Ehren peeked back behind him again to catch that glimpse of a smile that made his stomach flip and then gazed ahead. “You won’t be saying that when you’re picking out my secret surprise gift.” He mused, following the path outside.
Out of his pocket he pulled a pair of sunglasses and looked back to wiggle his eyebrows before putting them over his eyes. Josie’s wasn’t far but he rarely ever found himself making his way over there while it was still light out. “When was the last time you played?” He wondered out loud. He didn’t really see Logan interact with a lot of people so who would he have played against?
Amusement creased the corners of his eyes. As Ehren looked back at him, Logan tipped him a playful wink. “You’re such a dork.” He already had something in mind but he wasn’t giving up anything. Secrets were his friend.
As they walked, he caught a glimpse of Ehren’s backside, felt a bit of shame and then caught up to walk beside him for the short distance to Josie’s. “I play on my own most of the time, if I’m feeling like it.” He rarely played with others, but keeping his skills sharp when the bar was empty didn’t seem to bad.
A puff of air came out of his mouth and he looked over as Logan joined him by his side. Dork did tend to be used toward him when he was growing up but the smile on his face and the way that he said it suggested to Ehren that this wasn’t primary school anymore.
“Ah, well how did it feel to beat yourself? Alternately, how it did it feel to be utterly defeated by yourself?” He joked, seeing the familiar sign and pathway to the bar they were going to. This time of day would probably be dead but soon enough they’d see the happy hour crowd start to come through.
“If you play on your own, what if someone wanted to come in and help you? Would you be into that?” It was a joke but sort of a serious question at the same time.
Eyes would narrow in a playful way as if he were pretending to be put off by the exasperation. All of the comments were made in jest - he was doing his best to be nice.
“Felt good,” He would comment to both inquiries, of course teasing. He also noticed the neon sign. It brought both comfort and guilt, he spent way too much time here.
“Depends on the type of person trying to come in and help,” he replied, looking somewhere that wasn’t at Ehren. As they made it to Josie’s he held the door open for the other man.
He noticed the small way Logan had looked away, almost as if he had something to hide. Still, he ignored it and made his way into the dimly lit bar, the bartender the first person he wanted to make an attempt to speak to.
He pulled a dollar out of his pocket and got change for the table before ordering himself a scotch neat. He could drink beer at home, if he was here it was going to be scotch. He turned around and leaned against the bar, to look back at Logan. “So when did you first start playing?” He wondered aloud. Ehren recalled being about 22 when he first began, but he didn’t grow up in any bars.
“Beer,” Logan replied to Ehren though he was talking to the bartender politely. This was a question he was not comfortable with answering right away, Ehren would just have to forgive him for that later. “Please. Thank you.”
Turning away, he placed an elbow on the bar and looked over at the pool table in the distance. The green felt shimmered in the lamplight.
Noticing the way Logan completely ignored his question, Ehren’s eyebrows furrowed a little before he looked over at the pool table. This was obviously a subject that Logan wasn’t willing to talk about, and Ehren could respect that. There were still a lot of things he’d yet to tell the other man.
“Well I don’t know about you but I think we should hit that table before the happy hour crowd rolls through.” He said he nodded toward the table to indicate that they should get started.
Nodding, the drink was swept up once it was set down and he followed Ehren over to the table. The bottle would be set aside in favor of choosing a cue and chalking it up. “You want to break or should I?” Once he’d selected a cue it would be set aside in effort to bring the balls onto the table and get them placed into the rack.
He stepped back to let Ehren decide on who would take the first move.
“By all means, you go first.” He replied, following suit and looking at a few cues before grabbing one relative to his height. Grabbing the chalk he began to chalk to the tip of his cue as he moved around the table. He’d used these tables a few times. More recently he beat Riley and had his laundry cleaned for him for the better part of a month and then once at his birthday with Dorian, but that wasn’t something he really didn’t want to think about, not being here with Logan.
“If I’m honest I probably ended up only having friends in my twenties because people were tired of watching me stare at them while they played pool.” He joked with a small chuckle.
At the offer to go first Logan shrugged. It was Ehren’s funeral. Once the balls were released from the cage Logan would pluck up the cue and find that little white sphere which would go careening into the other orbs. He set up the shot and leaned forward. A bit of studying the geometry and Logan thrust the cue forward, striking the ball.
With force it crashed into the first ball and sent the others scattering with perfectly timed momentum, sinking three instantly: two stripes, and a solid. With a grin he set up the next shot.
“Oh you think you scare me huh? Just wait until you see me.” He quipped with a grin. Logan was calculated that was for sure but a break was easy, he’d get to see the real skill behind the man as soon as he took another shot.
