Free Butternut Summer by Mary McNear

groaned, but only on principle. He didn’t really care how long this game stretched out for, not when playing pool at his favorite bar with his best friend seemed as good a way to spend the night as any other.
    â€œThree ball in the side pocket,” Jason said, finally taking the shot. As Will watched the balls scatter, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Although he knew who it was without turning around, he turned around. “Hi, Christy,” he said, and he saw, immediately, that there was something in his expression, or in his tone of voice, that she didn’t like.
    â€œYou don’t seem that happy to see me,” she observed, her pink lip-glossed lips forming a pout. Oddly enough, Christy’s pout was one of the things that had initially attracted him to her. But tonight, for some reason, he found it mildly irritating.
    â€œNo, it’s not that,” Will said. “It’s just, I’m in the middle of a game.” He looked over at Jason, who was setting up another shot. He was used to these interruptions from Christy.
    â€œAre you mad at me?” Christy asked. Her pout had gotten poutier.
    â€œI’m not mad at you.”
    â€œAre you sure? Because I know it’s been a while. But, Will, I can’t help that.”
    â€œI know you can’t help that.”
    â€œGood,” she said, and after a quick look around to see if anyone was watching them, she reached out and gave his T-shirt a tug. “So let’s go,” she said. “Now.” He saw then, objectively, how pretty she looked, with her wide blue eyes and her long, shiny blond hair. Saw it, but for some reason, tonight, he didn’t feel it.
    â€œI’m going to finish this game,” he said, shifting his pool cue to his other hand.
    A frown creased Christy’s smooth, suntanned forehead.
    â€œLook, it’s not a big deal,” he said.
    â€œThis is the first time we’ve been able to see each other in what, two weeks, and it’s ‘not a big deal’?”
    Will closed his eyes, just for a second, bracing himself for what was next. Christy, he knew, did not take rejection well, since, like most exceptionally attractive people, she’d had very little experience with it. And, in fact, when Will opened his eyes, he saw there was a little muscle working in Christy’s tightly clenched jaw.
    â€œOkay, Will, I’ll tell you what I’m going to do,” she said. “I’m going to go sit at the bar and order a drink and drink it while you finish your game. Not because I understand why you need to finish it but because I’ve missed you, and I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again after tonight. So when you and Jason are done, come and get me and we’ll leave. All right?”
    â€œNo,” Will said. He didn’t know who that single word surprised more, him or Christy.
    â€œNo what?” she asked, her blue eyes, with their heavily mascaraed lashes, opening wide.
    â€œNo, I’m not leaving here with you tonight.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œYou don’t need to know why not, Christy,” he said, trying to keep a lid on his exasperation. “I’m a free agent. I’m not your husband; you already have one of those, remember?”
    She flinched, visibly. They both knew Will had never said anything like that to her before. But then again, they both knew Will had never not wanted to go home with her before either. He watched, uncomfortably, as the expression on her face turned from shock to hurt to anger.
    â€œThat wasn’t very nice, Will,” she snapped, and then she walked away.
    â€œWhat was that about?” Jason asked, mystified, when Will rejoined him at the pool table.
    â€œNothing,” Will mumbled, setting up to take his shot.
    â€œThat didn’t look like nothing,” Jason observed. “But I have to say, Will, she looks hot when she’s angry. Then again,” he