Chapter Nine, Did I Just Get Played?

Xavier’s Point of View

Rei looked even hotter in that dress than I had imagined she would. It hugged her curves in all the right places, and with her long blonde hair down like that, all I could think about was how it would feel to have my hands in it as she had her mouth on me.

“Hey, isn’t that the hot nurse?” Matt whispered as his eyes widened.

“Wow, she’s gorgeous,” Tom added, enjoying the view. Fucker.

“Are we playing pool, or what?” Lillianna groaned, annoyed at being ignored.

I looked at my best friend and sighed. Yeah, she was jealous. I nodded and lined up my cue, taking my shot and pocketing three striped balls.

“Awesome shot! I didn’t think you’d be able to sink those,” Lillianna praised me. She was genuinely impressed, and I smiled. It was a tricky shot, so I did appreciate her noting that.

I was lining up for my next shot when I looked up and saw Rei standing with a woman who seemed to know Lillianna right across the pool table from me. I ended up scratching, not hitting any ball at all, and having to endure the gasps of my friends because of it. I groaned, feeling embarrassed and frustrated. It was an easy shot, and I missed it because I was distracted.

“Well, that was unexpected. Ball in hand for me,” grinned Lillianna. “Check this out, Grace.”

And my best friend proceeded to hand my ass to me, sinking all of her remaining balls as well as the eight ball in precisely the pocket she called too. Lillianna winked at me, gloating without any shame. My best hugged the cute girl with Rei, eliciting a happy laugh from her.

"X, Matt, Tom, this is Grace. She’s my oldest and dearest friend," Lillianna said with a grin, clearly happy to see her friend.

"It’s nice to meet you, Grace," I said, grinning as I extended my hand to shake hers.

Grace shook my hand and gave me an odd look before looking back at Lillianna, who just shrugged. That was weird.

“Do you play?” I asked Rei, trying to include her in the conversation.

“No, not really,” she answered shyly and turned crimson as I tried to hide my grin. This was almost too easy. I could have fun and get her out of my system with this. Rei Draven would be too skittish to hang out with my friends and me. Once she left, I could resume checking out replacement fucks, as messing around with Lillianna was not a good idea anymore.

“Good, it will make this fair then. You and I will team up against Grace and Lillianna. Winners buy the next round of drinks,” I declared.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Lillianna stammered, catching on to what I would do.

Grace, to her credit, just smirked.

“Are you sure about this? Rei doesn’t know how to play pool and I’m quite good. Who do you think taught Lillianna how to play?” Grace drawled.

“I do love a challenge,” I grinned. “But I’m sure you will buy the birthday girl and I drinks soon.”

“We won’t go easy on you, handsome,” Grace said, biting her lip.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I grinned and winked at her.

“Who wants to break?” Grace asked, smirking.

“Rei can,” I said and Grace looked the other way to hide her laughter while Lillianna patted her back with a grin.

I arranged the fifteen numbered balls in a triangle formation, with the eight ball in the center. I positioned a solid and striped ball at the two back corners of the triangle before Lillianna called me out for not doing it and claimed to win the game by default. Rei grabbed a cue and looked terrified as she gazed at the table. I gently lifted the triangle and placed it at the foot of the table.

"Are you helping Rei, or should I?" asked Matt, hoping I would suggest he help her. Not a chance. This was my only opportunity to get close to Rei before she ran off from me permanently, and I would enjoy it.

I showed her how to hold the cue stick, adjusting her grip with a light touch. Rei’s breath caught as my body got closer to hers. I grinned; she was so shy even after all these years.

I showed Rei how to line up a shot, leaning over the table and focusing on the cue ball. I stood closely behind her, guiding Rei to lean forward more, and guided the shot with my hands on top of hers. It was hard to concentrate with her body pressed against mine. Deep in concentration, she wiggled her ass and bit her lip before taking her shot. I quickly took a step back, knowing otherwise she would have felt something stiff poking her back.

Matt and Tom cheered for Rei as she scattered the balls across the table and pocketed a solid three-ball. She turned around, thrilled that one of the balls had gone in, and quickly hugged me. However, Rei then froze and promptly stepped back.

“Sorry,” she murmured.

“It's all good. That was a great shot! Okay, now you need to do it again. But aim only for the solid balls,” I instructed.

Rei was a fast learner. She was able to sink another ball before scratching. Grace lined up her cue and then proceeded to sink every single ball.

Every. Single. One.

“You were saying, gorgeous?” Grace smirked at me.

“I’ll buy,” Rei said quickly and rushed off.

I shook my head and chased after her.

“I’ll buy the drinks, don’t worry about it. Besides, I owe you a drink that you will consume. You most likely dumped the iced coffee I bought you anyway,” I laughed.

Rei nodded, looking embarrassed.

“I’m glad you did. Lillianna tried to warn me it wasn’t a good idea, but I was determined to get you one without thinking it through. You shouldn’t drink something that a stranger hands you. I’m sorry about putting you in that position,” I smiled.

“What does Grace drink?” I asked, curious what I should be buying the pool shark who just handed me my ass without blinking.

“Tequilla,” Rei answered, chewing her lip.

“And you?” I asked.

“Tequilla,” Rei laughed.

“Really?” I asked, surprised.

“Really,” Rei smiled, relaxing a bit more around me.

I ordered two tequila shots for each of us and a beer for Matt and Tom. Rei helped me carry the drinks back to our table and sat beside me. Grace, Rei, and Lillianna looked at each other and grinned. What was going on here exactly? Something told me I just got played.