Logan was full of surprises, things he’d never imagined to see from the quiet maintenance worker who would come and fix things at the shop. The more and more they hung out, the more and more Ehren liked him. Taking the opportunity to enjoy the view of Logan’s ass for a minute he resumed his heckling. “Don’t slip.” He teased.
Clack.
The sound echoed from the cue ball crashing into a stripe sent the ball careening into a pocket. He stayed leaned over a bit longer than usual for seemingly no reason at all before rising to assess the next shot. “I’m sorry,” he quipped, glancing over a shoulder, “Did you say something?” Or had that simply been the wind?
A casual shrug and Logan looked back at the table, eyes flickering over the scatter of balls. He was stripes, and there wasn’t much of a shot with the way things had lined up. It was be creative or let Ehren show off a little.
Logan lined up a shot, leaned over and took it, missing the intended pocket on purpose. “Damn.”
A growl and he sighed, pretending to be exasperated. Straightening he set the cue aside and grabbed up his drink. “Good luck.”
A brow was raised at Logan. Ehren was good enough to tell when someone was putting him on, but it was Logan so he would just let it be. He placed his drink on the table nearby and pulled up his cue to line up his shot. “As if I need it.” He mused, leaning down to get a good eye on it. This was going to be a tricky one but if all went well enough, he could two solids in one go. The two balls lined up perfectly to make it easily into the two corner pockets so he pulled back his cue and took the shot.
As expected, the two balls went into the two pockets and Ehren punched the air in victory. “Yes!” He yelled.
He looked impressed by the shot, nodding at Ehren. “Beginner’s luck. That’s what they call that.” Leaning against the table nearby he waited for his turn, sipping from his drink. “Don’t get used to that.”
The scatter of balls was vast but so much potential remained and he was looking forward to playing more of this cat and mouse game.
Positioning himself again he found a ball that could get into a center pocket but it was going to rely on a little maneuvering. Well maybe not that much but he was going to put on a little show anyway. He pulled the cue around his back and aimed. “Beginners luck implies that I am a beginner which I am…” clack into the pocket.
“...not.” He said with a grin. The next shot was trickier for real this time. Quickly he walked to the table to grab a sip of his scotch. He went to set up the shot, trying to jump the ball over the 8 and missed the ball he was intending on shooting.
“Shit.” He said and resumed his spot at the table to sip on his scotch.
A clap at the display of luck would come in jest. It was a playful response, something someone might expect when playing a friendly game. “Obviously. How could I have missed the signs?”
As the next shot was missed, Logan pouted at Ehren, “Hm, too bad. You almost had that one.” His cue would be gathered, the drink settled down. And he approached the table. “You we’re trying to jump the ball, right?” Leaning over he took nearly the same shot actually getting it. A soft clacking sound and the striped orb was sank deep into the pocket.
Over a shoulder he looked at Ehren. “Like that?”
And then he turned back to the next shot, lining it up. Another sink. And then a miss.
The smug grin on Logan’s face was endearing, it was nice seeing some of the life back in him. Not that Ehren knew what he was like before but his interactions with the other man had become easier. “Oh I guess you’re a master then huh? Shame you’ll have your own bar tab tonight cause you could really use the money for that surprise gift you’re buying me.”
When he missed Ehren pumped his arm back and took a rather large gulp of his scotch before grabbing his pool cue again. This one was easy, he sunk a ball into a corner pocket easily before moving around to line up his next shot. And again, an easy position where he sunk another in one of the center pocket. He hissed a little and smirked over at Logan. “It’s crunch time.” He joked and laughed to himself like a school boy.
Only too soon since a woman passed behind him as he was about to hit his final solid before the eight ball. The ball went crashing into a stripe and hit it in. “Unbelievable.” He said and shook his head as he retreated to the table to sip on his scotch.
A shrug would come. Ehren had no idea what he had planned, so he went with it. “Who knows.” He watched the other man with interest, finding the wave of confidence appealing.
With amusement he saw the events unfold. This game was nearly over but the outcome was predictable already. “Crunching what?” He taunted casually, finishing the beer in his hand. The empty bottle was set aside and he picked up the cue, moving to the table.
“Bad luck? Or distraction?” Leaning over the table he lined up the shot and took it. One was made. The next not so much.
Pulling back he went to the table. “You can’t beat me. It’s impossible.”
Ehren grinned as he walked past Logan to the spot at the table. He leaned in as they passed, “You’re the only distraction.” He said low and got himself ready in position at the table. The last solid slipped easily into the pocket. Now was not the time to boast as his most important decision was to be made.
