Page 8 of Dibs
“Where’s your boy Statler?” Richards bellowed over the loud music.
“With his girlfriend, why?” The word ‘girlfriend’ was sour on my tongue and I didn’t know why. Maybe it was because she wasn’t his girlfriend but his ex. Did it really matter though?
Richards lifted a shoulder. “Thought he said he was coming with you?”
“Change of plans,” I responded.
“So, you’re out on 2 versus 2 then?” Campbell asked.
“Hell no.” I wasn’t going to miss a chance at winning money off these guys when it came to pool. “I’ll find someone else to team up with and still kick your asses.”
“Let’s go then.”
Richards gestured for me to follow him through the sea of people hanging out drinking, or dancing, or making out. Just as we passed the front door on our way to the room with the pool table, Gage and Lisa walked in. My gaze moved to their clasped hands, and I snorted a laugh. It appeared they were back together after all.
“Just in time. Ready to play pool?” I asked my roommate.
He looked over at Lisa and then back at me. “Yeah. Need to get a beer first.”
“I thought you said we could dance?” Lisa pouted, her bottom lip protruding.
“Come watch us play a game and then we can dance,” he offered as a compromise.
I rolled my eyes and continued to follow Richards and Campbell to the pool table. A game was already in progress and as we stood off to the side, Lisa continued to whine.
“Can’t we dance while you wait to play?”
“This one is almost over,” Gage replied.
She opened her mouth again, but I stepped forward and stuck out my hand. “I’m Chase, by the way. Gage’s roomie and teammate.”
Lisa blinked, and then a huge grin spread across her face. “Oh right. You’re the shortstop.”
I guess that meant she’d caught the game.
“I am,” I confirmed, and took a sip of the beer in my hand.
“You’re really good,” she cooed.
“Matthewson is going to go pro, just you watch.” Richards clapped me on the back.
“Wait. You play on the team too.” Lisa pointed at Richards and then at Campbell. “And so do you.”
My gaze met Gage’s, and he closed his eyes and let out a small breath.
“Let’s go get you that beer.” I chugged the rest of mine, and while Gage and I went to get drinks, Lisa stayed behind to chat with Richards and Campbell. “Back together I see.”
“I don’t know what we are.”
“You two came in holding hands. That’s telling every girl here that you’re taken.”
“I know.” He sighed. “She drove all the way here. What was I supposed to do?”
“Put her ass back in her car and tell her goodbye.”
“It’s over a two-hour drive. I felt bad.”
“And is she crashing in our room?”
