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"He hasn't said a word to you either," added Amy.

"You want to rattle him? Get in his face before the next game. But don't threaten him," Tyler cautioned. "There might not be any cameras, but all it takes is someone posting something on Twitter later tonight..."

"Got it," Danny said as Tyler trailed off. "Rattle him. I can do that."

"How's your shoulder?"

"It's still good. Nothing I can't handle."

"Come here."

"I said, it's nothing I can't handle!" Danny quickly shook his head. "Shit. Sorry. I just want this fucking over with."

Tyler ignored his friend's outburst. "Let me look at it."

Danny rolled his eyes before relenting. "I said it's fine," he groused while Tyler gently pressed his fingers against the joint and surrounding tissue. "No pain, no discomfort."

"Still, be careful. Take your time and use controlled shots. He isn't worth throwing your shoulder out and missing the rest of the season. The Gulls are more important. Finish this smart, OK?"

Danny nodded sharply in agreement before getting to his feet. As he headed away from the table, Amy made a disdainful noise towards Tyler. "Seriously, are you trying to get him to quit? He's got Garrett on the ropes! Try giving a pep talk next time."

"Don't start with me, Amy," Tyler growled.

"What the hell is your problem? You've been snapping at me since I got here."

Tyler turned towards Amy. "You're the reason we're all here, because someone had to whisper in Danny's ear last night and set him off. "

"Because he needed to know the truth. Do you want to walk down the street tomorrow and see Garrett coming the other way knowing what he did to Danny? See him smirking about how he got one over on your best friend?"

"It was ten damn years ago, Amy. I honestly don't care, and considering Garrett's a rabbit in headlights at the sight of Danny, I don't think he cares either."

"Well, apparently Danny cares," Amy answered with clenched teeth. "We'll continue this conversation after he's five grand richer."

X X X X X

"Alright!" Kim clapped her hands together to get everyone's attention. "Final games! Danny, Garrett, front and center!"

Garrett took a final sip of his club soda. "Here we go. Just got to run the table two more times. No pressure." He took a deep breath to brace himself and smacked the edge of the high top with his good hand before turning around...

"Hey, asshole."

...to find Danny right in his face.

Looming over Garrett, Danny invaded every square inch of his personal space. Gio had begun to stand up when Danny, never taking his eyes off of Garrett, held up one finger. "Sit your ass back down before I sue you for knocking my damn tooth out. Same for you, Polley." It took a moment for Gio to sit back down. When he did, Danny laughed without mirth. "See? Your friends can't help you now, West. It's you and me, and we both know every time it's been one-on-one I've left you bloody and broken."

Garrett's jaw moved back and forth as he screwed up his courage to stand his ground. "Well," Danny continued, "I can't leave you bloody, but I can sure as fuck leave you broken and broke."

Garrett flinched as Danny raised his arm. "You're gonna blow it and it's gonna be proof that in the end, you're nothing more than a loser. And when you're a loser, the only people who will want to play you will be other losers because they know they can beat you." Danny stared directly at Sadie. "And the only women who'll pity fuck you will be losers too."

Garrett didn't respond to the taunt. But Danny still laughed when he looked at him again. "Yeah, I can see it in your eyes. Two words. Choke artist. You never had it when push came to shove. Soak it in West. This is the closest to greatness you're ever gonna be."

"Hey." Garrett turned at the sound of Serena's voice. The tall blonde was standing over the racked diamond of pool balls as she stared at the two men. "Time to break. Danny, you're up."

Danny stepped back, his eyes still drilling into Garrett, as he moved to the edge of the table and set up against the rail. This time his stroke was smooth and powerful. Danny took the first four balls of the game before Garrett could shoot. However, on his shot, he missed the 5 ball entirely, instead bouncing the 7 off a nearby rail. "Thanks for the free shot," Danny said mockingly as he took the cue ball in hand and set himself up to easily drop the 5 ball. From there Danny ran the table to win his fourth game. "Remember West," he taunted, massaging his shoulder while Serena racked, "you have to hit the lowest numbered ball first for your shot to count."

Sadie watched Garrett gently rub his right hand. "Come on," she called out, "you got this..."

"Hey!" Danny's voice boomed over the pool table as he jabbed a finger at Sadie. "No riling up the players!"

"What," Sadie squawked in response. "I'm encouraging him!"

"And you're riling me up, Bedford. Just sit there and be quiet."

"Yeah," Amy chimed from her spot. "He'd tell you to just sit there and look pretty, but we both know that's impossible."

Before Sadie could shoot back, Brenda put a hand on her forearm. "Don't," she said quietly. "He's got this. Look."

Indeed, as Serena lifted the plastic rack Garrett was already in position. His movements were precise, his focus looked on point, and the 7 ball dropped into the side pocket on the break. "Lucky," Danny sniffed, only for Garrett to move on and begin sinking more balls. Sadie swore she could feel Danny's teeth grinding together until Garrett missed on the 6. Danny pounced, quickly coming up and dropping the 6 and the 8. "Ah," he smirked as he lined up on the far side of the table, ready to send the cue ball rocketing across the green felt to sink the 9. "For the record," Danny said as he slid his stick back and forth between his fingers, "this is what victory looks like."