He walked around the table to examine all the angles of the cue ball versus the eight ball. Finally he settled into position. “Eight ball, corner pocket.” And he pointed to said pocket to make it clear. Bringing back his cue he tapped the ball and watched as the eight ball slowly made its way into the corner pocket. He let himself breathe for a minute before standing up to address Logan with a shit-eating grin.
Logan watched the shots be made. An eye roll would ensue as the eight ball danced into the pocket. He sighed. “What was that? Luck. I’ll get you next time.” He would. But this game had been rigged. Ehren didn’t need to know.
Offering the other man a bit of clapping, Logan nodded. “You win.”
Feeling himself a little bit more on the tipsy side, Ehren decided an elaborate bow was the best defense and returned to standing with a smirk on his face. As he walked back to the table he let himself chuckle a little. Leaning back into seat, he smirked over at Logan.
“You’re right about one thing, you’re not bad but..” he gestured to himself widely. “...you aren’t this good.” Laughter when ensue following.
“Alright, alright, brag.” Shoulders would shrug. “I’ll wipe the floor with you next time.” He grinned regardless. The confidence was good. He didn’t mind losing considering there was something else in mind for the future. Probably the immediate future. He wasn’t sure yet.
A hand would wave dismissively at Ehren. “You can’t tell anyone about this. I have a bit of a reputation.” This was all said in jest.
“Oh you do?” He replied with a grin and chuckled to himself before taking another sip of whiskey. Not that it was something he’d go blabbering about but it was fun to tease a little.
“Well I cross my heart, scouts honor, Girl Scout whatever it.” Ok so that didn’t really make any sense but maybe Logan would find his nonsense charming.
“Girl Scout whatever?” He laughed, shaking his head, “If you’re the cookie selling kind, I’m in.” It had been forever since he’d had any of those things. “You’d be a cute Girl Scout, though.”
Settled back in the chair he glanced around the empty bar and then back at Ehren. “Guess I’ll have to pay up, I guess. Too bad you can’t read my mind.”
He giggled at the Girl Scout comment and then came the thing about reading minds. Doing his best impression of a mind reader Ehren placed his index finger on his temple and the other hand was pointed toward Logan. “You’re thinking I would make a cute Girl Scout.” A laugh erupted at the sheer stupidity of it. Finishing off the rest of the drink, he placed the glass back down on the table.
“I’m going to get another drink, you want one?” He asked, standing up from his seat to take his empty back to the bar.
At the small laugh Logan smiled. Observing the part that came next - the impression of someone who seemed to be a mind reader - Logan’s laugh grew. His frame shook with the amusement, it caused the end of his nose to crinkle. “What a dork,” he uttered playfully. He was glad to see that Ehren seemed so casual, easy to be around.
“Uh, sure. But don’t forget it’s still the middle of the day.” He didn't want Ehren getting too messed up to miss out on the rest of the day ahead, whatever that held.
One more drink wouldn’t hurt them, besides he didn’t want this to be over. The flirtation came easier when he didn’t have as many inhibitions. “Scouts honor. Last one.” He said with a smirk and went back to the bar to order himself a beer this time and Logan one more before paying both their bar tabs. It only seemed fair since Logan did try to pull a fast one on him by losing on purpose.
When he returned to the table he smirked over Logan again and took a sip of his beer. At least he wouldn’t getting totally drunk off of one more beer and by the time dinner rolled around, he'd be able to sober up again. Logan’s concern was nice, it made him feel warm, but Ehren was also a big boy who could hold back his drink fairly well. “So when are you going to pay up with this super secret surprising gift to blow all other gifts out of the water?”
It took a lot of beer to get Logan in a state where he couldn’t function. Harder liquor similar to what he had been knocking back a couple of weeks ago could put him down faster, so he wasn’t really worried about himself being able to function normally later. He had not yet the privilege of drinking with Ehren in a manner that would tell him whether or not the other man would be fine after a few so all he had to go on what what he knew. And friendly caution was rarely taken out of context.
A nod would come as a reply. He waited patiently, watching the bar for any signs of guards, trouble, or anyone he knew to enter.
Finding the place vacant and comfortable he was glad when Ehren had returned. “Thanks,” he breathed as the drink was set down for him. He picked it up and took a sip.
“If I told you I’d have to kill you.”
Laughter was his response to Logan and he took a sip of his beer. He knew the day would have to end eventually but he’d never felt so comfortable around someone that he never wanted to retreat back to his apartment. This must have been part of Caspian’s treatment too, or maybe it was just being around Logan. He did linger in his apartment after he’d taken him home.
“Well, I guess if you kill me then my ghost is just going to have to come back and beat you at pool, again.” He gloated. At this point his stomach rumbled, an indication that he should definitely eat soon.
