“Hey birthday girl! Look at you!”
Kyle’s voice snapped me out of Aiden’s spell as he practically jumped on me for a bear hug. I smelt aftershave and the faintest hint of alcohol as Kyle’s arms engulfed me and pulled me close. My view of Aiden was obscured for a moment but when I finally saw him from the corner of my eye, almost glaring at Kyle and me as Kyle practically lifted me up and spun me.
“You look amazing.” Kyle grinned when he finally let me go. “Nice shirt!”
“Uh, thanks. I looked down at the pilfered garment before looking at Kyle again as he showed off his perfect white teeth in a grin. It’s not mine.”
‘Yeah I figured but it looks good on you. You should keep it.” Kyle smirked. “Let’s get you a drink!”
I was already doing that. Tammy spoke up as she handed me a short tumbler with what appeared to be cola. “Don’t down it or you’ll be feeling it
tomorrow.”
I gave the drink a sniff catching the scent of alcohol hidden under the sweet tones of cola.
“It’s bourbon. Tammy clarified. “Why don’t you kids go have some fun and we will catch you up in a bit.”
My eyes naturally found Aiden who hadn’t said a word since he came to stand in front of me. His dark gaze was back, sending heat licking across my skin and I’m certain my heart skipped a beat when his eyes closed a circuit with mine, drawing me in like a moth to a flame.
“Come on El, let’s go see if the pool table is free.” Kyle grabbed my free hand and gently tugged me towards a raised area that was partially hidden behind fake walls of wooden boards and picture frames.
“Ever played?” Kyle asked as he began setting up the table.
“Never.” I replied as I set my drink down and shrugged off my jacket. “But I think I have an idea on how to play.”
“Okay let’s see how you do then.”
I sucked.
We spent half an hour playing, Kyle letting me drown in my inability to play. By the end we were laughing to the point of tears. The drink was not helping and I felt warm even though my arms were exposed. The air was hot and clammy, the music was loud and the scent of cigarette smoke and alcohol hung heavy like a weird perfume. I was beginning to feel dizzy. It wasn’t in the way people feel when they’ve drank too much. This felt more like an overload of the senses. Every part of me was being assaulted by different things. The noise, the lights, the smells, the air…they all caressed me and pressed into me making me feel warm and a little light headed.
“Okay, how about I show you how to stand?” Kyle suggested, guiding me to the table with ease. “Fest hip width apart. Okay now let’s get that hold on the cue right.”
“I thought I did that okay.” I laughed as Kyle leaned over me to adjust my fingers. My heart was bouncing in my chest like it was trying to escape and I felt giddy.
‘I might have been lying.” Kyle chuckled. “Okay now you have it.”
It was an awkward position to be in. Kyle was behind me so that his chest pressed into my back, large hands crowding my much smaller ones. I could feel his breath hitting my arm as he talked, eyes animated and bright as he explained the science behind how to hold the cue stick. He seemed to know random facts about everything and was endlessly enthusiastic about it. For a moment I wondered why I couldn’t just be attracted to him rather than his cousin. Things would be easier in a way. I wouldn’t feel this undertone of guilt in the thrill that swarmed me every time I thought about Aiden or just looked at him. It confused me that I was looking at a near feplica of the man I had a crush on and yet whenever I looked at Kyle all I felt was the comfort of a platonic bond. He was becoming more like a brother than anything and judging by how he looked at me, we recognised that too.
