Hustle Me (Bank Shot Romance #1)(64)
Author: Jennifer Foor

We all sat down just as his match was beginning. He sat on his stool when it wasn’t his turn and studied his opponents every move. I held his case between my legs and noticed that he obviously was using another stick. As much as he talked about the one I was holding, I knew he would appreciate me bringing it for him to use.

"So, how is he doing?" I leaned over and asked his mother.

It was very quiet while the matches were going on, so we had to whisper. "Yesterday’s matches were difficult for him, but this has been the hardest. He’s in the semi-final round now."

I knew Jammer was good at pool, but I had no idea he was good enough to have come that far. "So, he has a chance to win the whole thing?"

She smiled and grabbed my hand. "He’s going to win, Charlie. I can feel it and now that you’re here, I just know it. How did you know he was here? Did he tell you?"

I shook my head. "We saw him on television. I just…I just had to come."

She squeezed my hand again. "He’s in love with you, you do know that right?"

I kept her hand in mine and looked down at him. "Yeah, I’m in love with him too."

"This was all for you, Charlie. He did all of it so you could be happy. I think my son assumed that if he walked away you could forget about him and move on."

"He was wrong."

"You can tell him yourself after he makes this shot."

I looked down to see that he was stuck behind another ball. I’d seen him make the shot before, but it wasn’t easy. He was struggling, I could tell. For some reason he looked like he was drunk. His eyes squinted when he looked down to figure out the direction he needed to hit the ball. This shot could determine everything.

I was so nervous for him that my eyes started to water. I couldn’t believe he was doing all of this for us. At that moment he looked up and looked right at me. Ryan and Elle started waving their hands around to get his attention. He waved and I waved right back, smiling the whole time.

He bent down and took the shot. The object ball knocked the nine in and Jammer won the game. I was so excited that I pulled Zach, Elle and Ryan out of our seats to meet Jammer at the entrance. I couldn’t wait to be in his arms again. If I was allowed, I would have jumped down and went through the taped off area to get to him.

I saw him putting his stick away and looking up in the stands for us, but I couldn’t get his attention from where I was standing.

I felt tugging on my leg. "Charlie, I have to go to the bathroom."

Zach picked him up. "I got this. Go stand over there until we get back."

Elle and I both agreed and made our way to the wall located beside the entrance. I peeked back into the tournament room and located Jammer, but he was no longer alone. A very pretty blonde was hugging him and whispering something in his ear.

I didn’t know how to react. I mean, we weren’t together and I couldn’t expect women to not hit on him. He was very attractive. Still, it made me uneasy knowing she was touching what was mine. I wedged my way through the crowd of people trying to exit. I had to get to him. I had to know if I was what he wanted.

Tears were rolling down my face as I made my way closer to where I saw him standing. When we were directly across from each other, I froze in place. My heart was racing and my mouth felt dry. I didn’t know what to say or do.

I knew I couldn’t fret about it any longer. The blonde grabbed Jammer by the arm, but when he turned and looked up to see me, they both froze. "I’m not imagining this, am I?"

I shook my head from side to side.

He whispered something to the girl and she let go of his arm. When she walked towards me, I didn’t know what to expect. "I think you just made him the happiest man on the planet." She patted my shoulder and walked away from us.

I pointed toward her but looked at Jammer. "So, she wasn’t trying to get with you?"

He laughed and shook his head. "I told her when we met that it was never going to happen since I was still hung up on my old girlfriend."

I took another step toward him. "I saw you on television." I reached out and handed him his case with his original stick inside. "I figured you needed this."

When he took it, he kept his arm extended and moved toward me. "This is the only reason you came?"

I shrugged. "Well, it was one of the reasons." I took one more step toward him.

He reached the back of his hand up and wiped away my tears. "God, I miss you so much."

"Jammer, I need to know why you’re here." This was something he swore he would never do again. He didn’t want people recognizing him for his knowledge of the game.

"I think you know the answer." He kept rubbing my cheek with his hand as he stepped closer, so that we were almost touching.

"Tell me."

He leaned his head down so that I could feel him breathing. "I did it for us. I did this for you."

I shook my head but stayed close. "But…the tavern is mine free and clear. I don’t understand."

He traced my lips with his. "My father told me that if I walked away from you, he would remove the lien and forgive the loan. It was the only way to ensure you didn’t lose your home and the business. As far as being here, well, as slim as the chances, I knew if I wanted you back, I’d have to have fifty grand to pay off my dad, or he would be back on your ass and we’d be back where we started. Charlie, I’m one match away from winning that money, but I just have to know something."

"Anything."

"Win or lose, I can’t live without you. Take me back, Charlie. Give me another chance. My mother left my father. It’s just the two of us, but we could all be a family together. I know you want that."

I nodded. "You’re right; it’s all I ever wanted."

"So, can I come home?"

I reached my arms around his waist. "If you promise to never leave again."

He pressed his lips softly against mine. "Win or lose, I promise there is no other place I want or need to be. I will go wherever you go, as long as we are together. I love you, my Lena."

My stomach filled with butterflies, like I waited so long to hear myself being called that. It was like my mind remembered it from so long ago. "I love you too."

Our reunion was cut short by Ryan smacking his body into us. Jammer picked him up and gave him a big hug. "Buddy, I missed you so much. Are you taking good care of your sister?"

He shrugged. "She’s always sad, when are you coming home?"

"As soon as I am done shooting, we are all going home together. How does that sound?"

He got a big smile on his face. "Awesome!"