockets.

“Fuck. He’s a hustler.”

I smiled up at Sam and sank the two.