by Teresa Hill
“8:00 okay? I know you hate getting up early but Reece I don’t know if I could wait much later. I don’t want to even be away from now till then.”
“Then don’t be,” I said with a glimmer of hope in my voice. “You know you can stay at my house, she won’t notice anyway, not even sure she will be sober enough to know you’re there.”
He knew what I was talking about. He knew my mom was a complete drunk with a propensity for prescription pain pills since my dad died. Adam was the one that let me stay on his couch if things go too bad. He knew how much life changed after my dad.
“Sweetheart, as much as I would LOVE to stay with you, I need to go to my aunts and uncles, at least for tonight, they are expecting me.”
All I could do was nod.
“Are you leaving now or staying longer to play?” He asked as he scanned the hall.
“I have a tournament starting at 11:00 pm that I am lead shoot on. I can’t leave right now,” I said with sadness in my voice.
“Ok sweetheart, it’s no problem. I can’t stay that late though, I really am exhausted. I was so excited to see you. I didn’t sleep last night, so I am running on about two hours sleep in the last 48 hours. Do you mind if I go ahead and head out?”
“Adam, go, you need sleep. I would feel horrible tomorrow if you felt any worse from staying here longer. I’ll be fine. I will head out after the tournament. I doubt it will take long, competition is pretty weak.” I chuckled as I eyed the guys standing around close to my table ready to practice.
Grazing the back of his hand across my jaw, he leaned in and placed a sweet soft kiss on my lips that lingered for just a bit longer than I expected.
“Okay then, I will pick you up at 8:00 am sweetheart.”
Picking up his backpack he swung it over his shoulder and glanced down at me giving me a crooked sexy smile. Man he was yummy. “Hey Adam, what does that tattoo mean?” I asked pointing to the crossed stars with wording of another language. Adam looked at his forearm, flexed and turned it toward me. He smiled slightly looking at the obviously recent ink. “It means ‘paths cross with no certainty of why but understand of reason in the end’ in Latin. I had it made with us in mind. You are my path Reece.”
“I love you Reece Miller, now that you know, don’t you ever forget it,” he said with the sincerest of eyes.
“I love you too Adam, I always have.”
He smiled so big it looked like it hurt. And with that he turned and headed for the door waving to me as he walked out.
My heart skipped a beat as I saw the door close.
Chapter 2
Being that I have grown up in a pool hall, the smells, sounds and behavior that I see nearly every day no longer surprises me. It has become a way of life. I know what to expect and for that reason I am hardly ever shocked.
The overhead speaker made a screeching noise causing me to muffle my ears as Danny flipped on the microphone. “I need all tournament participants to check in for table assignments. If you haven’t registered yet too damn bad, you have had all damn night to.” I chuckled at Danny thinking to myself some things never change.
Weaving through the line of tables I walked up to the small booth in the back where registration was set up at. A blond, short pixie cut, brown eyed, too much makeup but not enough clothes wearing, the server named Manda, was glaring at me with a tight lipped smile, as I approached. Never have understood why she doesn’t like me. I have never really talked to her except to ask for a coke every once in a while.
“You playing tonight Reece?” Manda asked with a confused look on her face.
“Yep, that’s normally how it goes when you run an exhibition tournament and you are the lead player,” I said with a look of “duh” on my face.
“Well you don’t have to be so bitchy about it. I was just asking. I didn’t see your name down for registration, and you heard what Danny said ‘not registered you don’t play’.”
Ok, was she trying to irritate me? If so, she was doing a fine job of it and killing my “Adam high” I had going up until the point I reached this table.
“Manda, it doesn’t show me as registered? Really? I find that hard to believe.” Just about that time, Danny stepped over and around me to look over Manda’s shoulder.
“Manda, her name is right there,” Danny said pointing to the paper in Manda’s hand with a bit of irritation.
“Oh, sorry about that Reece, I guess I just skimmed over it,” she said with a hint of bitch in her voice. What the hell is her problem, I thought to myself? Obviously. I wasn’t going to get an answer to my unasked question. I reached for a pen and turned the registration log over. I signed in and was handed my table number 21. Perfect, my lucky number and the last table reserved for the tournament.
