He sinks the black to win the third game.
“Ha, not fair, you must be cheating,” I say, stomping my feet like a toddler having a tantrum.
“Sore loser, are we?”
“No, just not used to it, that's all.” I’m pouting now, normally pool is my game but he’s just too good. Think we might need to change things up a bit. “I’ll get this round, but no more pool. Let's play something else.”
“What? Are you going to make up a game so you can win?”
I shrug my shoulders, “Maybe?”
“I’ll get this round, I don't want to take all your money tonight. You go find us somewhere to sit.”
“Don’t get too cocky, you just got lucky. No more tequila, though, get something else.” I make my way over to a leather lounge in the back corner. I'm surprised I can get a seat, but it's quiet here for a Saturday night. At least compared to what I remember it being like when I was 18, anyway. Blake returns with two bright blue cocktails.
“What are these?”
“I have no idea. I got them because they match your hair.” His whole face lights up when he laughs. It's the most natural I have seen him. He's finally starting to relax around me. I think he’s getting kind of drunk too. I can't help but laugh back. I don’t even know why.
“I guess my hair is kind of ridiculous at the moment. I needed a change after... well, you know the story.”
“What made you go with bright blue?”
“I don’t know. I just wanted to be as far from what he wanted me to be as possible. When I was younger, I used to love experimenting with my hair. It was all different colours. Pale pink was my favourite. That's how it was when I met Jessie, but he soon talked me into stock standard blonde. I guess I didn’t even realise how much I changed myself to be who he wanted me to be.”
“I like the blue, it suits you. You're kind of different from any of the other girls I know. You could never be just another boring blonde.”
Now I can feel my face heating up. He’s too cute to be saying nice things to me. “Thanks.”
“So, what’s this game you’ve got planned?”
I sit up in my seat, crossing my legs, and clap all excited remembering the game. “It's kind of a getting-to-know-you game, called Two Truths and a Lie. You tell me three things about yourself. Two are true, one’s a lie, and I have to guess which one is the lie. If I get it right, you drink, and if I’m wrong, I drink.”
“Okay. Sounds interesting. Why don’t you go first so I can see how it works.”
“Okay, let me think... Okay, I’ve got it. One, I’m a twin. Two, when I quit my last job, I told my boss she was so conceited she should go fuck herself. Three, I wasn’t ready to get married and I’m secretly glad I walked in on Jessie and that girl.”
“Okay, well I know you have two brothers, though I’m not sure if they're the same age as you. You sound like the kind of girl who would speak your mind so I’m sure you ripped into your boss. I reckon it’s the first one, I can't see you as a twin.”
I’m laughing hysterically now, slapping my hands on my legs. “Wow, you must think I’m a mega-bitch if you think I told my boss to go fuck herself! I’m sweet and innocent. I would never say that,” I add, batting my eyelashes at him. “Not to her face, anyway! I have a twin, so you better drink up.”
“You have a twin! That must have been cool. Growing up, I always imagined what it would have been like to have a twin. I’ve only got an older sister; she's six years older and I don’t really know her. My family aren't all that close.” He skulls his drink. “Oh, this was a bad choice, it’s awful, so sweet. So, you're glad you're not getting married?”
“I don’t know, I wanted to. I mean, I thought he was the one, but the closer it got, there was this niggling feeling like something wasn't right. Maybe I wasn’t ready, or he wasn’t the one. I couldn't put my finger on it. Something was just off. You know? Man, that sounds so bad. I think it's the alcohol talking.”
“It doesn't sound bad. Sounds like your intuition was trying to tell you he wasn’t right for you.”
“Yeah, maybe? Anyway, it's all done now. Right, it's your turn. What exciting truths have you got for me?” I ask with my biggest smile. This game is fun. I almost want to pat myself on the back for coming up with the idea.
“Okay, I don’t know how exciting they will be. I’m not all that interesting, but here goes: One, I’ve never been outside of Australia. Two, I cheated on my final exams for high school. Three, I’ve had a threesome.”
“Oh, I don't know, there's no way you cheated on your final exams, you're too organised and smart for that. Hmm…”
He's raising his eyebrow at me now, trying to throw me off. “How do you know? I could have.”
“Hmm, I reckon you have never had a threesome.”
He throws his head back, laughing at me.
“What?” I say.
“Tricked you, now drink up.”
“What? Okay.” I skull the blue liquid. “Yuck, that is sweet. Wow, I can't believe you’ve had a threesome. Sorry,” I laugh, “but Mr Serious seems kind of vanilla.”
“You shouldn’t be so quick to judge.