Offering a shrug coupled with a smile, Logan would take another silent sip from his beer. He wasn’t giving up anything that was on his mind. Mostly because he only had a bit of an idea still, himself. When everything fell into place Ehren would know.
He wasn’t really sure what the trajectory of this was. Logan had been avoiding getting close to anyone, closing himself off and away from people. Ehren was easy to talk to, he felt as if he were falling back into the person he used to be, the one walled off for so long.
There was no doubt he was attracted, interested. But he was also afraid, fearful that he would hurt someone, drive them away and he’d be left again alone a failure and guilty.
Casey would probably want him to move on, not spend every day alone with his grief and his guilt, but those claws sank deep into his heart and it was a challenge to work free.
There it was again. He was thinking, a look he recalled witnessing both from afar and that night at Josie’s. Ehren wondered to himself what his mind could be going to, and he wished he’d been telepathic instead of clairvoyant because his eyes read like a war battling behind them.
In his own head his thoughts came back to his visions, as he ever going to have them again? Without his panic attacks there was only ever one other way he could get them: sex. There was where a low cloud still hung, especially with how he was beginning to feel about Logan. If it came to that, would he ever be able to go through with it without having a vision? He had no idea and that scared him down to his bones.
It seemed the cold reality of day was beginning to hit them both simultaneously and Ehren wanted to put that to rest. “What the matter? Afraid I’ll tell everyone? I told you, scouts honor.”
Logan was forever grateful he couldn’t read minds at all. That would have been an awful ability to have and he would readily say so, even to those who did possess the power. It was terrifying enough to be able to do something no man or woman should ever be able to do.
“Nope,” he breathed, eyes finding Ehren’s. He was beginning to feel that familiar prickling of his skin that was telling him to avert, pull away. But he was doing his best to recognize it and fight it.
“Just be patient.” The words were emitted kindly, Logan shook his head at Ehren. There was no way in hell he was giving up or giving in on the information.
Ehren wasn’t trying to pry, really he wasn’t but he wondered still and would keep wondering. “No, yeah I mean I’m patient.” He would say, suddenly feeling like his confidence was falling. It wouldn’t fall too much but Ehren was also afraid of scaring him away.
He took another large gulp of beer, draining it to about halfway without even realizing it. It really did get easier to drink the more drinks you had. “Except you know, I want to make sure you’re good on your deal. I don’t take bets lightly.” He teased.
Sipping from his beer he listened to Ehren, watched him. The other man was so expressive, Logan wasn’t sure he even knew it. But not in a bad way. It sort of let on to what Ehren was feeling or might possibly be feeling. Logan was usually a blank slate with most things.
“Don’t worry. I won’t back out. You know where I live.”
He chuckled at that. “Yeah and you know where I live. It kind of goes both ways.” He teased. That really was one of his downfalls. Ehren couldn’t hide how he felt, and most of the time he just said it out loud to unsuspecting people. His emotional responses came into the forefront in his brain and all would be lost.
Taking another sip of beer he leaned into the table a little so that he was closer to Logan. The look he’d fixed him was just like his emotions, the intent was clear. He bit lightly on his lip and smirked. “So I don’t get to know when, I don’t get to know what. Do I at least get to know if I’m going to like it?” Pie in face.
Another shrug coupled with amusement. Logan finished off his beer and set the now empty bottle aside. Leaning backward slightly in the chair, he stretched his legs a bit in an effort to be comfortable.
“Nope,” he replied. If Ehren really had to ask that question for peace of mind, then he didn’t trust Logan at all to come up with something as clever as this idea was. So he was going to keep Ehren guessing and in the dark as payment.
Ehren’s face grew a little red as he thought about what Logan might be getting him. He finished his beer quickly and set the pint glass on the table. “Well, then don’t be disappointed if I don’t like it.” Which was impossible because if it came from Logan, there would be no way he wouldn’t like it.
Just the idea of Logan giving him a gift was enough for him. His stomach growled again and he grimaced. “I think maybe it’s time I go get something to eat.” He resigned since that meant the day with Logan was over.
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.” He already knew the outcome regardless, and he didn’t have to know the future for that.
A nod would come and Logan moved to stand up. “Of course. Probably good before your stomach gets any angrier.” Probably would help with the alcohol they’d consumed, too.
“I’ll see you around.”
Making a move he never thought he’d make, Ehren stood up and pressed a quick kiss on Logan’s cheek. Nothing too sexual, more of a call back to when he kissed the wolf’s face. Mirroring the words he spoke softly.
“When you’re ready to give me my gift...come find me.” He said with a smirk and then walked out of Josie’s back to his apartment. The whole walk home a smile would be plastered to his face.