“ I haven’t played in a while,” I muttered as I picked up three darts out of the bucket.
Ethan gave me an encouraging smile. “Well, what if we practice for a bit?” he offered.
“ Yeah, okay, that sounds good.” I tried to shake out my shoulders and relax, but it was hopeless. My head was dizzy and I felt guilty about leaving Beck.
My first three throws were beyond pitiful. Like a blind monkey pitiful. Two of the darts hit the paneled wall beyond the dart board and the one dart that did hit the board landed on the far edge.
“ Yikes!” I laughed, stepping up to retrieve my darts.
I looked back to see Ethan stifling a laugh. “I think landing them on the actual board is the goal, but you definitely get points for originality.” I smiled and scrunched my nose.
“ Yeah, yeah. Let’s see how good you are,” I quipped, stepping back to stand next to him. With easy grace, Ethan landed all three disgustingly close to the bullseye.
“ Pfft!” I gaped. “Be honest, have you been practicing all night?”
He walked backwards to grab his darts. “I’m good under pressure. Especially around pretty girls.” He winked and my heart dropped. But he didn’t give me time to say something awkward. He walked back to my side and started sputtering advice.
“ Okay, try to aim your elbow at the board when you bend your arm backward.” I listened to his instructions and slowly bent the dart backwards. “Now it’s all in the wrist…try to let it flick out of your hand,” he continued. A second later, I tossed the dart and it sailed painfully slow across the room and into the ground about two feet in front of the board.
“ Oh my god! This is pitiful!” I huffed, and turned toward Ethan. “Maybe I shouldn’t take your advice.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “True, even your first turn was better than that one.”
I rolled my eyes playfully and turned back to shoot the next dart. I was assuming what I thought was an okay dart-flinging position, when suddenly I felt Ethan’s hands circle my waist so that he could stand behind me and direct the shot. Yes, everyone, I was actually having one of those classic romance moments when the guy attempts to correct the girl’s sports swing. Except it was with the wrong guy and his hands sent a terror down my spine.
“ Abby?” I heard Beck’s voice behind me and my entire body froze. I didn’t want Ethan’s hands on me, but I didn’t have time to protest. Beck had chosen the worst possible second to find me. I twisted around, trying to get out of Ethan’s grasp, but my dart scratched his arm in the process.
“ Oh, crap! Sorry!” I murmured, my face flushing dark red from the embarrassment of the situation. Should I feel bad about Ethan touching me? Yes. But that girl was touching Beck at the bar.
“ I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Beck stepped forward, his features were hard and accusing.
His tone pissed me off. We were both in the wrong and I didn’t deserve to be talked down to. With a huff, I turned and flung my remaining two darts as hard as possible at the board. They landed ridiculously close to the bullseye. Maybe I had to be angry to play darts well.
“ I came back from the bathroom and my spot was taken , so I decided to check out the rest of the bar,” I explained calmly, turning back to Beck. His arms were crossed and I realized he stood a good half foot over Ethan. I was angry with him in that moment, but you should know that he also looked dangerously sexy and I wasn’t immune to that.
Ethan stood there awkwardly glancing between Beck and I. “I’m guessing you don’t want to finish the dart game?” he asked, rubbing his arm. Poor guy.
I crossed my arms in front of my chest and shook my head. “No, sorry, I’m sure you can find another partner though.” I gave him a genuine smile before brushing past him and Beck, wandering out into the hallway.
“ Abby,” Beck called, but there was no need. I wasn’t running away from him. I just didn’t want to have this discussion in front of Ethan. The dark hallway in the back of the bar was a much better venue for our first fight as a couple.