Page 21 of Just a Footnote

“Yeah…the last week was long. Hey, do you think Ollie will play air hockey with me?”

“Ask me yourself,” Ollie shouts as he aims his pool stick, shoots, and sinks three balls into three separate pockets. “I’m pretty good though.”

“Easy win for you then.”

The other players at the air hockey table laugh and hand the table over to them. Skye watches him like a hawk, head tilted to the side, but Aiden easily ignores her. He zeroes in on Ollie instead. A win is a win even when your opponent is missing integral facts. Like the fact Aiden is about to smoke him.

“First to ten goals wins?”

Ollie smiles menacingly across the air hockey table. “Sure.”

He grabs the puck, places it on the table, and sinks it right past Ollie’s hand before he can even blink. Aiden grins at him with a small, innocent shrug. “Beginner's luck?”

Once Aiden has the score run up to 6-0 the entire room stands around the air hockey table to watch. Aiden ignores everyone. Instead, he focuses on the game so that he can win. A total shutout. Ollie is a good sport though. He just laughs when Aiden scores the final shot that takes them to 10-0.

“Beginners luck, huh?” Ollie comes around the table to smack Aiden on the back.

Aiden dramatically points at the table. “I swear I’ve never even played before.”

“Sure.”

“Anyone else want to play?” Aiden asks the room.

The other guys shake their heads then return to whatever else they were doing. Aiden smiles to himself as he puts all the air hockey equipment away. A cider plops down on the air hockey table in front of him.

“You sure are good at that,” Liam teases, all big smiles and hooded eyes.

“More fun when money is riding on it.”

Liam tilts his head, making a lock of his dark hair fall into his eyes. Aiden feels like one of those animals on the Discovery Channel. Kind of like Liam is studying him, waiting to pounce. He’s not used to that feeling because usually he’s looking at people like that.

“What?” Aiden asks, forcing a laugh despite his nervousness.

“You’re fun.”

“Obviously.”

“Teach me the trick to air hockey.”

Aiden turns so he’s facing Liams, leaning his hip against the table. “It’s just keeping your eye on the puck. Same thing as out on the ice. You’re just using your hand instead of your entire body. I’m sure…you are good with your hands?”

Liam flushes bright red, clears his throat. “I know how to use my hands.”

“There you go,” Aiden tells him. He picks up the cider, takes a long pull, enjoying the way that Liam watches him swallow. “I can give you one on one lessons if you really want though.”

Liam laughs softly. His eyes dart around the room, and Aiden’s gaze follows Liam’s to land on Matty across the room, watching them intently. “Are you serious right now?”

“What?” Aiden asks innocently.

“You’re very obvious.”

“And you think you’re sly,” Aiden quietly points out. He takes a step closer to Liam, having to look up at him from so close. He watches enraptured as Liam slowly licks his lips. “If you want something, ask for it.”

“Is it that easy?”

Aiden shrugs, uncaring. “It can be.”

“Walshy!” Ollie shouts, interrupting them from whatever odd spell they were under.

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