Chapter 3 #3
“I’m going to get another round for my friend and then I’ll be back . . . to win.” Cassie’s bright purple smirk both irked and intrigued Drea, and she couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
A short time later, Cassie had definitely backed up her bravado.
Drea considered herself pretty decent at pool, but Cassie was proving herself to be a contender.
It would take more than a close game to rattle Drea, though.
The two women from the previous game had settled in to watch, and Cassie’s companion was leaning against the wall taking in the scene as well.
Drea was used to women hanging around, but only one woman was holding her attention.
She couldn’t take her eyes off Cassie, and Cassie seemed to be feeling the same way.
Cassie perched herself atop the edge of the pool table, threading the pool stick behind her back, as she took aim.
Drea had to give her points for flair. As Drea took in the view, she started to realize Cassie might be much more of a force than she had anticipated.
There was something unassuming about her, which made it all the more surprising to see her take command.
There was also something incredibly attractive about her that held Drea’s attention.
The lilac hair for one, shaved on one side but with a wave to it on the longer side that covered her right eye.
The bold lipstick, always varying in some shade of purple, that contrasted sharply with her fair skin in a way that captivated Drea.
Her features somehow managed to be full of bold, sharp angles, and soft at the same time.
Drea sipped her beer and let her eyes wander.
Black boots; skintight, torn black jeans; and a gray oversized sweater falling off one shoulder revealing a black tank top underneath.
The clack of pool balls slamming into each other pulled Drea’s gaze up to Cassie’s eyes, which were watching her.
Perfectly arched eyebrows and hoops and studs traversing Cassie’s earlobe created a severity in her expression as she held Drea’s attention.
As one eyebrow raised, a twinkle passed through those brown eyes, daring Drea.
Drea never broke eye contact as she walked over to Cassie with a slight grin.
Cassie never budged. As their faces came within a few inches, Drea took a moment to appreciate those eyes up close.
As much as she flirted with women, the effect of Cassie’s eye contact was something new.
She felt it deep in her chest, but she didn’t back away, not wanting to let Cassie know what she was feeling.
She placed her finger on Cassie’s knee, still resting atop the edge of the pool table. “Do you mind giving me a little space?”
Cassie’s eyes lingered on Drea’s finger, then she shrugged. “Sure. I’d hate to make you nervous.” She hopped off the table and grabbed her water, taking the metal straw in those lips that had Drea’s mind doing somersaults.
Drea chuckled and shook her head. She bent down and lined up her shot, then sunk a ball in the near pocket before glancing back at Cassie with a self-assured grin. “Not at all.”
Drea walked around the back side of the pool table and took aim to get within one shot of Cassie, who stood just beyond where Drea aimed, the weight of her eyes on Drea.
She exhaled slowly, steadying herself. It had been a long time since any woman had thrown her, and she wasn’t going to let that change now.
She took her shot, the cue ball driving straight into the ball she intended, and watched as it hit just left of the hole. Fuck.
She leaned against the wall as Cassie sank her final ball, then hit the eight ball in to end the game.
Cassie’s companion clapped and high-fived Cassie as Drea walked over to them with a smile, ready to accept defeat.
“Drea, this is my friend Janay.” Cassie nodded at the woman Drea had seen her with earlier.
Drea shook Janay’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Janay.”
“You as well.”
Drea extended her hand to Cassie. “Good game.”
Cassie took it with a satisfied grin that faltered for a brief moment before returning to its previous wattage.
“I didn’t realize you were a ringer,” Drea teased.
Cassie laughed. “We all have our special talents.” She punctuated the remark with a wink that made Drea’s temperature rise.
Before Drea could give a witty reply, Heather, the woman she had left with the previous Friday, entered Rosie’s and waved at her.
Drea inwardly groaned, preparing to dissuade any lingering feelings or disillusions Heather might be carrying.
She plastered a smile on her face, causing Cassie and Janay to look at who had taken Drea’s attention.
Cassie grabbed her jacket off the chair beside her.
“We better head out. See you around, Drea.” Before Drea could respond, Cassie had linked her arm through Janay’s and was dragging her to the door.
Drea watched them go, a brief shadow of sadness lingering in her chest before she grabbed her beer and took a sip, shrugged it off, and headed for the bar.