Page 47 of Mind Pucked

Oliver releases his second dart, and it hits right on the rim of the center bullseye.

“Yeah!” he cheers as he throws his hands in the air, sending a slosh of beer to rain down to the ground. “Oh shit, sorry, man,” Oliver says half-heartedly toward the bartender.

“Dumb luck,” Amelia says, and something squeezes inside me at how stunning she looks tonight. She’s so…relaxed, and it’s a good look on her.

Oliver sizes up the dartboard and squares his shoulders for his last throw. He mimics the pros you see on TV.

Finally, he releases the dart, and it hits DEAD CENTER.

The crowd hoots and hollers just like we were doing in the height of the game. This time, both teams are cheering together. I think it’s great when the guys from the other team decide to stay over and hang out…we all play the same game after all.

Amelia squares her shoulders and aims her first dart. The crowd goes wild as it skims the second dart Oliver threw, right on the rim of the inner bullseye. It’s a smart and calculated throw…at least I think so. When she tosses the second dart, and it lands nestled against his third dart in the middle…I know for sure she’s playing this game with skill.

I watch as the entire group essentially holds their breaths as she aims, breathes, and releases her third dart. It hits the butt of Oliver’s dart in dead center…and sticks, protruding from his blue dart. In fact, it has driven into the plastic of the dart beneath it.

The group goes crazy as money is redistributed appropriately, marking Amelia’s win.

“Wait, wait, wait, that doesn’t count, it didn’t even hit the board,” Oliver says in protest as he waves a hand at those passing money around.

Amelia sizes him up and then goes over to pluck her dart off the board. She then takes his dart off dead center and pushes it into his hand.

“Okay, watch this,” she says as she aims again, and throws the dart.

It hits dead center where his dart had been—this time there is no denying her skill as everyone breaks out in cheers.

I watch as Felix runs up to Amelia and hoists her up onto his shoulders as they all celebrate. She’s handed a shot and downs it.

My stomach coils with something similar to jealousy as I see Felix set her down and take her hand, leading her over to the pool table.

“Are you just as good at this game, darlin’?” he asks, purring through the alcohol clearly already in his system.

“Now this game,” she says as she picks up a ball from the table and looks at it before putting it back down. “I know nothing about this game.” She smiles at him, and it nearly sets me over the edge.

“I can show you how…give you a few pointers,” Felix says, but I have to look away before she answers.

I make my way over to Oliver who’s now sitting at the bar sulking. I clap him on the back, and he winces as if he’s a whipped pup.

“You sore you lost to a girl?” I tease him as I accept another beer from the bartender.

“Just sore I lost period,” he says as he downs a shot that’s just been set in front of him.

I smile at him as I turn on the stool. I face the pool table, but immediately wish I hadn’t. Felix has his arm around Amelia as she leans over the table with the pool cue in her hands. His hands are laid over hers as he teaches her how to shoot. My blood boils, and I can’t help but watch every move he’s making.

Amelia seems oblivious to the fact that Felix is trying to bait her with his usual tricks. She simply thinks she’s being taught how to play pool. I’ve worked as Felix’s wingman enough to know this is his routine…and next he’ll be buying her shots.

“Yep, here they come,” I mumble under my breath as a tray of shots is carried over to them and slapped down on top of the pool table.

They both stand as they grab a shot and drink before Felix opens his wallet and pays for the drinks. I can’t help feeling possessive of her as I get to my feet, leaving the conversation that Benjamin, Vaughn, and Oliver are now having about some defensive maneuver.

I walk over to the pool table, unsure what I’m going to do or say to deflect his attention from her. I cook up an idea as I pull out my phone and hold it up.

“Amelia, can I see you for a sec? My mom has a question about Hayden that I don’t know how to answer.” I note the time on the phone…it’s almost midnight.

“This late?” she squeals as she runs over to me, leaving Felix looking deflated.

I put my arm across her shoulders and lead her over to the other side of the bar.

“What does your mom need?” she asks, true concern lacing her face.

---