Once he got in the mood for a tournament and filled his mind with thoughts of the pool hall and the other players, interactions with them, with Patty, it was difficult to get out of that mindset. If he did push his way out of that mindset to, say, hang around and play touchy-feely with Linda, well, then his pool game was shit and he lost money—Gavin couldn’t deal with that.
Patty stood ready at the end of her short sidewalk. Soon as Gavin pulled to a stop, she jumped in the car and shut the door.
“Hey, baby! Whoo! Can’t wait to watch you play pool tonight.” She leaned and kissed him hard and passionate.
Gavin kissed her back, taking in the smell of cigarette smoke mingled with her vanilla scented perfume. It helped him dive even deeper into the pool hall mindset he needed to win this tournament.
“I can’t wait for you to watch me play; you’re my lady luck.” Gavin laid his hand high on her thigh and squeezed as they drove toward the pool hall.
Gavin played pool better than he had in months—and even after the encounter with Linda had worried him so badly. He’d been sure that it would bend his game, but apparently Patty really was his lady luck because he took first place for the night. Granted the tournament lasted much longer than one night, but if Patty came with him every night, he was certain he would win it all.
“Come on, Patty; let’s go celebrate, bad cat!” Gavin slapped her ass and kissed her neck.
Squealing in delight, Patty ran for the car and got in.
Gavin watched her trotting away in her best tight jeans and fitted tank top. She was beautiful, sexy, and he wanted to celebrate before going home to Linda. He slid under the steering wheel, started the engine and turned to Patty.
Sliding his hand up her thigh to her crotch, Gavin moaned. Patty spread her legs and pressed against his hand. She didn’t even play at being coy, shy, or reserved. He liked that.
“This outfit is really working for you tonight, bad cat.” He pressed his hand harder against her crotch and she giggled. “And, if you keep teasing me like this, you’re gonna get a rod thrown in that rear-end.”
“Well, I was wondering how long it would take you to offer. I need a big, hard, long rod thrown in my rear-end, Gavin. A girl can only go so long without sex, you know. It starts to drive her crazy after a little while.” She grabbed his crotch and squeezed.
Gavin didn’t play at being coy or shy or reserved, either. He enjoyed Patty’s brazen ways. “Here, let me help you with that.” Gavin stopped at a stop sign and unbuttoned his jeans.
Patty immediately took over and unzipped his fly and pulled his cock out. Gavin moaned and gave silent thanks to whatever power out there that had made Patty and kept the little dark back roads mostly devoid of traffic at this hour.
After finding a darkened pull-off where they wouldn’t be seen, Gavin bent her over the hood of his car and took her roughly. It didn’t last long, but she seemed fully satisfied as they finished.
“Mmm. Gavin, you are such a bad, bad man. God, I love nights like this and I think I’d have sex with you anywhere.” Patty kissed him as she dressed quickly.
She was unlike Linda in that she didn’t do the after-sex touchy-feely episodes. She wanted sex, rough and dirty usually; she wanted satisfaction and to be left alone afterwards—much the same as Gavin and every other man in the world, he thought.
Gavin dropped off Patty at her house and headed back toward his and Linda’s house, trying to get into the proper mindset to become the Gavin that was loyal to her. It wasn’t an easy life, but it wasn’t so difficult that he was ready to give it up just yet, either.
There was only one place to get something to eat at two in the morning—Rhoda’s Diner. Gavin stopped to grab one of her famous burgers before heading home; it would help him reset before crawling into bed by Linda again.
As he stepped into Rhoda’s, there were others there from the tournament and some who were just eating, he supposed; or drinking because Rhoda served all night, every night. Things like that happen in small towns everywhere; it’s just what makes the world go ‘round. The cops turned a blind eye as long as no one caused trouble.
Two guys from the tournament greeted Gavin as he stepped through the door and he exchanged some guy talk for a minute and then ordered his burger.
Waiting on his takeout, Gavin sat at the end of the long bar. The long mirror above the bar showed the darkened area in the back where a few tables and booths sat. Movement in the reflection there caught his eye but the mirror was a bit wavy and showed a distorted image. The harder he tried to make it out, the more it wavered and blurred, but he was sure he’d seen Rita move over in a booth, trying to get out of sight.
I’ll act as if I saw nothing and wait for my food; I’ll walk back that way after I pay Rhoda and see who it is in that booth, he thought. Rita should not be out this late with anyone—she should be at home in bed—alone. His mind churned these thoughts until his blood boiled with anger. His hands shook as he paid for his burger and the muscles in his thighs quavered as he walked toward the booth.
Standing at the end of the booth, Gavin looked from Rita to the scrawny nobody that sat across from her. She stared at him with big, round, scared eyes and he glared at her. Time slowed down and then seemed to stop as he looked from her to the man on the other seat.
Finally, Rita spoke. She stammered, “Gavin! Hi! Been to the tournament tonight, huh?” She pushed her hair away from her face and tucked a strand behind one ear.
Gavin’s ears turned hot and began to ring. He looked at the man. “Who the hell are you?” He dropped his takeout bag onto the table.
“Uhm. I’m Rodney.” The man actually held out his hand in introduction.
Gavin turned to Rita. “What the hell’s going on, Rita? What’s the meaning of this?”
There was movement and the next recollection Gavin had was of letting go of Rodney’s shirt and the man crumpling to the floor. Rita screamed somewhere far to his left. Then the screams turned to the wailing of a siren and the room lit up in blue and red strobes as the police parked out front.
Chapter 5