other names and irritate the piss out of one another, but in the end, we can always depend on one another.
“There were some photos in one of the boxes. I know how sentimental you are and thought you’d like to go through it,” he says as he throws his arm over her shoulder, guiding her inside the club.
I trail behind them, not uttering a word. One day, this will be me and Bethany.
“Blake, you can pick me up in a few hours if you want. This might take a while,” she says, turning to face me.
“I think I’ll hang out a bit, then maybe run over to Ricky’s for lunch. You want anything?”
“My usual,” she says, reaching into her purse and pulling out a twenty. “And don’t forget the extra onions this time.”
“Yes Mommy,” I say, grinning at her.
She narrows her eyes at me, giving me that look. “I brought you into this world…”
“And you can take me out. I know, Mom. I know,” I say shaking my head and walking towards the pool table in the back corner of the room. Picking up a cue, I decide to practice my game. Last time I played Shadow, he whipped my ass and I’m determined to take him down, at least once.
Taking my first shot, I smile as I sink two of the balls. I line up two more shots, pocketing the balls with ease. If only I could run the table like this when Shadow was around, I could finally put him in his place. The man is a pool shark and rarely loses.
As I sink the eight ball, a feeling of satisfaction takes over. “Fuck yeah!” I roar, slamming the cue on the table.
An almost inaudible yelp causes me to lift my head, my eyes landing on the small form that has just entered the room. Even from this distance, I can see the fear in her eyes. “Sorry about that,” I say, smiling at her. “I go a little overboard sometimes.”
She widens her eyes as I walk towards her, stepping back as I approach. “I didn’t mean to scare you,” I say, coming to an abrupt stop. She is beautiful, with hair the color of honey and hazel eyes with flecks of copper scattered throughout. “I’m Blake,” I say, extending my hand to her.
She stares down at my hand as if it’s an alien concept, then looks up at me in bewilderment. “I’m Bella,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “I was looking for Jade. I thought I heard her,” she says, looking around the otherwise vacant room.
“She’s in back with Tank,” I say, trying to place her face. “I haven’t seen you around before.”
“Um… I uh…”
“I thought I heard your voice,” Mom says, walking into the room. “I see you two finally met.” Bella relaxes the moment she hears my mom’s voice, turning her attention towards her. “I hope my son has been on his best behavior.”
“Your son?” Bella asks, looking back over at me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t…” her voice trails off as a blush creeps up her face.
“No need to apologize. I didn’t have the chance to properly introduce myself,” I say, smiling at her.
She quickly lowers her head, her eyes focusing on the floor. “I was hoping we could talk,” she whispers, not looking up and I immediately know she’s not talking to me.
“Sure Bella,” my mom says, leading her down the hallway and out of sight.
“Bella.” Her name rolls of my tongue with ease. She is the epitome of beauty. Shy and timid, yet stunning. Her presence demands attention, even though I can see her need to escape from it.
“I can’t believe this shit,” Tank mumbles, storming into the main room. “Your mom is a piece of work.” He takes a seat on one of the bar stools, shaking his head. “She kicked me out of my own fuckin’ office. Can you believe that shit?”
“Believe what? That she kicked you out or that you let her?” I chuckle.
“Oh, shut the fuck up!” he grumbles, narrowing his eyes in warning.
Biting back my laughter, I make my way towards the exit and only when I
“There were some photos in one of the boxes. I know how sentimental you are and thought you’d like to go through it,” he says as he throws his arm over her shoulder, guiding her inside the club.
I trail behind them, not uttering a word. One day, this will be me and Bethany.
“Blake, you can pick me up in a few hours if you want. This might take a while,” she says, turning to face me.
“I think I’ll hang out a bit, then maybe run over to Ricky’s for lunch. You want anything?”
“My usual,” she says, reaching into her purse and pulling out a twenty. “And don’t forget the extra onions this time.”
“Yes Mommy,” I say, grinning at her.
She narrows her eyes at me, giving me that look. “I brought you into this world…”
“And you can take me out. I know, Mom. I know,” I say shaking my head and walking towards the pool table in the back corner of the room. Picking up a cue, I decide to practice my game. Last time I played Shadow, he whipped my ass and I’m determined to take him down, at least once.
Taking my first shot, I smile as I sink two of the balls. I line up two more shots, pocketing the balls with ease. If only I could run the table like this when Shadow was around, I could finally put him in his place. The man is a pool shark and rarely loses.
As I sink the eight ball, a feeling of satisfaction takes over. “Fuck yeah!” I roar, slamming the cue on the table.
An almost inaudible yelp causes me to lift my head, my eyes landing on the small form that has just entered the room. Even from this distance, I can see the fear in her eyes. “Sorry about that,” I say, smiling at her. “I go a little overboard sometimes.”
She widens her eyes as I walk towards her, stepping back as I approach. “I didn’t mean to scare you,” I say, coming to an abrupt stop. She is beautiful, with hair the color of honey and hazel eyes with flecks of copper scattered throughout. “I’m Blake,” I say, extending my hand to her.
She stares down at my hand as if it’s an alien concept, then looks up at me in bewilderment. “I’m Bella,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “I was looking for Jade. I thought I heard her,” she says, looking around the otherwise vacant room.
“She’s in back with Tank,” I say, trying to place her face. “I haven’t seen you around before.”
“Um… I uh…”
“I thought I heard your voice,” Mom says, walking into the room. “I see you two finally met.” Bella relaxes the moment she hears my mom’s voice, turning her attention towards her. “I hope my son has been on his best behavior.”
“Your son?” Bella asks, looking back over at me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t…” her voice trails off as a blush creeps up her face.
“No need to apologize. I didn’t have the chance to properly introduce myself,” I say, smiling at her.
She quickly lowers her head, her eyes focusing on the floor. “I was hoping we could talk,” she whispers, not looking up and I immediately know she’s not talking to me.
“Sure Bella,” my mom says, leading her down the hallway and out of sight.
“Bella.” Her name rolls of my tongue with ease. She is the epitome of beauty. Shy and timid, yet stunning. Her presence demands attention, even though I can see her need to escape from it.
“I can’t believe this shit,” Tank mumbles, storming into the main room. “Your mom is a piece of work.” He takes a seat on one of the bar stools, shaking his head. “She kicked me out of my own fuckin’ office. Can you believe that shit?”
“Believe what? That she kicked you out or that you let her?” I chuckle.
“Oh, shut the fuck up!” he grumbles, narrowing his eyes in warning.
Biting back my laughter, I make my way towards the exit and only when I
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