Raine

PART THREE

                “Nat! Come on! We’re going to be late!”

                “You owe me for this.”

                “Yeah yeah, promise I’ll make it up to you. Just, come on…”

                “Wow, you’re kind of in a hurry. Why are you so nervous?”

                “I want to make a good impression.”

                “You want to get into his pants.”

                “I would very much like that opportunity, yes…”

                “I thought you were over one-night stands.”

                “I’m making an exception. Going to angle for a second date first though.”

                “Well, this’ll be entertaining at least. And you’re paying for everything.”

                “Sure, sure, just come on.”

                “Fine! Jesus.”

                She lets him shuffle her toward his Bronco, and he’s glad she hasn’t put too much effort into her hair, because otherwise he’d never hear the end of driving with the windows down. She’s still mumbling under her breath about being coerced and bullied but he ignores her, if she was really unwilling she wouldn’t be here beside him. Putting in the address of the pool hall into his GPS he tries to calm his nerves. He’s dressed casually, this is meant to be low pressure. It was one thing Jake had messaged him, told him he was doing this to keep his brother off his back and a little part of him had been disappointed but another part had maybe liked the idea of a challenge. To make it a good enough time that Jake would agree to see him again. Without Natasha and Bob there. Although he’s sure Bob is perfectly lovely.

                He parks and they walk toward the pool hall, and he wonders if Natasha is walking deliberately slower than usual just to piss him off. He wouldn’t put it past her, but he’s not going to say anything because there’s also a slim to zero chance he’s walking faster than he usually does and he forces himself to slow down to match her pace. They’re not going to be late, but they aren’t going to be early either. Maybe that’s a good thing.

                He sees them, standing at a well-lit bar leaner, both nursing bottles. They’re dressed similarly, jeans, lighter coloured t-shirt, tan jackets. They both look good and he doesn’t miss the way Natasha puts her shoulders back and tilts her chin. Neither he nor Natasha are bad looking, so he doesn’t feel intimidated by good looks, but he does feel a little spike of anxiety around meeting someone new; completely ignores it. He wants to be here, wants to meet Jake.

                “Hi, nice to meet you. My name’s Bradley,” Bradley says, and he signs as he talks, has been practicing every waking moment for the last couple of days.

                “Jake. No need to sign. I’m wearing my aids.”

                “I thought not knowing sign was a deal breaker.”

                “You’re here, aren’t you?” Jake replies and his smirk is a challenge all in itself. Bradley grins, concedes Jake’s point with a small nod of his head but doesn’t break eye contact.

                “Bob. Hi. Nice to meet you.”

                “Natasha. Hi. We’ll just go and get something to drink and be right back.”

                Bradley doesn’t want to leave but she’s pinching his elbow, digging into his funny bone and he knows when to give in to her; has years of experience being her friend.

                “Okay, he is much cuter in person. I’m not even wearing lipstick.”

                “I don’t think he cares,” Bradley says, and he looks over to the table and both Bob and Jake are looking their way, Jake raising his bottle in a silent toast and giving him a wink and he groans. “Oh my god Nat, he’s so fucking hot.”

                “If you like that type of thing.”

                “I do. I really really do.”

                “Well. Lucky for you he seems just as interested.”

                Bradley ducks his head to hide his grin, turns toward the bar in an attempt to catch the eye of the bar tender, who immediately heads their way. He orders

                “From your lips to God’s ears Phoenix.”

                He gets the expected eyeroll and he pays for the drinks, can’t stop grinning as they head back to the table. Jake and Bob are both still watching them, and there’s an even more amused glint to Jake’s grin than before and Bradley raises an eyebrow, tips back his bottle to take a sip.

                “Hot huh?”

                Bradley almost chokes on the mouthful of beer he’s just taken, Natasha is laughing at him because she’s a terrible friend. Bob has stepped around the table, is looking just as amused as Jake and he pats Bradley on the shoulder as he walks past toward a pool table.