Page 44 of Street of Dreams
A hand came down on the bar, rattling Jake’s beer, and he turned toward Mac’s father, who blurted out something that sounded like a curse in Scottish while looking directly at Jake.
“What’d I do now?” Jake asked.
“Ye brothers are here. I want no trouble in me bar. Ye hear me?”
The twins took the two stools next to Jake and patted the top of the bar, indicating they wanted a drink.
“Don’t even think you’re getting any beer tonight,” Jake told them. “Mackenzie’s pop is in a mood, so behave yourselves.”
Danny shrugged. “I’ll take a coke.”
“Get the boys two cokes,” Jake told Mac. He pulled ten bucks from his pocket and waved it in the air, just so Oliver could see he was paying for the drinks.
“Ready for another one?” Mac asked Jake, as he filled two glasses with soda.
“Nah. I’ll stick to just one. I’m on my bike.” It was strange having a conversation with Mac in front of the twins and Mac’s father. Their words were laced with undertones that were invisible to everyone else but recognized by the two of them. Every time they looked at one another, a little spark ignited, but, again, no one noticed but the two of them.
“Let’s play a game of pool,” Henry suggested.
Jake looked over his shoulder at the pool table, remembering the time he followed Mac to the pool hall after they’d first slept together. “All right.” He jutted his chin toward Mac. “Can you take a break, Mackenzie? We’ll play doubles.”
“Doubles?” Henry asked, sneering his lip as if it was unheard of.
“Sure. Why not? It’ll be fun.” Jake threw his arm over his brother’s shoulder, and they headed to the pool table while Mac exchanged a few words with his father, who gave Jake the stink eye. He used to imagine what it would be like to have a father who watched his back all the time, even fantasized about it. But now, seeing the way Oliver was with Mac just seemed like a pain in the ass. Jake huffed up to the ceiling. “Don’t worry about it, Mr. Mackenzie. We’re not playing for money.”
“Ye’re damn right ye’re not,” Oliver stated. “There’s no gamblin’ in me pub.”
Jake grunted, but decided not to reply. “Your old man really hates my guts, huh?” he asked Mac, when he joined them at the pool table.
Mac shrugged. “There’s no gambling in his pub.”
“Fine. No gambling,” Jake replied, grabbing a cue stick. “You and me against Henry and Danny.”.
“Me and Henry?” Danny complained.
“Do you want to play with Mac?” Jake asked.
“No. I want to play with you.”
“Everybodywants to play with me,” Jake boasted, way too loudly, just to make the twins laugh. “But you’re right. Mac could probably beat all three of us at the same time. Since you two suck, we should make the teams more even. Danny, you’re with me. Henry, you’re with Mac.” Danny’s face lit up like a kid on Christmas, which made Jake’s heart swell, while Henry scowled, clearly annoyed at being on Mac’s team. “He’s really good,” Jake told Henry. “You two will probably beat us.”
As Jake racked the balls, Mac leaned over and placed a few in the triangle. “Is that a good idea?” Mac whispered. “Me and Henry?”
“Yeah. They need to get to know you. And, in case you haven’t noticed, Henry’s the cranky one. Teach him one of your fancy bank shots or something. Make him like you.”
The game started about even, with Mac and Jake scoring most of the balls. Well, mostly, Mac. And Mac and Henry won. Same teams for the second game, but Henry shot first. His break was weak, and the lack of a clear shot frustrated him. He clucked his tongue as he walked around the table while trying to decide on which ball to hit.
Mac stepped forward. “I’m not trying to tell you what to do, Henry. But if you hit the 12 into the eight, it’ll knock the six into the side pocket.”
Henry looked at the table, at Mac, then back at the table. Then lined up the shot.
“Nice and easy,” Mac coached. “Just kiss that 12. Take your time.”
Jake knew Danny was about to emit a fake cough or sneeze in order to startle his brother, and Jake silenced him with a glare. Under Mac’s guidance, Henry made the shot exactly as predicted, and the kid literally jumped in the air and high-fived Mac.
“Nice shot,” Jake told his brother.
“Hey,” Danny complained. “He’s on the opposite team.”
