Page 52 of Finding My Charming

“Hi, ladies. Interested in a game?” A deep voice came from behind me, and I almost got whiplash from turning to the sound. Vincent gestured to the pool table, and I cringed. This moment couldn’t get any more cliché. Next, he would offer to teach one of us how to play then step up and invade all personal space rules. No thanks.

Ari smirked and nodded without hesitation.

See? This is why she’s the popular one. I avoid these situations and she dives right in.

Calvin smiled at her and drew her to one end of the table, probably to discuss tactics. Little did he know her dad had taught us to play in third grade. I was pretty sure he saw this exact event happening ten years in the future and decided he’d rather have us embarrass the boys than have them press themselves against us to show us how to aim the cue.

Vincent stepped forward with a shy expression. “Judging by your expression you don’t want to play.”

My face must have revealed exactly what I was thinking. I chuckled and tried to look a bit more approachable.

“I can just see where this is going.” I accepted the cue he held out for me and held it with both hands in front of me like a shield.

Vincent laughed and glanced over to Calvin and Ari. “Can’t blame him for trying. He’s had a crush on her since middle school.”

My jaw dropped, and I looked back at them then to Vincent. “You’re kidding!”

He shook his head and smirked. “Nope. He thinks this is his last chance for anything to happen. In a few months, we’ll all be spread out. He may never see her again.”

“She’s going to school in Washington, not on the other side of the world. It’s like an hour away.” I’d repeated these exact words to myself for over six months since we’d both been accepted to our separate dream schools. For the first time in our lives, we wouldn’t be with each other on the first day of school, but an hour wasn’t that far. Right?

Vincent was still watching them. “It’s not too far, and if they start something now, there’s a chance they could pull off the long-distance thing. At least, that’s what he’s hoping for.” He looked down at me and shrugged. “Can’t blame him for trying, but don’t tell her what I said. I’d like to see how things work out on their own.”

I nodded in agreement. Ari hadn’t ever said anything about Calvin, but maybe it could work out. Weirder things had happened.

“So, are you good, or do I need to win this?” I asked.

He shook his head with a smirk. “We got it.”

I turned toward Calvin and Ari and hit my cue twice on the floor, getting their attention. “Are you guys going to play or just sit there staring into each other’s eyes all night?”

Vincent choked out a laugh behind me. “Subtle.”

Calvin looked at his friend then back at me. “We’re ready, and we decided to make things interesting. Are you guys prepared to make a wager?”

Vincent met my eyes and gave a slight nod. “What are the conditions?”

Ari smiled, quite suspiciously, and leaned against the table. “One game. Winners get to dare the losers.”

“That’s it?” We’d played each other enough for me to know I had this in the bag. She was good but also easily distracted, and I knew how to use that to my advantage. “We’re in.”

Vincent groaned behind me, but I ignored him. He really needed more confidence in my abilities.

We had them beat in just a few minutes. Ari seemed to have either lost her ability to aim a pool stick, or she was soaking up the attention from Calvin, but she’d scratched each time.

Vincent placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “I did not see that coming, Elise. I don’t know if I should be afraid of you or admire you.”

“I prefer both.” I grinned at him then looked back at our victims. “What do you have in mind for them?”

“Well, since they are our best friends, and payback is inevitable, I say we go easy without completely letting them off the hook. Something we can all laugh at, eventually.”

“What food does he hate the most?”

His eye lit up and slowly he began nodding. “You little evil genius! Pickles. He absolutely hates them!”

My lips crept into a smile, and Ari narrowed her eyes. I ignored her and turned to Calvin. “Calvin, we dare you to take a shot of ketchup.”

He smirked and shook his head. “Easy.”