Chapter 18
Beer never broke my heart
“Are you sure you can handle little ‘ole me kicking your ass in pool?” I tease Grayson as we walk to the pool tables at McGraw’s.
Since our ‘baby daddy’ talk, things have gone back to normal between us. Oh sure, I still feel like a live wire smacks into me every time we touch, but I got this. I know how to hide my feelings better than the rest.
Grayson grins. “I think I can handle it.”
I do an exaggerated sigh. “That’s what they all say until it’s ass-kicking time.”
“I’ll rack.”
“Come on, Phoebe.” I hear Hailey shout behind me. “Suzie is about to cause chaos.”
I narrow my eyes on her. “I don’t cause chaos all the time.”
She opens her mouth, probably to disagree with me, but I give her my back. I don’t want to hear it.
Instead, I find a pool cue, chalk up the tip, and lean over the table to break. I need a good break if I want a chance to win against Grayson, because – despite the fighting words coming out of my big mouth – the guy is an awesome pool player. I use as much force as possible to hit the cue ball. Instead of the cue ball rolling down the table to hit the nine-ball, it goes flying through the air and hits Grayson smackdab in the stomach.
“Oomph,” he grunts as he bends over.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” I throw my pool cue down and rush to him. “I’m sorry. Are you okay? Do we need to go to the hospital?”
“I’m fine,” he grunts out.
“Suzie strikes again,” Hailey announces to the entire freaking world. I glare at her. “What?” She shrugs. “It’s true.”
She’s not wrong. I may exaggerate how much of a klutz I am, but I am still a klutz with a capital K. But usually I reserve klutzy injuries to myself. Other people are normally safe from my klutzy ways.
I rub Grayson’s back as he bends over taking deep breaths. “I’m fine,” he repeats.
He sure doesn’t look fine. At least no one is here to witness this mess as the bar is mostly empty since it’s a Monday night. The uncles are playing poker in their corner booth and a couple of barflies are drinking beer at the bar, but otherwise, we have the place to ourselves.
The door opens and the cold wind from outside whips through the bar. I look up and my eyes widen when I see who’s standing in the doorway looking unsure of herself. Liz Morris. I didn’t think she’d show. In fact, I kind of forgot about inviting her here to talk to Grayson.
I drop my hand and walk toward her with a welcoming smile on my face. “Thanks for coming,” I tell her as I pull her into a hug.
“Liz?” Grayson calls. He’s looking between the two of us with a frown on his face. “What are you doing here? Is Grayson all right?” He narrows his eyes on me. “And how do you know Suzie?”
“Um.” I bite my lip. “I asked her to come.”
A vein in Grayson’s forehead starts throbbing, but Wally steps in before he has a chance to say a word.
Wally offers Liz his hand. “I’m Wally. And you are?” I have to hold in a snort. He knows exactly who she is.
“Liz,” she whispers. Wally uses her hand to guide her toward the corner table where the cards and poker chips have magically disappeared. “Please, have a seat.”
When I go to sit next to her, he stops me. “Why don’t we let Grayson and Liz chat alone?”
We might as well sit with them. I’m going to eavesdrop no matter what. As if he knows what I’m thinking, he tilts his head toward a table on the other side of the room. Seriously? No way am I sitting on the other side of the room. I take a seat at a booth a table away from where Liz and Grayson are now sitting.
Hailey and Phoebe join me while the uncles move to the bar.
“What’s going on?” Phoebe whispers.
I shush her with a slash of my hand. No talking when it’s eavesdropping time!