It's pouring with rain as I open the door of the building I work in. Shit. I've no umbrella, and I'm dressed for summer, not monsoon season.
I'm aware of the security guard behind me, tapping his foot and jangling his keys in his trouser pocket. I'm already the last person in the building. I'm going to have to brave it.
I make a quick decision to duck across the square for a drink, and hope that it stops soon.
"Goodnight Tom." I say to the guard.
"Goodnight ma'am" he replies, obviously relieved that I'm going.
The square is empty and I race across, water splashing into my shoes, up my calves and down the back of my neck.
I shove open the door of the bar and run inside, head down.
A few people turn and look
"Horrible night!" I say, holding up my arms, and shaking the rain from my hair. A few smile and nod, and then return to their conversations.
The bar is fairly busy, but I easily squeeze into a spot, and examine myself in the mirror behind the bottles. My hair, short and blonde with a long sweeping fringe, has survived the dash through the rain, and there's no makeup running down my face, I look not bad.
The bar tender approaches and I order a whisky and ginger to warm up. Finding a table near the back, I sit and look around.
This bar also hosts a pool hall, which is below me as I sit, and a few people are engaged in games. I watch, trying to pick a game to bet on. I'm good at pool, and like to come here with work colleagues and kick their unsuspecting asses.
Everyone seems to be having fairly light hearted games, and I let my eyes drift over the tables until I find this guy playing on his own. He's cute and I haven't seen him here before. I settle down to watch.
He's fast, and dedicated, knocking the balls into the pockets, and making the minimum of movement around the table. I know a lot of guys who like to walk around the table, eyeing up shots, bending down over the cushion, sticking their eyes in the pockets, it takes forever. And it doesn't make them any more likely to pot anything. This guy is smooth though, clearing the table in a few shots, and then racking them up again. A row of coins holds his place.
I very much want to get to know him better.
I hold back, watching him for a couple of games, to make sure no-one else is on the scene, and then slide off my stool and go down to the hall.
He glances up as I approach.
"Table's taken."
"I can see that." I reply. "I've been admiring your technique, and it's brought out my competitive side."
He glances up again, and then goes back to his shot, potting a yellow in the far corner, then moving round the table to set up the next. Hard to get. My interest if definitely piqued. I shrug to myself and sit down on one of the stools near the table.
While he played I could have a proper look at him. He's around my age, maybe a year or two older, brown hair and a short beard, dark framed glasses. His hands look calloused and rough, like he works manually, and he's wearing worn jeans and an iron maiden tshirt.
He's definitely good looking, sexy, and this, combined with his assuredness round the table, is turning me on.
He pays no attention to me, so I enjoy watching him play, and finish my drink, ordering another from a waiter who's moving among the tables. As my whisky arrives, he sinks the last ball and orders a beer. When it arrives, he stands to drink, holding his cue in one hand and rolling his neck and shoulders to relax the muscles.
A vision shoots into my mind of my hands rubbing those muscles, slipping my fingers under the tshirt and down his chest... I cross my legs, feeling the warmth swell in my body. He glances my way again, but with a little interest in his eye this time. I see him take in my legs, my body, and decide to go for it. At worst I can gather material for my imagination later tonight if I have to go home alone.
"Where did you learn to play?" I ask.
"Here and there" he replies, still giving me nothing. Then his face softens and he seems to relent and says "Green's hall mostly, when I was a kid, and Barney's when that was still open, do you know Barney's?"
"I've played there myself, I used to go there with my brothers, They were meant to be watching me, and instead they'd go down and shoot pool with their friends, dragging me along. I think I played my first game there aged about 9."
He raises his eyebrows at that, unconvinced, shifting his weight onto his other foot and giving me another once over. He's almost there. I've almost hooked him. I decide to slip down off my stool and choose a cue from the rack.
"You still play?"
"I sure do. That's why I came down here, to see if I could get you to give me a game. You're very talented. I'd like to try and beat you."