“Good game!” He congratulated her.

“Totally a fluke.” she waved it off. “No it wasn't.” He frowned, confused. She shrugged. “Okay now I am curious. If that were me, I would be pretty proud of my game.”

“I don't know.” she surrendered. “Would you like to elaborate?”

“Not really no.” She denied.

“If you don't want me to, I won't ask again, but I am just sensing something bigger here. You see I have cousin and she acts just like you. Giving up the glory of a win, because she feels she don't deserve it. So I am curious, is that what you are doing? Because let me tell you, that match was beautifully played, and you deserve that win.”

She stood quietly steering at him, he noticed her eyes shift to look behind him at his friends who had been watching their match. He turned to find them busy in conversation completely oblivious of them.

“So?” He asked regaining her attention. “You are weird,” She blurted. He sighed, “okay I will get us a drink.”

“No I did not mean, in a bad way just, you are.. I mean people don't usually see it your way. Their friends start teasing them if they get beaten at anything by a girl. I am a good player but I just prefer playing with other girls. Guys can be so competitive and egoistical.”

He watched her as she spoke and could see all her frustration leak through.
After a prolonged minute of silence he replied. Okay. Three things. First, I am so glad you allowed me to have this game of pool with you. It was an absolute pleasure."

She gave him a half smile.

“Second, I had almost forgotten what it was like when I was young and there was so much pressure on boys to ‘be a man’,” He made air quotes, she was listening intently.

“And third, I am glad I, and my friends, have grown up.” she did not look completely convinced, but he knew he had made progress by the way her demeanour changed. He waited for her reply.

“You are weird.” She said, now light heartedly. He couldn't understand why that made him feel like the king of the world.

“Beer?” He asked regaining his composure.

“Yes.” She replied with a smile that reach her eyes. Something he had not seen all night.

Thank you for reading!