“Bone, you here?” He called out loudly, his voice echoing through the quiet house. He shut the door behind him and surveyed the room. “AJ!”
“Hey!” AJ greeted Nick as he sauntered into the room. “What are you doing here?”
Nick shrugged. “I just dropped Celeste off for her first session with her therapist. And your place is a hall of a lot closer than mine.” He checked his watch. “I have to pick her back up in an hour.”
AJ nodded. “Well, come on in.” He waved Nick to move through the living room and join him on the other side. “How’s she doing?”
Nick shrugged. “She’s still not talking. And now she’s having nightmares.” He reached AJ’s side. “I’ve had to sleep in her room with her for three nights now.”
AJ grimaced. “Poor thing.”
“Yeah.” Nick nodded. He rested his hands on his sides. “So, what’s going on here?”
“Well,” AJ started as he moved out of the room. “I’ve got a few people over. We’re playing some pool. Come on.” He waved Nick to follow him and headed down the hallway to his game room.
Nick trailed behind and entered the game room. Two guys were already in there. One was Fred Durst, the other a tall, thin guy with a shaved head and dark eyebrows. He had a lip ring, and one of his eyebrows was pierced. He was leaning on the pool cue watching Fred shoot.
“Hey guys.” AJ announced as he came into the room.
The thin guy looked over, and Fred glanced up from the table, he smiled at Nick.
“Well, if it ain’t kid Nicky.”
Nick let out a small laugh. He wasn’t too fond of some of AJ’s friends. “Hey Freddy boy.”
AJ laughed. “Rod, this is Nick. Nick, Rod.” He introduced Nick to the other guy in the room.
Rod nodded at him. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Nick returned the nod. Then he let his eyes survey the table. “So, who’s winning?”
AJ clapped Nick on the shoulder. “Actually, you’re just the guy we needed…..”
Nick looked at him. “Oh yeah?” He raised an eyebrow.
AJ nodded. “Yeah, we need a fourth player. You game?”
Nick shrugged as he pulled his jacket off his arms. “Sure, why not.”
“You any good?” Fred studied him after he ‘d taken his shot and straightened back up.
“Mmm, kinda.” Nick shrugged. Truth was…AJ had taught Nick a lot in the many years they’d known each other. So yeah, Nick was pretty decent.
Fred nodded as Rod moved around him and examined the table, looking for the perfect shot. “Alright, grab a cue.”
Nick selected a cue stick off the wall and joined the table. AJ had racked the balls again and they were starting a new game.
They played for a little while, AJ and Nick on one team, Fred and Rod on the other. And Nick surprised Fred with his talent. He and AJ swooped the table, clearing it on their second round.
“Kinda, huh?” Fred raised his eyebrows at Nick, as Nick knocked the black eight ball into the corner left pocket.
Nick shrugged and stood up. He grinned at AJ, then glanced over at Fred. “Yeah, kinda.”
Rod let out a laugh. “You’re pretty good, kid.”
“Thanks.” Nick stuck his cue back on the wall. “But that game really made me thirsty. Anyone want anything?”
“Why don’t we all go grab something.” AJ suggested as his pool cue joined Nick’s.
The four of them made their way out of the game room and down the hallway. They entered the kitchen, and AJ grabbed them drinks. Whatever they wanted…beer, juice, soda.
Nick popped the top to his Pepsi and lifted it to his lips, letting the cool soda drain down his throat. He let out an ‘aahhh’ of satisfaction and fell down into one of AJ’s barstools.
The four of them fell into idle chat until the clock in AJ’s living room let out four loud dongs. Nick’s head shot in the direction of the noise, then checked his watch. “Shit.” He pushed his stool back and stood up. “I’m late.”
“Where you going?” Fred drawled out.
Nick drained the last of his third Pepsi and slammed the can onto the counter. “I’ve got to go pick a friend up.”
“Damn, I was hoping we could play another game.” Rod swirled his beer around in his can. “I was gonna partner up with you.”
“Another time.” He nodded at Rod. “But I gotta go.”
AJ rose from his chair. “Hey, Rod’s in town till this weekend. Why don’t you come back over Friday and we can play some more.”
Nick nodded. “Sure, sounds great. But I gotta go.” He swiped his jacket from the chair he’d draped in on earlier. He was late. He was supposed to have been there 15 minutes ago. And it was gonna take him a good 15 to get to the building. Poor Celeste, she was probably freaking out.
“Tell Celeste I say hey.” AJ nodded at Nick.
“Yup.” Nick shrugged into his jacket. “I’ll call you later, Bone.”
“Celeste?” Rod sent AJ a curious look.
AJ nodded then looked back at Nick. “Call me if you need anything.”
Nick nodded as he pulled his keys out of his pocket. “Will do. Bye.” Then he headed out of the room and towards the front door.
He had just pulled the door open when he could have sworn he heard Celeste’s name mentioned again. He paused. What were they saying about her? AJ better not be opening his big mouth and telling them what had happened! It was none of their damn business.
He heard Fred laughing. “She’s the hot chick at the party, right J? The one you stole away from me?”
“Hell yeah, she’s hot as hell.” AJ responded with his own laugh.
Nick frowned. He really wanted to stay and listen, but he knew he had to go. If he was any later….and Celeste was not in the shape to be left alone. He had to go….now. Sighing, he moved out onto the porch and shut the door behind him, cutting off Rod’s words.
“Oh her! Shit, she was hot. Let me tell you, she has one…………”