"7 ball, corner pocket." I slid the stick slowly back and forth through my fingers until I was ready to make the shot. Pulling back, I hit the solid 4 which slammed into the solid 7 with a loud crack, landing it in the corner pocket.

I stood up, leaning some of my weight on my cue stick, and smiled. So far, the game was close to even. Except I had landed two more of my balls in than Liam had. But I knew my lead wouldn't last long. I hated to admit it, but he was really good.

He raised an eyebrow at me, holding on to his stick with one hand and leaning on the table with the other, causing his shirt sleeve to rise up over his bicep where his half-sleeved tattoo showed. I had been eyeing it most of the game.

His tattoo.

Not his bicep.

Yep.

It was an intricate black and white design of a child climbing a set of stairs that led up to a broken clock. It was beautiful, yet heartbreaking. I found myself struggling to not reach out and trace it.

He didn't say anything except his next called shot as he surveyed the remaining balls. We weren't playing until one of us missed, instead just taking turns either way. He made, not one, but two of his striped balls, managing to call both.

"What's the matter? Realizing you're going to lose to a Neanderthal? How exactly does that feel?"

Ignoring his comment momentarily, I called my shot. Bending down to take it, I realized I needed a better angle. I walked the table, pushing Liam out of the way with my side. He moved over but only slightly as he looked down on me lining up my shot, leaning partially down with his hand placed next to my arm.

His closeness created every nerve in my body to crackle with this weird energy as if they were shooting off sparks and burning me in the process. I tried my best to ignore the feeling and focused on my determination to beat him. Unfortunately, I missed my shot.

I stood up, only inches from him now.
His lips were pulled in a smug grin as if he had already won.

"I'll let you know if that ever happens. Game's not over yet, Caveman."

His eyes continued to bore into me as he wore that cocky smirk of his. So far, our pool game consisted of called shots, narrowed stares, and insults. Actual conversation was apparently unheard of to Liam.

I looked over to the wall where Aaron stood talking to Kenzie and another guy I recognized from campus. Kenzie was leaning up and whispering something in his ear while him and Aaron laughed. I looked back to Liam who had picked up his beer bottle sitting on the side of the pool table and took a swig.

"Looks like your girlfriend is keeping herself entertained."

He chose not to follow my gaze, and instead, brought the beer back to his lips, holding my stare over the top of the bottle as he took a drink, before placing it down next to my hand. I tried not to notice the glistening of his lips from the drink he just took, as I forced myself to focus on his eyes.

What is wrong with me?

"She's not my girlfriend." He nodded to where they were standing, still not caring to look in their direction. "Looks like your boyfriend is the one getting entertained."

"He's not my boyfriend." I fired back.

Liam's eyebrow shot up at my admission.

"I mean, not yet. We haven't really made anything official. We've just been kind of talking for the few months we've known each other."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. We're still getting to know each other. I mean, up until Monday, I didn't even know you were his stepbrother." Although, how would I have known even if Aaron had called him Liam instead of L.J... I never would have thought he meant my Liam. Not that Liam knew the inclination of what I was saying. He probably just thought I had meant him in general, not him as in my ex best friend.

His eyes scoured my face, as an emotion I could not decipher flashed across them. He almost seemed curious. Maybe even hurt?

What is he thinking?

He cleared his throat and walked past me, brushing my shoulder as he moved.

"It's my shot. Let's get this damn game over with so I can get back to my date." He called his last ball and made the shot, not looking back in my direction.

Screw this.

I bent over, lined up the cue to the eight ball, and landed it in the corner pocket, effectively scratching and losing the game. Liam looked over at me, his eyebrows pulled together, as I glared at him from across the table, completely fed up with his shit.

He went to say something when I felt an unwanted hand run across my ass, causing me to momentarily freeze as my mind went to a place that I didn't want it to go. I whipped my head around to see some frat looking guy with a red and white polo shirt and shaggy dark hair grinning at me.

"Hey sexy. Care for a game with me? I can show you how to properly shoot those balls. I have a few of my own you can practice with."

"Get your fucking hands off her." Liam growled, suddenly right next to me.

I stood up and turned to face the dickhead with grabby hands.

"Considering you look like Where's Waldo; I'm thinking I would have a hard time finding any balls of yours."

I saw Liam's lips curve into an honest to God smile out of the corner of my eye, and I about fainted right on the spot.

"Don't worry babe, I'll help you find them." He smirked, unfazed by my comment.

"Hey, what's going on over here?" Aaron asked, appearing by my side.

"Nothing of your concern. Was just about to show this lady how to properly handle some balls." Waldo winked, gripping his package at the same time. Liam tensed next to me, stepping closer, both his fist and his jaw were clenched.

"You're not doing shit. This lady is with me. Come on Maddie, let's go."

Aaron grabbed my hand as he tried to pull me with him but we didn't make it two feet when Waldo wannabe reached out, stroking my other arm.

"I said, don't fucking touch her!" Liam was in his face before I could blink. Waldo wore a warped grin as he peered up into Liam's eyes.

"Damn buddy, you eager for some of her pussy too? Doesn't look like he's up for sharing, but I--"

He didn't get to finish that sentence because the next sound that was heard was a loud cracking noise as Liam's fist slammed straight into his nose. He stumbled back, grabbing at his now bloodied face. Liam went in for another blow, rearing his arm back to deliver the punch when Aaron grabbed his arm, attempting to pull him back.

"That's enough L.J., he's got the point."

The bloodied dickhead raised his one hand in surrender and backed up, walking away to no doubt lick his wounds, and all I could do was gape in surprise.

"Come on Maddie, let's go. Liam, thanks man. We'll talk later." Aaron's voice was tense, as he tugged on my hand again, but I stayed rooted in my spot.

I looked up at Liam who was staring at the guy's retreating figure, his chest heaving as he then turned and locked eyes with me. They were dark, intense, and penetrating, making me feel utterly paralyzed under his stare; I couldn't look away.

I wasn't sure I wanted to.

Kenzie came out of nowhere, placing her hand on his arm. "Come on, why don't you buy me another drink?" She asked, leaning into him more.

Liam held my eyes a moment longer before breaking eye contact and releasing me from whatever hypnosis I was under, before turning toward the bar with Kenzie trailing behind.

What just happened?

I followed Aaron out and he drove me back to the dorms, apologizing for how the night turned out. He invited me to his room saying Liam would be out all night with his date, but I politely declined. After the weird turn the night took, I wanted nothing more than to be alone and curled up in my own bed.

Laying down that night, despite my reluctance, my thoughts wandered to memories I had tried my hardest to tuck away--memories that intertwined with the emerald eyes I dreamt about as I drifted to sleep.