The clank of the balls crashing into each other and the pounding of your heart is all you hear. You watch together, breathing in the air that the other breathes out, as the solid purple ball drops into the pocket.

And then he pulls away. Like he always does. And you’re still leaning over the table, overthinking a perfectly innocent interaction.

Like you always do.

The voice you hear next sounds like twisting chalk on the felt tip of my pool cue. "Oh my god! Are you Jasper Gervais?"

you don't even need to look to know that Jasper offered an uncomfortable smile and his signature head nod to elicit the girlish squealing that now assaults your ears.

Pushing up to stand, you walk over to the rack without a backward glance. you press the stick into the claws that suspend it on the wall before turning and taking in the scene.

You permit yourself one deep, desperate, centring breath before you plaster on a smile on your face and make your way back over to the beer waiting for You.

Two girls are fawning over Jasper. You see them but not really. As usual you just see Jasper. The way his body tenses, the light peachy stain that creeps out from under his stubble across his cheeks, his hands obsessively folding at the brim of his cap.

You slide up beside him, reaching for your beer and watching one girl's eyes catch on your ring. "Oh shit. Are y'all together?" Her finger lazily flicks back and forth between you.