Page 99 of From Now On

I nod, then start weaving through the busy bar toward the pool table.

There are a couple of guys standing around it, but they move away as soon as they see me coming.

“All yours, man,” one says.

“You guys can play too,” I offer.

“Nah, nah. We’re good,” the same guy says. His eyes are on Robby, who’s appeared with a green bottle in hand. Not surprised he enjoyed the same fast service I did.

Robby glances at the wide-eyed guys, then grins at me.

More perks. They’re juniors. Or maybe even sophomores. Gaffney’s is pretty liberal with its carding policy. As in, it doesn’t really have one. College kids keep this place in business.

These younger guys are staring at us like we’re gods and they’re mere mortals, and I kind of want to tell them that getting older isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

“You break first,” Robby says. He’s already racked up the balls.

I sneak a look at the team’s table.

Aidan’s hugging Eve. He lets her go and glances around, possibly looking for me. The three of us usually stick together at these things. The whole team is tight, but Conor, Aidan, and I are known as a unit.

Was walking off as soon as Eve showed up childish? Absolutely. I should have said hi to her, at least.

But I’m pissed. Notather, but around her.

I didn’t realize how badly I wanted that shot with her. Didn’t realize how much hope I’d let accumulate last week.

Not until I saw her sitting with her ex on a coffee date earlier. She had every right to meet him. I thought she needed more time, and maybe space, and so I didn’t flat-out tell her how I felt.

And disappointment sucks. Especiallythistype of disappointment.

If we’d lost the championship, it would have felt awful. But I would have known I did everything I could.

I didn’t do everything I could, with Eve.

So I need to scowl and sulk and hit something. Expel some of that disappointment. Be selfish, for once, rather than pretend everything’s fine.

Robby’s distracted, chatting with a brunette who came over to squeeze into one of the booths lining the wall past the pool table.

I shake my head before breaking the balls. I sink the 4 ball into a pocket, then call out, “You’re stripes.”

Robby hands the girl her phone, then ambles toward me wearing a shit-eating grin to take his turn.

Playing pool with Sampson is a decent distraction. By the time the game ends—I win—my beer glass is empty and I’m ready to go.

Robby’s chatting with the brunette again, so I head over to Aidan to let him know I’m done for the night. The walk fromhere back to our place isn’t bad, and I could use some fresh air and silence.

There’s no sign of Conor, Harlow, or Eve by our usual table, so they must have moved to another section of the bar.

Aidan’s by the television, talking to one of the juniors, Jake Brennan. They caused quite the scene right before the championship game, but they seem to be on good terms again now. Phillips has always been more forgiving than Hart, who holds a grudge better than anyone I’ve ever met.

Aidan frowns when I tell him I’m leaving. “It’s not even nine.”

“I know. I’m not feeling great.”

Not a lie. I feel like shit.Cowardlyshit.

Phillips pulls his keys out of his pocket. “I’ll drive you.”

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