Page 56 of Once Bitten
“Yeah, that’s what he means, you idiot,” Jamie sighed. “Now keep your hands to yourself, and let’s start playing already before Steve breaks a stick over your head.”
“Sorry, man.” Ian grimaced, and then looked at Jordyn. “Let’s just start over, okay?”
Jordyn laughed and leaned back against Steve, still cocooned in his embrace. “Sure thing. Nice to meet you, Ian.”
“Nice to meet you, Jordyn, girlfriend of Steve,” Ian said with a formal bow. Jordyn giggled and gave a little curtsy of her own.
Steve waved his hand at them both. “All right. Now break and start the game, so I can use this as an excuse to put my hands all over Jordyn.”
“As if you need an excuse,” Jordyn told him softly as Jamie and Ian ambled over to the pool table.
“Just wait until I get you home,” Steve whispered back and took a deep drink of his beer.
She blushed and gestured to the table with her pool stick. “Okay, so how does this work?”
“Well, seeing as they just knocked in a stripe, that makes us solids, okay?”
Jordyn nodded. Steve continued, “Avoid the eight ball at all costs, and we’ll be just fine. When it’s your turn, we’ll work on shooting, but come here so I can teach you how to hold the cue.”
She eagerly slipped in front of him and looked back at Steve awaiting his next set of instructions.
“Now, you don’t want a death grip on it, doll. Just use your front hand to hold the stick up, and to adjust the angle when you make contact, okay?” He took her hand in his and placed the cue stick in it, then took her other hand and guided it to the rear of the stick. Steve smiled at her over her shoulder and kissed her cheek.
“The power comes from back here, but don’t try and kill every shot, or you’ll be like Jamie, who had been known to send a cue ball across the room.”
“Hey! That was one time!” Jamie cried. “And in my defense, tequila gives me super strength.”
The group laughed, and Jordyn bit her lip, glancing between Steve and his friends. The smiles were easy, and despite it being her first time, she didn’t do too badly when her turn came. It was a fun evening—relaxed despite the lingering looks Jordyn received from other men, which Steve only met with a raised eyebrow before they turned away. After a few games and just as many rounds of beer, they waved goodbye to Ian and piled into Jamie’s car. Steve pulled Jordyn into the backseat with him, prompting Jamie to shake a fist.
“You damn kids better not be necking back there, or so help me!”
“Drive faster, then, gramps,” Steve shot back, pulling her close. He kissed her hard and grabbed her knee.
Her eyes fluttered closed and she smiled at Steve’s touch. “Like really fast,” she added, waving a hand at Jamie, who sighed and raised his eyes skyward.
“When do I get to meet Dora and stop being the third wheel around here?” he asked, turning the car sharply, causing Steve and Jordyn to slide against each other and into the door. Steve took the opportunity to kiss her, and when they broke apart, Jordyn leaned around Steve to answer Jamie. He was cute, warm and funny, and she knew that Dora wouldn’t mind getting to meet him.
“What about dinner this weekend?” Jordyn asked over Steve’s shoulder.
“Yeah, let’s do that.” Jamie gave her a thumbs-up.
“Wait, what?” Steve turned from nuzzling Jordyn’s collarbone.
“I’m gonna date Dora,” Jamie told him, his expression serious.
Jordyn rolled her eyes. “After you meet her first.”
“That’s just a formality,”Jamie said, blithely. “We’re gonna date besties, Stevie boy. It’ll be just like a rom-com.”
“Oh, god,” Steve groaned, leaning back against the seat and shaking his head. “This isn’t happening.”
Jordyn laughed and leaned against him. “They’d be so cute, though...”
“Please don’t be upset when me and Dora upstage you two,” Jamie continued as if Steve hadn’t spoken. He paused and then glanced back at Jordyn in the rearview mirror, briefly, as they came to a stop at a red light. “Does she like Italian?”
“Loves it.”
Jamie snapped his fingers. “Perfect.”
