The Wright Boss(33)

Having grown up in a bar, I always felt most comfortable inside its four walls. It didn't matter that it frequently smelled of liquor, vomit, and stale cigarettes. It didn't matter that the hardwood floor was stained from years of disuse. It didn't matter that it was dimly lit, making it hard to see all the way to the back of the room, or that it was filled with a wide array of people from all walks of life. This felt right.

And, damn, I needed a drink.

Peter was working. Honestly, I wasn't sure when he wasn't working. He saw me coming and had a tequila shot waiting. He slapped the saltshaker in front of me.

"You look like you need this," he said.

Oh, ye of few words.

"Hey, Peter. Nice to see you. This is my … this is Nick," I said, stumbling over the word date.

"Hey, man," Nick said, offering his hand.

Peter kind of stared at it like the guy was out of his mind. "What'll you have?"

"Oh, I'll take a Bud Light." Nick let his hand drop back to his side.

Peter gave me a look that said, Bud Light? Really?

So, he didn't have the greatest taste in beer. Who am I to judge? Except … I always judged people on what they drank. You could tell a lot about a person based on what kind of drink they ordered at a bar. It was like seeing someone reading a book in the park. You were either instant friends or instant enemies.

I knocked back the shot of tequila even though I needed to keep my wits about me. But one shot would do just fine.

"We're hitting the tables," I told Peter. Then, I nodded for Nick to follow me with his Bud Light.

I had already racked the balls on the table when Landon, Austin, and Patrick breezed into Flips like they owned the place. Not completely out of the realm of possibility for the Wrights. Though probably a bad investment, considering what a mess the whole family was.

Austin procured an entire bottle of whiskey off the shelf and a tray of glasses. It must have cost at least double what it would cost in a store, but Austin didn't seem to care. Austin set the tray down, and Patrick poured whiskey into each of the glasses.

I shook my head. "You're a mess, Austin."

He winked at me. "Come now, Martin. This isn't the worst you've seen me."

"Not the best either."

Patrick grinned. "This is definitely his best."

Landon took a drink when it was offered to him, but otherwise, his eyes were set solely on me. I hadn't even looked at him yet. Still, I could feel his gaze upon me like a caress.

I bit my lip and finally let my eyes drift to his. Suddenly, the room was a furnace. As if the floor was coated in gasoline, and that look had set the place on fire. I hated that he was capable of making me feel that. Of dragging me toward him with one look. Yet I was incapable of pulling away from it.

"You ready to play?" he asked, his voice deep and husky.

"Um," I murmured, "play?"

"Pool." He tossed a pool stick in my direction, and I caught it in one hand. He whispered as he passed me, "Unless you have something else in mind."

I stammered on my words as I felt his hand trail along the small of my back. My eyes hurried to Nick, but he was preoccupied with Austin and Patrick. I felt horrible that this was happening. This was such a bad idea, yet it was Landon. I wanted him to fight for me … even if it was unfair.



       
         
       
        

"Stop it," I hissed, regaining control of my body.

He arched an eyebrow and quirked a smile at me. "Your break."

I took out my frustration on the pool balls and grabbed everyone's attention. I landed three balls in pockets on the break-two solids and stripe-and smiled. "A hundred bucks says I beat you this game."

Landon pulled out his wallet and laid five twenties on the table without a second thought. "Fine by me."

Patrick scooped up the money and tossed it down on the tray. "Now, we have a game!"

I felt triumphant already. Landon had only beaten me a handful of times, and it was usually when I was belligerently drunk or distracted. Neither of which I was going to be tonight.

"I presume your solids?" Landon asked.

"You know it," I told him as I preceded to I pocketed three more balls before I missed one, leaving the table open for Landon.

"Wow, you are really good!" Nick said, sidling up next to me. "Why didn't you ever tell me that you could play pool like this?"

"Just a fun party trick," I lied.

"Well, I think it's pretty amazing. I'm shit at pool. I've only played once in my life."

"Uh-huh," I said as Landon pocketed a ball. "Sorry kind of concentrating on the game."