Page 35 of Fastlander Fighter

“And a were-lioness,” he said.

Holy shit, she mouthed as she followed the ladies of the Fastlanders to the pool table.

She could actually play a little pool! She’d spent time in pool halls with friends in her early twenties, and had honed her skills.

“Do you want to break?” Silver asked her as she racked the balls.

“Yes!” She’d said it really loud, and Silver hunched her shoulders under the volume. Oh, right. Shifter hearing. Softer, Sloane said, “Yes. I can break.”

They were halfway through their first game playing teams—Hallie and Corey versus Silver and Sloane—when the server brought a pink, fruity drink ordered by the man she had a serious crush on.

It was delicious! Silver asked if she could try a little bit, and then ordered one for herself.

“Owen went and talked to Captain about you the other day,” Silver said, lining up a shot on the two ball at the side pocket.

“A bad talk?” Sloane asked.

“Nope. Just trying to see where his head was. Captain’s been off all week.”

Sloane rubbed the blue chalk block on the tip of her cue stick and glanced over at Captain. He was deep in conversation with the boys.

“He definitely surprised me when he showed up tonight. He’s pretty good at running.”

“That’s most boys,” Silver said as she sank the shot and lined up another. “Even the good ones get scared.”

“I can’t imagine Captain is scared of anything. I’ve seen his bear before.”

Silver missed the shot and clicked behind her teeth, then made her way to the little table that housed her and Sloane’s drinks. She took a sip of hers and then said, “I’ve never seen Captain scared in a fight. Not ever. He fights the boys often. Hell, he squared up to Wreck recently.”

“Wreck?”

“He’s our problem member. Total monster. If you ever meet him, just don’t engage. I’m not saying that to scare you. Just advice that me and everyone else abides by when he’s in the vicinity. He’s a loose cannon.”

“And Captain wanted to fight him?”

“I don’t think he wanted to. It was just Captain and us girls, and Wreck showed up to the trailer park we live in. Let’s just say Captain wasn’t about to ask us for help. He doesn’t get scared, which is why we all noticed him being so off this week.” Silver locked her gaze on Sloane’s. “You scare him. I’m betting that’s a good thing, if you want it to be.”

Maybe she understood. Him being scared of her meant he felt something. That was good. Maybe.

“I have a kid,” she murmured. “He’s also really human.”

“Chhhh,” Hallie hissed as she lined up her shot. “That’s a hard choice.”

“Oh, it’s not even a choice. Captain and I are just friends. It’s all he wants.”

“Oh yeah?” Corey asked. “I’ve never met any of Captain’s friends. Have you?”

Silver shook her head and took another sip. “I’m the newest one in the Crew though. Hallie? Have you met any of Captain’s friends?”

“Nope, and neither has Gunner. Before the Crew was formed.”

Huh.

“So Captain doesn’t have a lot of friends? He used to be so social.”

“That’s not what we’re saying,” Silver murmured low. “If you were just a friend, Captain wouldn’t bring you to meet us. How many dates have you been on?”

“Just…” Sloane looked from one expectant face to the next. “Just this one.”

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