She sighs, and I know I’ve got her. “No, I probably won’t. Okay, I’m coming.”

“Thanks.” I hang up before she asks any more questions or changes her mind and text her the street address of McKelly’s Tavern.

I can’t help but smile as I return to the table.

Zoey’s coming. She’s coming here.

Not a date, she’s made herself clear on that.

But a chance to see her, and hopefully, get her to help us kick Cole’s ass.

“She gonna show?” Trey asks, leaning over to whisper-yell in my ear.

I nod, watching the door with one eye and my watch with the other. “Strat-e-gery.” Mostly, I’m talking about the strategic moves I need to make with Zoey, but I’ll admit that if she can help us tonight, I certainly won’t be mad at a win.

“Yep,” Trey confirms. “But it had better pay off because Shawn already bailed.”

“I know. She’ll show,” I promise, hoping I’m right.

Ten minutes later, Meg-a-demia is celebrating their win with toasts and clinking glasses while Cole’s Estate groupies are pouting and calling for a rematch. “You were outsmarted, fair and square. Sorry your daddy couldn’t buy this win for you, bucko,” Professor Adams tells Cole, not sounding or looking sorry in the slightest as he smiles and twirls his mustache.

“Next week, you’re going down. But the night’s not over.” Cole calls back as he turns his sights to Heather, who’s ready for him, standing with a hip cocked out to the side and her head tilted in that ‘I’m your Huckleberry’ way.

“We’re ready, Estate Bait,” Heather says, hitting Cole where it hurts. He probably spends hours with his therapist each week bemoaning that no one loves him for him but only for his money. If he wasn’t a douche waffle, it might be different, but he is, so it’s not.

I clear my throat to get Heather’s attention,, and when she looks my way, I flash her a weak version of my ‘Rock brow’ to remind her not to get too carried away because we’re not ready . . . yet.

“Potty break and refills first, then we’re ready,” she says to stall.

“Aww, so scared you’re gonna piss yourself?” Cole teases.

“Nope. Need to puke because you make me sick,” she retorts. Several people laugh, including Bryan, though he tries to hide it from Cole.

“Fine. This round’s on me, next one’s on the losers. That’d be you.”