Past & Present

Chapter 6

Cassandra

I choke on the beer that was halfway down my throat and cough, my eyes watery. Shaking my head, I interrupt her with, "Okay, okay. Stop, Tarra. I'm not on a quest to get laid to your dismay. Sorry." I shrug my shoulders and turn my attention back towards the bar, observing all of the different styled bottles of alcohol that sit on the clear shelves.

She turns her bar stool so that her body is facing the pool tables behind us and leans in, her breath hitting my cheeks when she talks. "You're twenty-one. It doesn't mean you can't just have fun." She wiggles her brows and hops off of her stool.

I watch her as she walks over to the pool tables and starts a conversation with the guy from our apartment complex. I pull the bottle of beer to my rose-colored lips and my eyes widen when I observe Tarra smirking and pointing at me. The guy looks up and squints his eyes to do a once over before smiling at me. I turn right back around, facing the bar again with my heart beating rapidly, my nerves shooting straight to my cheeks.

I feel a finger poke my back, turn around, and see a long, bony finger that belongs to him. My lips open slightly, about to speak, as he takes a seat in Tarra's stool and offers out his hand for me to shake. I put my hand in his and shake it. His hand is soft, yet strong.

"I'm Drew. You've got quite the handshake there, you mean business," he announces.

My cheeks immediately warm as I pull my hand back and wrap it around my beer. Using my opposite hand, I push back a strand of hair behind my ear and smile at Drew. "I'm Cassandra."

I watch as his eyes scan me slowly, taking me in, and I can't help but suck in a sharp breath. Up close, I can see the light stubble on his protruding chin. When he smiles, there is slight discoloration to his straight teeth, so he's possibly a smoker, which is a turn off for me. I gently shake my head at myself for observing him like an Officer observes his arrest. He's still cute, and as Tarra said, I just need to have fun.

"What do you say, Cassandra. Want to play some pool? My friend is pretty distracted and I'm a little bored over there playing by myself." He nods his head, gesturing to the guy against the wall in a heavy make-out session with a blonde. I can't see his face since it's basically being sucked off, but his friend has a white shirt on with his broad back facing us.

"Sure, why not?" I reply. I turn from the bar when Drew puts his hand out to help me off the stool. I stand from the stool and Drew looks down at me and smiles, approvingly.

I decided on wearing tight black leather pants, a deep-colored red shirt that reveals my shoulders, and my black high heels to make myself appear taller than my actual size. I follow Drew over to the pool tables, grab a cue stick, and stick my tongue out at Tarra without Drew noticing. She puts a hand over her mouth to cover her proud smile.

"So how should we do this? I can break and you two go against me, or?" Drew questions, while chalking up his cue stick.

I grab a cue stick from the holder and begin to chalk mine up as well when Tarra leans against the pool table, folds her arms over her chest, and grins. "Believe me, Drew. My sister doesn't need help, she's quite the badass at pool. How about, I will be on your team and she breaks?"

Drew nods and racks up the balls, placing the white ball in the position for me to break. Another thing I learned from my dad was how to be a badass pool player. Whenever he wasn't working, our usual hangout times consisted of either pool or shooting ranges. Grinning, I take my cue stick and lean down, striking the white ball in a brisk motion. The variation of multi-colored balls scatters across the velvety green table, starting the game with three balls already in the holes. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, after which I glance over at Tarra and wink.

He has no idea what he's up against.

Ten minutes later, Drew lifts one brow and raises his hand to rub the back of his neck as I sink in the black eight ball, winning the game. "Damn, I've never seen a girl play like that."

There was a sense of familiarity and comfort with Drew. It was as if we have been friends for some time and things felt easy. I found myself enjoying my time with him and laughing at the small talk that we exchanged. My flirting game definitely needed a little work, but he went along with it, being the cutie that he is.

A giggle leaves my mouth as I place the cue stick back in the holder. I turn around and grin, putting my hand out with my palm up. "That will cost you one hundred bucks. You know, for schooling you," I said flirtatiously.

He chortles and shakes his head, closing my palm. Warm tingles spread up my wrist as he asks, "Will you settle for maybe, my number and dinner?"

My heart is thumping faster in my chest, but I tilt my head to the side and pucker my lips, making him think that I'm contemplating his offer. "I guess that'll do." I smile and, as he returns the gesture, his cheeks slightly blush.

"We better get going, Sis. I have work tomorrow," Tarra alludes behind us, but by the look in her eyes, she's happy for me. The huge grin she has is evident enough.

I nod when Drew scans the room, exhaling as if he's frustrated. His eyes drag back to mine and he notices, "Say, it looks like my friend ditched me. Mind if I hitch a ride with you ladies?"

"Sure, it's not like it's out of our way or anything," I say, giggling. "What about your friend though?"

Drew shrugs and waves off the subject. "Nah, he does this all the time. He usually finds someone here and takes them home."

I make a disgusted face.

Poor Drew, he seems so sweet, and yet, he has a douche for a friend.

I grab my keys from Tarra's purse and we walk out of Jax's Bar, towards my truck.

"Are you okay to drive?" Drew asks me.

"Me?" I say. "Oh yeah, I only had two beers and drank like three water bottles. My sister, however..."

We both look at Tarra, climbing into the back of the truck and laying on her belly in the backseat. "Had one too many."

We both chuckle as we drive back to the apartment complex, sharing a couple of not so subtle, silent glances at one another. By the glint in his eyes, I know he feels the connection that sparks between us too.