Picking up the 9 ball rack, I walked over to the bar for a diet coke before heading over to the table. Too bad I couldn’t have a little rum to go along with the diet coke. I could use a bit of a stress release.
“Looks like fate has us playing again.” I heard from the corner of the room. SHIT, I thought to myself. I knew there was a strong chance I would be playing him again but wasn’t hoping for it to be my first match. I just got through kicking this jerks ass, and I can tell he has a chip on his shoulder. Guess I’ll just have to get this over with a little faster. “Nice,” I said with a sarcastic smile and a little bit of sass as I turned around to see the “wanna be stud” standing with his cowboy booted right foot propped up against the rustic red brick wall of the pool hall. Of course he’s wearing cowboy boots, this is Texas, and EVERYONE must wear cowboy boots. I’m sure this prissy wanna be gets up every morning to milk the cows and herd. Oh geez Reece give it a rest, he is a douche just deal, I thought to myself while eyeing this dude up and down. His faded dark wash jeans, no doubt purchased that way, had carefully placed torn and worn spots on them. The dark brown belt sported a shiny metal flat front closure which was too contemporary to go with the “rustic” look he was trying to achieve with the jeans and boots. And to pull the “look” together tops it off with a light pink, yes you heard me pink, colored polo shirt, which he left untucked. What was he doing here, urban cowboy meets Jcrew? Ugh, I get so tired of living in this college town with so many wanna be’s. It’s like kids come to college here and the only way to fit in is to be like the guy next to you. I guarantee if I looked closely at the people standing in this pool hall right now, I could probably group them into two categories: I look like you and you look like him who looks like me and I wear clothes because it’s illegal to walk around naked.
Digressing from my insistent need to size this dude up, I walked toward the 3 foot round bar table that was directly next to him and placed my diet coke down. My pool stick case was slung low across my back, in the same fashion it always is.
“You always wear such a prized possession so close to your ass,” he whispered to me as I realized how close he was. Chill bumps formed on my arms from the breath I felt on my neck. My head turned to my right as I peered over my shoulder at his face so close to me. “If you intend on playing this game with that hand I strongly suggest you remove it from my ass. Don’t think because Adam isn’t standing right next to me, means that I don’t have the ability to take care of myself.”
“Listen to me very closely babe,” he said with a deep wicked voice that startled me inside, “you keep up this teasing and bitch routine and you will regret the results. I am not someone you want to play these games with.”
“The only game we are playing is 9ball jackass,” I said as I roughly grabbed his hand which he still had cupped around my ass cheek and pushed it away. “Touch me again like that and I will not hesitate to discuss what I will do with your hand.”
I stepped out of his reach and walked over to the table to rack. Inside, I was a little shaken, there is something about him that freaks me the hell out. His voice, his actions, they have a sinister way about them.
Looking down at the triangle in my hands I realize I am shaking. Quic
kly placing it on the green, I lined up the balls in the triangle and rolled it out to the foot spot on the table. Well I guess he’s breaking the rack, I thought as I let out a little huff. “Your break,” I stated as I walked to the opposite side of the table to the three foot round top table that was on the far side from where he was standing. Think I’ll get a different diet coke now, I thought as I saw he was standing next to it while I was not watching. Something tells me not to trust this kid. Waving at the waitress in the area she nodded her head at me to let me know she saw me.
“What’s up hun, what can I get yah?” She said with a slight twang and a bit of sass. I can’t remember her name but she is one of the only ones that doesn’t give me shit.
“Can I bother you for another diet coke. Mine was left unattended and um, not sure I want to risk the drink.” Glancing over at the other three foot round top where wanna be stud had been standing.
“Of course hun, yeah, keep an eye on your drink, this one gives me the willies.” She shivered as she shook her head his direction.
