Loved by a Roughneck

“Go ahead, I’ll get us some drinks.”

“I’ll go with her,” Trish said, flashing him a bright smile. The petite blonde with blue eyes had a friendly disposition. Maci would be in good company.

“All right, Brandon, let’s head back there, so I can kick your ass.” The younger man laughed, and they moved to the back.

“So things seem pretty serious between you and Maci,” Brandon said as he handed him a pool stick.

“I’m trying to make it that way.”

“Wow…”

“I’m not getting any younger, and we click.”

“Good for you, man. She seems like a good girl.”

He nodded. “Yeah, she is.” Propping his stick against the table he racked the balls. “Now are we going to continue with the Dr. Phil moment, or play?”

“All right, smart-ass, you break.”

Chuckling, he lined up the cue ball and broke, knocking two stripes into the corner pocket and scattering the rest.

“Stripes.”

“Yeah, I figured,” Brandon said dryly.

After a few minutes, the girls returned with a bucket of beers.

“Thanks.” He bent down and pecked her lips.

“You’re welcome.” He noticed some of her sparkle had faded.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” She nodded, and he left it alone, unconvinced.

Returning his attention to the game he won the first round, and they re-racked.

“Maci!”

A few plays into the second game he peered up and frowned. The slimy bastard her mom dated was moving toward them. She stood from the table she shared with Trish and scowled.

“I told you not to come here, Craig.”

“Come on, I know you’re good for the money.”

“So, that makes me your bank?”

“Oh, you want to get uppity now that you have some roughneck warming your bed on a regular basis? It’ll only be a matter of time before he moves on and leaves you behind, sweetheart.”

Maci flinched. “Fuck you.”

“I think that’s enough.” Moving between them Ty clutched his stick tight.

“This is a family matter.”

“No, it’s not.” Maci’s voice spewed venom.

“You’re too good for your mom now? I told you she needs it.”