No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

I shifted my gaze to the newcomer suddenly standing beside me.

With slightly curled black hair and a pair of piercing blue eyes, it was clear from his hooked nose that he was of mixed heritage, a blend of Eastern and Western features.

He greeted me as if we were old acquaintances, calling me "the Snooker Girl," yet I couldn't recall ever meeting him before.

"Hmm?" I frowned slightly, puzzled.

"My name's Brown. Saw you playing pool at Jefferson's place with him. You were... cool! No, the word is 'slick"!" He gave me a thumbs-up.

His explanation cleared up some of my confusion, but something still felt off. I learned how to play from Conrad, and I only played with Jefferson Daniels when Conrad was around. We hardly ever had outsiders join us.

If someone like him had been there, I definitely would've noticed. Yet, he described it with such accuracy that it was clear he had seen us.

But I wasn't interested in getting to know strangers, especially not those connected to the world of snooker.

"You've got the wrong person," I denied.

"No way, it was definitely you," he insisted, his blue eyes locking onto mine. "Your name is... Jo, Joanna, right?"

name only made me more reluctant

my name, regardless of his intentions, was a sign of

you," I said, turning to leave,

mean no harm. I just

a surge of irritation. "I'm not interested in

want to play a game

My annoyance grew. "Move."

excitement seemed to increase. "You're as fierce as your game." His compliments made my skin

move, I'll call

I

really think

I

I'm every bit as good as Jefferson. You'l have a new experience, believe me," he said with confidence, stepping closer in a way that

kicked at his foot, a defensive move I was good

"Felicia, to use your people's words, you're ungrateful. I'm offering you a game

respect was the