Playing for Keeps

Lily

Jack POV: 

She didn't run away, she is letting me in. I have 5 minutes to calm my fucking nerves before I see her again and end up acting like an idiot. When I get back to the table with Scott he is looking at me like a dumbass. I'm still trying to catch my breath from that small encounter. When I reached out for her I was expecting her to  tell me to fuck off, but I saw the interest in her eyes and I will take any bone she throws at this point. 

"So?" Scott ask. "We leave in 5, she will be waiting in the bar next door." I reply through my smile. "Sweet! Let's finish this beer and head out before her friends over there blow a casket" I turn to see the guy she was with earlier looking at me full of anger. Her friend, Tanya, looking over questioning what just happen. I smirk at them and because I feel like a cocky motherfucker wave goodbye as we head out. 

Scott and I walk into the bar next door and find it relatively empty. It is much quieter and there aren't crowds that make it impossible to walk around. I spot Lily at the bar, her curls falling towards her face as she stares at the beer in front of her. Scott and I make our way to her, hearing a few people recognize us as we walk by. "Hi" I say when I am standing next to her. She looks up from the beer gifting me a wide smile as she whispers "Hi"

We stare at each other for what felt like hours, the electricity crackling loudly and the pull I feel to her making it difficult for me to not grab her then and there and kiss her. I force myself to say" Lili..ana it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm-"

She cuts me off mid sentence and says "I know who you are". I feel the panic setting in my chest making my lungs feel like they are slowly collapsing. I feel myself hyperventilate and every second that passes, the more I feel like I am going to faint. "You're Jackson Merrill. Though, I'm still trying to figure out what it is you do that makes grown ass men stare at you like a kid stares at candy"  she looks over at Scott, her eyes softening "and you're Scott James" 

She stares at both of us for a few seconds as I feel the panic that was creeping in subsiding.

"My money is on something sports related or a Magic Mike type of stripper." she says at us, straight faced. We both let out a loud laugh and if people hadn't noticed us, they did now.

"Wish it were the Magic Mike option, but unfortunately my back could never" says Scott as his laugh starts to seize. She smiles at us and gestures to the chairs next to her, signaling for us to sit.

"Sit, I won't bite I promise. Let me get you that beer I owe you" she smirks teasingly. Scott takes out his phone looks at both of us while he gestures for me to sit and says "Wish I could but the wife is waiting. You two have fun, and Jackson don't get too shit faced I can't do both of our jobs tomorrow." he laughs and he reaches to give Lily a hug, and instant jealousy creeps to my throat. 

"It was nice to meet you Scott" she says as they pull away. He pats my back and turns towards the door, leaving me there alone with Lily. 

"So what sport do you play that has everyone staring at you so incredulous?" she asks taking a sip of her beer. 

I turn around to find that, yes all the bar is now looking at us. I hate this, I love what I do but hate the attention it brings. I hate it more now that I rather no one notice me while I am trying to talk to my Lily. 

"I- I play Baseball." I say taking a sip of my beer as well, shifting my legs to face her. She smiles at me, her eyes bright and soft looking at me like she is trying to unravel me. We sit there for a few seconds, looking at each other in the eyes, neither of us breaking contact.

"I'm sure you're great at it, I can tell andI think everyone agrees" she says breathless as she gestures towards the crowd of people with her head not breaking the eye contact. We are staring at each other my hand moving towards hers when there's a tap on my shoulder. I turn to see a man, maybe mid 30's, looking at me shyly. 

"I'm sorry but do you think I can take a picture with you?" I can see he feels very ashamed to ask, and I feel a bit irritated that he interrupted when something major was going on with us. 

"I would love to, but if I take a photo with you that would just open up the floodgates for everyone else to ask, and I am in the middle of a-" I turn to Lily and find her smirking at me, eyes a bit hooded. "how would you describe this?" I give her a lopsided grin.  She shrugs and I turn to the man to say "I'm in the middle of wooing this beautiful woman." I steal a side glance at Lily and see her cheeks have gained a pinkish color.

"Oh I understand, thank you" but before the man can leave I feel a hand on my forearm, a hand that makes my skin burn. I turn to look over and I see her smiling as she says, "It's ok, I can wait. I'm sure seeing you is the highlight of their year." I look at her puzzled, trying to find the irritation in her eyes, but I can't find it. Sam would have been furious to have someone interrupt us, she would have already stormed off. But my Lily, she was still there smiling softly, admiration in her eyes.

I turn to the man and say "Ok, let's do it" I can see the man's eyes light up as he looks over to Lily and says "I appreciate it, thank you" to which she nods as she takes another sip of her beer. 

Just as I predicted, others seeing me take a photo with this man made them feel comfortable coming up as well to ask for a photo. I take pictures with the people that come up. I am almost to the last person when a hippy looking man comes up to Lily and taps her shoulder. He says something to her and hands her a beer, she nods and smiles up at him. The ugly monster inside of me creeping up until the same man comes up to me and says "You have a good one, I hope you don't mind me thanking her for her patience with a beer" I smile at the man as the monster inside of me placates. 

When I finish taking photos with everyone in the line, I turn to Lily finding her elbow resting on the bar and her head resting on her hand looking at me with glassy eyes and a soft smile. "You're amazing you know that?" she says slurring a bit. I reach over and caress her cheek with the back of my fingers. I can see her breath catch in her chest before letting it out in a soft  huff closing her eyes. I reach down to her, my heart rate picking up when her phone vibrates in her purse. This makes her open her eyes wide as she moves back before checking on it. She looks over at me before saying "I think I should go" 

I don't want her to go but I don't want to push her. I see her getting an Uber while I chuck the last of my beer. "Ok, let me walk you to your ride" We both get up and walk out of the bar. When her ride arrives, I open the door for her to get in. Once she is in I look at her longing and say "Good night Winnie" before closing the door.