The Prez refused to speak of it; it was men’s business.
“Sorry.” I half-whispered, this was all new to me.
Not that telling me would make much difference. Look at my ex, in the house, and still upstairs doing his thing with my sister.
I tried to push that thought aside and work on what I do know, which was not much.
“Eat.” Cricket pushed the girls around the table. They looked as worried as I was, and not eating and causing a fuss wouldn’t help them in their own pool of discontent.
“Does it get any easier?” I asked softly, lifting a fork of food to my mouth.
“No!” three voices answered at the same time, causing the tension to break, as they chuckled at answering together. “Guess we will have to think of ways to make our wait better,” I stated out loud, unsure how I could do that.
“Well, it was okay for most of the day, but when the night came, and they were not back, that was when we started to worry. It is not unusual for boys to go on a day trip, but they rarely go overnight and don’t let anyone know; they won’t return,” said Cricket, who had started to play with her food. Now, I feel guilty for bringing down the mood.
“Well, girls, let’s eat, leave plenty for the guys in the warmer, and go play pool,” I suggested.
Hope to learn more about each other yet, and maybe in the games room, the tension might be reduced, keeping our minds off the men.
“You know how to play.” Cricket perked up, looking hopeful at me.
“I have played a time or two.” I wasn’t going to tell her I used to be in pool competitions, that might burst her bubble, one thing the street kids got to play.
“I challenge you first, then.” Sticks jumped in before Cricket, or the others could say a word.
“Ah, you do that all the time, that’s not fair.” Cricket belly ached, good-naturedly. These girls were close, and they had included me in the family. I feel honored to have been included so quickly.
We finished dinner in a better mood, placed covers on the food, and put it in the warmer.
Sticks set up the balls, and I let her break, then I was mean and cleaned the table in one go.
“Seems like we got us a ring in, let’s do a competition against the guys, put five bucks to enter, and a bet on the side, what you say, girls?” The cheers went out around the room.
“They won’t know what hit them. Tank doesn’t know you play, does he?” A squeak came from the back.
“Nope, never played here before,” I replied, looking at the happy faces, because I could play.
“Good, let’s plan.” The girls huddled together to talk. I leaned back at the bar and watched.
“Sticks, where’s the bar staff? Did they see?” I asked, looking for the nom that usually was behind the bar.
“Most likely slacking off somewhere. When the main crew is out, they don’t work as hard, and Prez won’t come out of his office til they return. The guys know this and play up.”
“So no one saw me play?” I asked, still skeptical.
“Nope, the nom would be working the main bar, as none of the guys are back here in the games room, and wouldn’t bother with this room, it’s not one they expect us girls to be in. So they probably believe it is empty,” a girl I don’t remember answered, and returned to their conversation.
“Hey, Sticks, that guy Blaze, does he have a girl?” I asked, not waiting for Tank to get back to it.
“Nah, he likes to play the field, why? Thinking of dumping Tank so soon?” She gave me a sassy reply.
“My girl, Jenny, was interested and wanted me to get his number. But if he’s a love ’em and leave ’em guy, I would be uncomfortable, having her around, just for him to, you know.” I shrugged, not paying attention to the suggestion of dumping Tank, as if I would. It wasn’t worth biting into that one.
“Will find out if he’s interested in a girl more than a booty call, and let you know. When are they coming over next?”
“I can get them here anytime. A quick text and she would rush over. She knows this weekend we’re going on a ride, so that we won’t be there this weekend,” I replied thoughtfully.
“Leave it with me.” We all stopped talking and turned to the door, tilting our heads to the side.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.