Page 15 of Thirst Trap
7
Jake
“Eight ball, corner pocket.”
I hear the words come out of Knox’s mouth, but I don’t even bother to look as he takes his shot. I know it’s going to go in. He’s made every shot tonight.
I haven’t made one.
“Man, you are worse than usual. Grumpier too,” he says, walking over and grabbing his beer. “What crawled up your ass tonight?”
“No clue, man. Want to go again?” I say, quickly making my way to put another dollar of quarters into the pool table at The Joint.
“I mean, if you want to get your ass kicked again, I’m happy to do it.”
Normally, playing pool at The Joint on a Saturday night is my way of de-stressing from the week. Usually, my week consists of forty hours of work, a few hours at the gym each night, and helping my mom tackle the never-ending list of problems around her house.
But this week was different. This week I was plagued by thoughts of a certain blonde-haired beauty who has taken up permanent residence in my brain.
Especially tonight, when just this time last week, I was giving her a dance I’ll never forget. It’s almost funny if you think about it. Who knew a stupid dare from Trent would have the outcome it did?
“What are you laughing at?” Knox asks, walking back toward the pool table. “And if you say nothin’, I’m going to call Daisy and Doris and tell them you want to give them an encore.”
That gets my attention. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Knox raises his eyebrows, almost challenging me to call his bluff.
“Fine. But you play dirty.”
He laughs. “Never claimed otherwise.”
I take a seat back at our table as Knox lines up his shot.
“So, remember that girl from last week?”
Knox pulls the stick back and pushes it forward, dispensing the balls around the table. This might be the first shot he’s taken tonight that a ball didn’t go in. “The one that you dry humped in the middle of the bar then left with later? The reason I had to drive back to Nashville on a Sunday morning to pick your ass up? Vaguely.”
I punch his arm as we switch spots. “Yeah, her. I’ve just been thinking about her, that’s all. No big deal.”
No shock, I miss my shot, and Knox steps back up, quickly draining his first attempt. “No big deal, my ass. You’ve been either pissed off or mopey all week.”
“Have not.”
“You have. And luckily for you, I have a brilliant idea that could make you less of an asshole.”
I almost don’t want to ask. “And what would that be, oh wise one?”
He sinks another shot before looking in my direction. “You could, I don’t know, call her.”
I let out a sigh as he lines up his next shot. “We didn’t exchange numbers. I don’t even know her last name.”
My admission makes Knox whiff on his shot. “You didn’t do what? Dude, you were into her. And unless I all of a sudden can’t read women, she was all about you. So, why the fuck wouldn’t you exchange numbers!”
I shrug my shoulders. “We just didn’t. We both decided it was for the best.”
“That is the damn stupidest thing you’ve ever done. And I know all of the stupid shit you’ve done. Now I don’t feel bad for you.”
Was it stupid? Maybe. At the time, it felt right. But now? Maybe not so much. I thought this feeling would go away by now, but it’s only getting worse.
