CHAPTER 13

ADAM

 

“BOOM! I win again!” I take the twenty pounds from the side of the pool table and shove it in my pocket. Taking money from Todd and Chris is like taking candy from a baby. They were always bad at pool, especially Todd, being the footballer in the family.

“Yeah, wait till Ryan comes!” Chris says.

Standing at the bar we order three pints of lager for us and just as I’m about to pay the barmaid, Ryan walks in.

“Make that another please, love.” She puts another pint on the bar and I hand it to Ryan.

“Cheers, mate!” Ryan says taking it from me and taking a swig. “So, who won?”

“Who do you think?!” I smugly reply.

“Right then get on the table.”

I take a gulp of my beer and put it on the table next to me. “You’re on!”

Picking up the cues I let Ryan rack the balls up and I break. Ryan is the only one who could give me a run for my money anyway.

Chris and Todd are heckling from the table, cheering on Ryan telling him to whoop my arse and doing everything they can to put me off.

“I’ve told the girls to meet us back here when they’re done but if I know Taylor it’ll be a while yet. If it doesn’t involve food shopping she could spend all day.” Smirking, Chris shakes his head but he loves that girl, he always has.

I hope Darcy is feeling a little better from spending some time with the girls, it’s what she needs. I don’t like how she feels so guilty if she’s not at home, I know they’re her parents but seriously - the girl goes nowhere but work.

Taking my mind off the game gives Ryan the advantage when I miss an easy shot. “Fuck! How did I miss that!”

“You snooze, you lose. That’s all I’m saying!” Ryan tells me smugly as he goes around the table potting all his balls until he has the black ball left.

“That’s what you get for daydreaming about Darcy.” Todd laughs at me. “It’s about time someone beat your cocky arse!”

I pot the two of my balls left on the table which leaves us both on the black. I hit the white ball lightly so, it just touches the black and it’s harder for Ryan to make a shot.

“Get out of that one then.” I tell him as he walks around the table and decides on his best angle. He positions his cue and hits the white but the black rolls towards the pocket, I will it into the pocket, but it stops just short of going in.

“Noooo!” Ryan shouts as his hands go to the sides of his head. Laughing I show him my middle finger, I position my cue and name my pocket. Just a little tap of the white ball with the tip of my cue and - victory! The black ball rolls into the pocket slowly. I place the cue on the table.

“YES! Hand the money over loser!” Ryan very sulkily hands a tenner over and slaps it into my palm. “Now don’t be a sore loser.” I tap his cheek lightly playing with him.

I put the money in my pocket and take a seat on the stool to drink my beer. Todd goes to the bar to get the beers in as Ryan goes off to the toilet.

I take my phone from my pocket and check for messages but nothing from Darcy. Todd comes back from the bar putting the tray of beers on the table. I take the top off my beer as Ryan sits back down in between Chris and Todd.

“So, how does it feel knowing in a few months you’re gonna be a Dad, Ry?”

“I’m shitting it mate. I ain’t got a clue what to do but as long as Ash and my baby is okay that’s all I’m really worried about.”

“Whoever thought you’d be a Dad.” Shaking my head still finding it hard to believe. “You were like the biggest player out of us all.”

“Not really I was just fooling myself and being a dickhead. I always wanted Ash but I never thought I deserved her. I was just a bastard.”

“Do you see much of your parents now?”

“Nope, I cut them off when I moved out. Ash came first, end of! Mum still rings every now and then when she’s not there but that’s it.” Ryan picks up his glass and takes a long drink of his beer.

His parents were strict from what I can remember. They pushed him into doing everything, every after-school club for sports, he had targets to meet for his actual schoolwork, not by the school though, by his parents, he didn’t have a choice.

I remember him coming to our house with Chris when he was around fifteen with a cut lip and a black eye. He told my parents he’d got into a fight with a bigger lad, Mum cleaned him up and tried to get him to tell her, but we knew his Dad had done it.

He would never admit it with our Dad being a copper. I still don’t know the whole story; Chris does but they were inseparable at that age - still are. I never needed a best friend at school, I had my twin.

“What’s up with you? That’s twice I’ve caught you lost in your own head! Is everything okay?” Todd asks nudging me.

“Yeah, just thinking that’s all.”

“What’s happened with Darcy, is she alright?” a concerned Todd asks.

“Yeah she’s good!”

“Ad man, this is me! I know how you think. I also heard you on the phone last night, I know something’s up.

“Ahh, I just don’t know how to help her. All this business with her Dad is cutting her up inside. She doesn’t think about herself at all, then there’s the garage not doing well it’s just causing more stress.” I tell him agitated.

“Why don’t you take her away or something just for a couple of nights, spoil her. If she needs a break that’s probably the way to go. Think about it, take her somewhere she can relax maybe the seaside or something.”

Todd’s right, if I can persuade her to go that is…

“Oi what are you two girls whispering about over there?”

“Fuck you!” I say giving him the middle finger, joking around.

“Who’s for another pint? I think it’s your turn, Ad,” Chris says pointing at me.

“Fuck off, it’s about time you bought one. Get to the bar, tight-arse!” Chris heads towards the bar as I shake my head at my older brother trying to get another free pint.

I turn back to Ryan, “So Ryan, boy or a girl?” I ask him with a smirk.

“I’d love a boy but a girl will be loved just as much and she’ll be my little princess. God help the boys though, I’d kill the little fuckers if one hurt her.” Ryan says laughing.

“I can’t believe I’m going to be a Dad at all but he or she will have a better life then I had.” Ryan stares at nothing reminiscing on his own life.

“Course he/she will. Him or her will have you and Ash as parents, you’ll be the best.” I say, tapping his shoulder as I stand, “I gotta piss.