Draco: Book Two of The Stardust Series by Reed Autumn & Clarke Julia

Author:Reed, Autumn & Clarke, Julia [Reed, Autumn]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2016-01-16T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

Ethan pulled two pool cues off the rack. “Who’s up first?”

Chase headed straight for the couch and turned on the TV. “You guys go ahead. The Angels are playing tonight.” He stared straight ahead as he switched the channel to the baseball game and turned the volume on low.

Although I knew Chase was a baseball fan, I was surprised that he was being so anti-social. Whatever was bothering him must have been pretty serious. I wanted to ask him about it but decided to give him time to snap out of his funk.

Jackson took the other pool cue. “I’ll take you on, Ethan. I need to redeem my standing after you beat me last time.”

Ethan snorted. “Don’t count on it.”

“Be careful,” Jackson responded. “Your overconfidence has been known to bite you in the ass now and then.”

Knox chimed in, his smug grin evidence that Ethan wasn’t the only overconfident player. “I don’t know why you two even bother. Neither of you has a chance against me.”

Ethan glared playfully. “Says the man who has a pool table in his basement. It’s not exactly a fair competition, now is it?”

I rolled my eyes at their banter. Were all guys so competitive?

Knox turned to me. “Up for a game of air hockey? Theo told me you’re not bad.”

I wasn’t particularly familiar with proper air hockey trash-talk, but I decided I might as well fake a little confidence of my own. “Not bad? That sounds like the kind of challenge I couldn’t possibly turn down.”

Ethan snickered and said, “Five dollars on Haley.” He gazed at me knowingly, “She’s tougher than she looks.”

I smiled at his comment. Despite basically begging me to keep “our little secret” from the self-defense lesson, Ethan was acknowledging my abilities. Obviously I wasn’t anywhere near Ethan’s level, but I could hold my own.

Air hockey, on the other hand, was a different story. Even though I’d won several games against Theo, I suspected that he was taking it easy on me, and I had no doubt that Knox would trounce me. Oh well; hopefully Ethan isn’t too attached to that five dollars.

Knox hit the button to turn on the table and handed me a mallet as the cool air rushed through the vents. “First player to seven wins.” He slid the puck toward me. “I’ll even be nice and let you take possession first.”

“Wow, so generous.”

Remembering one of the tips Theo had given me, I slid my hand behind the knob instead of holding the top of it. Knowing that it was more important to make my shot accurate than incredibly fast, I aimed the puck for the left corner of Knox’s goal. Surprisingly, it slid right in and I scored my first point.

Jackson and Ethan—apparently more interested in the showdown between me and Knox than their game of pool—both cheered loudly. I smiled but didn’t let them distract me. I positioned my mallet about a foot away from my goal like Theo had instructed and waited for the shot.

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