can mix with everyone, have some fun."
"Will, you don't have to babysit me. I get the gist of what you are going to say. It's okay," she said.
He took her by the shoulders firmly, his face grinning but he was serious, she could tell. "Laura Mills, you are not a baby. But you have a tendency to act like one. Now, I obviously said the wrong thing. I know this because I am gathering hints from the jabs and slights that you are making. I haven't figured it out exactly. No matter. I did promise to discuss it with you. Is that off the table?"
Laura felt her face become long and stiff. "I think I am going to play a couple games of pool and cool off."
He shook his head. "Do that.” He walked away from her towards the cluster of Knights’ Disciples.
Laura took a healthy sip of her beer. She removed a cue from the wall and racked up the balls on a table. She loved shooting pool, though it had it had been a while. The nicest thing about it all was that she was playing by herself. She could run the table and blow off some steam.
Will stood with his back to her, and seemed to have no problem having a good time. He certainly wasn't pissed. In fact, he had forgotten her completely. From what she gathered, he and other Knights’ Disciples were reliving the whole Darren drama. The other Knights had their girlfriends.
A woman approached the cluster and joined in. Laura craned to see if she could tell whether the woman was a new friend or an old one. She didn't know how long they had a house in town, but it was apparently long enough to build friendly contacts. Everyone liked them. Laura burned as she saw the woman smile sweetly up at Will who seemed like the center of everything. Someone said something and the group roared. Even the bartender laughed. Laura looked at her table. She was bored with her game. She busily returned the cue to the wall and brushed the balls in their pockets. Her mood was officially foul. She did not want to be there. She killed the rest of her beer and tried to discretely order another from the bartender at the end of the bar away from the group.
Will looked over shoulder at her. His eyes were smoky, dark. His demeanor changed quickly from the jovial life of the party to brooding, dominant and somber. It wasn't a look that said he was angry with her but one that was more like he wanted to spank her. Laura waited too long to turn away. She couldn't and his penetrating gaze was drawing her in. He crooked his finger at her and beckoned her to come to him. It had most definitely become a game and now they were toying with each other.
She dragged her feet and moved slowly towards him. When she was within distance, he reached out and wrapped his arm around her, and drew her into him. She fit perfectly into the crook of his arm. Any social discomfort dissipated because she knew her place and he basically announced it. She was still feeling cranky but that part of it was gone.
She had had that first beer pretty fast and was now on her second. The woman who had joined them gave her what she thought was a funny look. Laura widened her eyes and mutely asked if there was something she wanted. The woman looked away. Offended. Laura quipped, "Here we go again."
"How's that?" Will asked her.
"Just this feels a little bit of what Darren just went through with his date," she said quietly so that only the two of them could hear. The look on his face told her she might have gone a little too far.
"How is that?" he dared her. His face was like lead.
"Nothing," Laura said.
"Laura, baby," he warned her, "I think we are officially having our first fight, do you hear me? Stop now. Stop. Am I clear?" Will said.
"Sure," said Laura. "I'm sorry. I took it too far." She craned up to kiss him on the cheek. "We can talk later if you're up for it. I'm going to step outside on the deck and just get some air." She set what remained of her beer on the
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