As she walked away, I saw him look up from the table right before the crack of the cue ball against the yellow 1 distributing the balls across the table. With a smile, he saw that he dropped the 6 in the corner pocket allowing his shot to continue. The one ball was open and easily shot into the side pocket. Maneuvering about the table he sized up his shot for the 2 which was currently being blocked by the 8 and 4. The only option was to call for a push out. I could see that clearly. Leaning over the table, he angled his stick upwards and with slight right English on the ball to cause it to curve but it didn’t reach the 2.
“Aww, should have pushed out man,” I snickered knowing he knew I was right.
“How bout you not put your bitchy two cents in on my shots.” He snarled. “Hmm testy are we.” I smiled.
I grabbed my 21 weight ebony pool cue from the wall it was resting on. Running my right hand cupped around the forearm and wrap. This cue means more to me than anyone could understand. I remember the day my dad gave it to me. It was my 12th birthday, and as all good dads should, he brought me up here to play a game, ‘show me a thing or two’ is how he put it. Remembering what he said made my lips curl into a soft smile.
Hopping up on the bar stool next to my dad situated at the front of the table that we always played at he turned to me. “Reece hun, you’re 12 now. That’s pretty grown up if you ask me. I remember when you were born and I looked at you and knew you would be my little mini me. You have such a spunk about you it puts a smile on my heart when I listen to you. When I was deciding what to get you for your birthday, I knew it had to be perfect. It had to have your beauty and spunk. It had to show strength and finesse. Thinking about all I wanted your present to tell someone about you I had this made for you.” My dad pulled out the most beautiful pool cue I had ever seen. I had always just played with the bar cue’s. But this, this was custom made for me. Separated at the joint, my dad placed the forearm and wrap in my hand. It was the prettiest ebony with a high gloss. Inlaid on the forearm were three solid ivory butterflies followed by two light purple hearts that floated above my name “REECE” in pretty cursive lettering. The wrap of the cue was in different shades of blues, whites, silvers and black and formed what looked like flames, but soft, beautiful flames. “Daddy, it’s so pretty,” I said as I ran my hand along the cue. “Everything on there Reece has a meaning. The three white butterflies stand for your purity, beauty and finesse. Have you ever seen an ugly butterfly that wasn’t graceful in its flight? Of course not, because that’s not what they are. They have beauty, purity and finesse. All things that remind me of you. The two hearts represent your mother and I and the love we have and will always have for you. And finally, you know that spunk I was talking about, well that’s the flames on the wrap. They aren’t fire flames they are flames of spunk, determination, drive and strength.”
“I love it daddy, but it’s heavy. I don’t think I can shoot with it,” I said as I tried to balance it on my hand. “Reece, you can do anything you want to. We will teach you how to shoot with it. It’s just a matter of determination to learn. If you’re anything like your dad, then you will need the weight for your power shot you will develop,” he said as he ruffled the top of my head.
Shaking myself out of my brief daydream, I glanced down at the cue and rubbed my thumb over the two hearts. I lost my dad a week after my 12th birthday and well, my mom, I pretty much lost her then too. Glancing up I realize that wanna be stud was intently watching my every move. His look was one of interest with a bit of irritation. I gave a slight half cocked smile and walked toward the table. The shot he attempted left me with a clear shot of the 2 ball. Unable to sink the 2, I used it to push the 7 down the rail of the table to the pocket. After that it was over. One by one I hit each consecutive numbered ball into a pocket leaving me with only the 9. By nature, I always call pockets, it’s how I was taught and how I have always played. Thing about 9-ball is you don’t have to. Shit shots count. In true Reece fashion I called left corner pocket for the 9. Pulling back on my stick I connect with the cue with a bit of pop causing the ball to bank and head for a different pocket. And that it did, landed in the left side pocket.
Standing from my leaning position I see him staring at me. “Good game,” I said as I extended my hand.
“Oh bullshit! You didn’t call side pocket you called corner. You lose chick,” he said with such swagger and confidence.
What the fuck is he talking about is all I could think. “Um, look dude, perhaps you should learn the rules of the game you play before you start spouting off about what is and isn’t a rule. Shit shots count in 9-ball asshole. Not my rules, but they are the rules. I don’t care if I called a pocket in northern Canada as long as it landed in one I win.”
