Page 34 of The Brooklyn Way
“You’re a fucking ringer.” Ethan laughed good naturedly.
“That’s cheating,” Tiara said at the same time.
“How is it cheating?” Cameron questioned.
“It’s not cheating,” Brent said. “I’m a golfer. So is Bryce.”
They were the two who were tied for second place.
Tiara’s brows furrowed causing her forehead to crease. “But did you earn a scholarship to college for golf?”
“I did,” Brent was quick to admit. “I took my team at Banneker University to the finals two years in a row.”
“Why did you think I chose golf, Tiara?” Bryce asked her. “Duh. I chose it because I’m good at it. It’s not cheating to be good at something.”
“Stop being a sore loser,” Carrington chided.
“Get your fuckling weight up.” Cameron suggested. “Don’t get mad because somebody’s better than you at something. Use it as motivation.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “I don’t care enough about golf to bother getting good at it.”
“Then be quiet, and let’s play.” Nyrah rolled her large brown eyes. “Why are we even discussing it? Who’s up?”
“Me.” Carrington approached the hole and moved into her stance.
Tiara didn’t make many additional comments. Those she did make weren’t directed at me, even when I ended up winning the game by more than five holes over Brent.
“Damn, girl,” Brent commented as we waited at the clubhouse to return our putters, “your short game is unparalleled.”
Good sportsmanship was my jam, so I didn’t gloat. Instead, I dropped my eyes to the ground in a ‘shy girl’ move, then gave a small smile. “Thank you. I spent a lot of time working on it.”
“It shows.” His eyes moved down my body before they met mine.
I smiled again. “Thank—” My statement was cut off by an irritated Tiara.
“Uhm, what’s next on the agenda, Carrington? I’m hoping Killer Bee’s, because I personally need a strong drink.”
The atmosphere inside Killer Bee’s was lively and vibrant for a Tuesday night. The elevated volume of voices trying to be heard over the music, the clinking of glasses and laughter greeted the eight of us as we took seats around two tables that had been pushed together.
Cameron’s legs were long. I let him sit first so he would be on the end where he could stretch out. Before I could blink, Tiara had lightly elbowed me aside and plopped down in the seat next to his. Since Cameron was my summer fling as opposed to him being my man, I let her have that. I took a seat on the opposite side of the table between Carrington and Brent.
“You said you went to school on a golf scholarship.” Brent’s head was bent so that he was basically speaking into my ear when he made the statement. “Where’d you go to school?”
“Walker University. It’s in Indiana, right outside Indianapolis. I went there for undergrad and grad.”
His eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise as he made impressed noises. “An HBCU alum… okay. I see you. I’m going to presume that you don’t play golf for a living. What do you do?”
“I’m a fashion designer and seamstress. My specialty is formal dresses. I love creating wedding gowns.”
“And you do this full-time?”
I eyed him because he sounded surprised. “Look, Brent, don’t try to do me,” I teased.
He laughed heartily. “I’m not. I’m not.” His promise came in between chuckles. “I’m saying, that just sounds kinda like the guy from around the way who tells you that he’s a rapper.”
Tiara, who was apparently ear-hustling from across the table joined in the laughter.
Both Brent and I ignored her.