Page 34 of Break My Heart
‘Where’s Mom and Dad?’ I ask Nick as I go into the kitchen at my parents’ house. It’s 9:30 and Gina texted that she was on her way over here.
‘They’re out in the barn,’ Nick says as he pours himself some coffee. ‘Why? What do you need?’
‘Their pool table. I need to use it for an hour or two.’
‘You’re here to play pool?’ He sips his coffee. ‘On a Saturday morning?’
‘It’s a competition.’ I pause. ‘With Gina.’
‘Gina Slater?’ His brows rise. ‘What’s that about?’
‘I beat her in a canoe race this morning. She thinks it wasn’t fair because I’m bigger than her so she wants us to play pool to prove she can beat me.’ I smile and lean back against the counter. ‘Unfortunately for her, she doesn’t know how much pool I played back in high school.’
‘I wouldn’t be so sure of yourself. That was 12 years ago. You’re out of practice.’
‘I’m not out of practice. Jason and I played all the time last winter. And Dad and I play sometimes.’
‘What about Gina? Does she play much?’
‘Not sure. All she said is that her grandfather taught her how to play.’
‘What happens if you win?’
‘I’m having her over for dinner.’
‘Dinner,’ Nick says, holding back a smile. ‘That kind of sounds like a date.’
‘It’s not a date. That’s why we’re eating at my apartment. I don’t want people seeing us out together and thinking it’s a date.’
‘Why are you doing this? I thought you didn’t like her.’
‘I like her. I just don’t want her putting me out of business.’
‘And how does having dinner with her help with that?’
‘You know what they say. Keep your enemies close.’
‘You sure that’s all it is?’
‘Why else would I do it?’
He laughs to himself, then takes another sip of his coffee.
‘Look who I found,’ Mom says, coming into the kitchen. Gina is behind her, wearing black jeans and a tight white t-shirt with a long open cardigan over it in a burgundy color that matches her lipstick. She looks gorgeous, but I’m not going to let her looks distract me from beating her at pool. I need to win so she’ll have dinner with me and hopefully let something slip about how she makes her beer taste better than mine.
‘Hey, Gina,’ Nick says, smiling at her. ‘How were the apples?’
‘Great!’ She glances at me. ‘I might have to get some more before I leave.’
‘Gina said you two are playing pool,’ Mom says, eyeing me like she knows I’m up to something. She’s always suspicious of me. I was kind of a troublemaker growing up.
‘It was Gina’s idea,’ I say, my gaze going to her. ‘I told her we had a pool table and she insisted we play.’
‘He doesn’t think I can beat him,’ Gina says, staring back at me. ‘I’m about to prove him wrong.’
Nick chuckles. ‘I should get back to work.’
‘I’m just here to get some more coffee,’ Mom says, going over to the coffee pot. ‘Would you two like any?’
