Page 112 of Devious Knight

We walk over to the pool table, which takes up the center of the room.

The other week, when I first walked in here, I could tell Kade plays pool a lot. This room was the only area of the apartment that seemed to be in use continuously. I also noticed his math and business books down here. It seemed to be where he studied.

He grabs a cue stick and hands it to me, then he positions the balls on the table. When he picks up his stick, he raises it up like a scepter.

“Ladies first.”

“Shouldn’t you go first so I can see how you play?”

“No. You go first so I can see why you think you suck.”

I roll my eyes at him and decide to get on with it. I level my stick with the cue ball—at least I know that much—then I take my shot.

Like the last time I played pool, the ball bounces up and off the table, then it lands on the floor and rolls toward the wall.

I glance back at Kade over my shoulder. He is biting the inside of his lip. “See, I suck.”

“You do, but there’s nothing I can’t fix.”

His confidence annoys me sometimes, but at other times, like now, I envy him. Kade is almost like Mackenzie in that respect. They have this dominating outlook on life where they think they can take on the world. Whereas people like me just want to be free to live in our own little spaces that we can control.

“How are you going to fix me?”

“Simple.” He retrieves the cue ball and places it back on the table. “Keep your hand like this.”

Kade positions me in front of the table, then guides my fingers over the stick so I’m holding it properly and am more leveled with the cue ball.

“I think I’m still going to suck.”

“Just do what I tell you. All you need to do is keep your eye on the ball and nothing more. You’re thinking too much about hitting the rest of the balls.”

“How do you know that?” He’s right, but I’m curious to know how he guessed.

“I just do, Lolita. Trust me.” The way his voice dips on those last two words seeps into my skin. I glance back at him.

He winks at me. “Take your shot now.”

I look back to the ball and take my shot. As if by magic, when I hit the ball, it shoots across to the others and they scatter when the cue ball smacks into them. The balls shoot out across the table the way they’re supposed to when you play pool, and I even have a few balls go down the holes. That’s the first time I’ve ever gotten so far.

“My gosh.” I look back at Kade, surprised that he was so right.

“See? There’s nothing I can’t fix.” He nods with that alluring cocky arrogance. “Now let’s really play. My turn.”

I bite back a smile, and he cuts me a playful glance. Kade leans over and takes his shot with the skill of a pro. Of course, he has to be good at everything, so I’m not surprised when he clears the remaining balls from the table. They all fly down the holes as if obeying his command.

“Game two.” He smirks.

“Sure.”

Time passes, and we play. I go through the motion, but I’m very aware of how comfortable I’m beginning to feel around him. Maybe this is like getting used to something you’re scared of. If you face it enough times, it grows on you.

Although I think for that to happen, Kade would need to be predictable. He’s nothing of the sort. Tonight proves that.

“Lean in some more and keep you back straight,” he says.

He’s standing behind me, watching me take another shot. This is the best game we’ve played so far, and I’m doing well.

“Like this?” I straighten my back and angle myself the way I think I’m supposed to.

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