I could tell by this time he was more than pissed. As he moved to stand just inches from my face I had to look around to see if anyone else saw what was going on. To my shock, no one was paying attention. Don’t panic, don’t panic he won’t do anything, he’s just pissed, talk him down, quit cussing at him and get rid of the attitude I repeated to myself as I stood my ground. Backing up a bit to put a little bit of space between us I steadied myself against the table.
“Look, I know your upset, its natural. But seriously, rules are rules, we can call Danny over here and allow him to decide what he thinks is fair,” I said with as neutral a face as possible.
Moving closer to me again he leaned in almost nose to nose.
“I don’t give a fuck what Danny says, you called all your shots, set the precedence for the game. You can’t just decide that when your shit hits the pocket it’s gonna stick because you want to preserve your precious name.”
“Look, I’m really trying not to get upset over all this, but you’re making it difficult. Would you back the fuck off me so we can have a grown up conversation?” I said with disdain in my voice.
I could hear commotion in the background and took the opportunity to look behind me. Sure enough, there stood Danny and the two on staff bouncers, none of them looking very happy. “Care to take a step back from the young lady boy?” Danny said as he crossed in front of me to basically push wanna be stud off me.
“Outside, now, is more like where you need to be and don’t have me ask again,” said one of the bouncers. Stepping clearly out of the way of what was going on I looked around for Jodi. Where is this chick when I need her anyway?
“What the hell Reece?” I heard as she bounced up next to me.
“There you are! What the hell Jodi?”
“Sorry girl, kinda got preoccupied with that hottie over there,” she said as she pointed to some tall dark and um handsome guy, standing off to the side. Of course this is what she was doing…. Or I should say who she was doing.
“Hey is that the guy from earlier that Adam had against the wall?” She whispered as we watched the two bouncers and Danny escort wanna be stud and his band of idiot frat brothers out of the bar.
“Yeah, I was
lucky enough to draw him in the first round of the tournament and let’s just say things didn’t start off well and quickly grew into uncomfortable after I kicked his ass,” I said with a soft chuckle.
“Ha, of course you did, but I’m confused how it ended up with him being booted out. What did you say to him?”
“I didn’t say anythi….” I started to say as I stopped when I heard it. It was the same voice that stopped me dead in my tracks earlier. Trying hard not to make my desperate search obvious, I slowly did a 180 turn and scanned closely as I listened for his voice. Nope not him, no way is it him, hhhhmmm maybe him oh wait nope not him lips don’t match…
“Reece what are you looking for?” Jodi asked as she scanned the bar with me not sure what she what she was searching for.
“That voice, I need to see who it is. There is something about it that, I dunno, calms me… I just wanna see who it is that is talking that’s all.”
Scanning from tables to chairs to barstools and everywhere in-between, but no luck, still can’t match up who it is.
“Attention (crackle) tournament play(crackle)ers, if you won your (screech) match please be sure to report the win so the second round can begin.”(crackle and screech) Could be heard over the busted PA system Danny was too cheap to fix or replace. The screeching and crackling sound can be deafening at times.
“Well I guess that’s me.” I shrugged as I turned to walk towards the registration table. Pausing I turned. “Try not to get into trouble with tall, dark and um…well just don’t disappear again okay?” I gave Jodi my infamous you know what I mean look that had her giggling.
I made my way through the bar toward the registration table again. Really hoping I don’t have to deal with Manda again, not in the mood. Lucky for me Danny was standing at the table.
“You okay kiddo?” He said as he rested his hand on my shoulder. I both hated and loved when he did that. I know he thinks of me as his own daughter and protects me that way, but I hate that it reminds me of my dad, of him not being here and all that has crashed and burned since then. I looked up and gave a simple smile to the man that has watched out for me for the last five years without hesitation. “Of course I am, I’m a Miller, I don’t let jerks like that affect me,” I said with a wink. “Now if you excuse me I have a tournament to dominate.”
