The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska #1)(37)
“That’s why we’re friends,” Zoey grumbled. “There’s not enough abject humiliation in my life without her.”
Graham’s grin just grew. “Save me a game, Zoey?” he asked her, sounding far sexier than the man had a right to.
Aiming a look her friend’s way, Zoey immediately scooted back out of the range of hugs and misunderstandings. “Sure…ummm…yeah. Maybe. Good luck to you…and all your…evening endeavors.”
Killian had already secured a pool table on the other side of the room. With an awkward wave of her fingers, Zoey scurried over to the dubious safety of Lana’s cousin and his acquaintances. Lana followed, a knowing look on her face. Slipping an arm through Zoey’s, Lana glanced over her shoulder at Graham.
“Good luck to you in your evening endeavors?” Her eyebrow rose.
“Shut up.” Zoey all but dragged Lana toward their newly acquired table. “I didn’t know what to say.”
“How about ‘the pool table looks nice and sturdy, but let’s check to make sure before my vagina gives up all hope, withers, and dies’?”
“You don’t get to voice my vagina’s opinions,” she hissed.
“Free that speech, love.”
“You’re actually the worst human being I’ve ever met. You know that, right?”
Lana’s laugh pulled the few eyes that weren’t already following them. At least Zoey knew their attention was firmly on her friend and not herself. No one ever managed to stand next to Lana Montgomery and be noticed.
“Who’s that guy?”
Curious, Killian lifted his chin slightly to indicate the table of Graham and his friends.
“He’s a long story.” Zoey picked up a cue stick. “Okay, boys, you might as well get comfortable. It’s my break.”
*
“I don’t like that guy.”
Graham didn’t know who the man was who’d accompanied L and the Zo-ster into the pool hall, but he had that look.
The look. The pinched nose, squinty eye, chin to the ceiling, stick rammed super far up the ass look Moose Springs residents got drunk and made fun of every time they were together. Was it too much to ask to have one night, just one single night, without being overrun by the rich and infamous? Wasn’t that why he kicked all his customers out early?
“What’s she doing with them anyway?”
Ash raised a dubious eyebrow. “She looks like she knows them. Why do you care?”
“I don’t.”
She snorted, shaking her head.
“I mean. Just look at him,” Graham continued. “Five bucks he goes in for the ‘Here, baby, let me show you how to shoot’ routine.”
“I don’t care,” Ash reminded him as she missed her shot. “Easton, do you care?”
A grunt of reply was muffled by the beer stein against Easton’s mouth. “Nope.” Draining half the beer in one long swig, Easton set it down, wiped his mouth free of foam with the back of his hand, and grunted again. “But he does.”
The language of Easton was deep, multifaceted, and consisted of varying intonations on the same guttural noise. Being fluent in Easton had saved Graham a lot of trouble having to actually communicate in words. Still…
“There he goes. Lean in, let me help… That’s right, send that jerk packing, Zoey. You don’t need him. Use that stick if you have to. You’re not above a solid groin shot.”
“It’s your turn,” Ash reminded him.
“Yeah, I know.” Grabbing a cue chalk, Graham ran it over the end of his cue more times than necessary, grinding the chalk down with a squeaking noise. “Do you think she actually likes him? Because she looks annoyed to me.”
“Really? You seem like the type to totally miss female annoyance.” A boot kicked him in the back of the calf. “It’s your turn.”
“Oww. What’s with all the violence lately?” Limping over to the far side of the table, Graham haphazardly bent over and missed his shot. “I should go over there.”
“And say what?”
“I don’t know. Hey, Ash, did you know moose can become zombies?”
Ash sighed the sigh of someone on their last nerve. “There are literally no words for what’s wrong with you.”
“Did you see that? He just offered her a drink. What a schmuck. She clearly doesn’t like him, which is to be expected. The Zo has discerning taste.”
“You know this from—?”
“Breakfast. And one accidental encounter where she thought I was going to murder her. What’s this jerk’s problem? I really should go over there.”
As he started to move, Easton reached out a hand and clamped it down on Graham’s shoulder. “Stop picking fights with the tourists,” Easton rumbled. “Jonah said the next time he gets called, he’s going to charge you with assault. No more warnings.”
“It’s fine. I’ll let him have the first swing.”
“Why are the pretty ones so stupid?” With another, more expressive sigh, Ash rounded the table. “What exactly will you accomplish by doing this?”
Graham didn’t know. But as the rich son of a bitch put his hand on her shoulder, he decided Zoey Caldwell might be worth it.