"Don’t call me that."
He smirks. "I’ll call you whatever I want. You always this good, or are you going above and beyond to impress me?"
I check my cards again, then lift my eyes to him. "Oh, you’d know if I was trying to impress you," I say. "Trust me."
His eyebrows jump. "Is that right?"
"Mhm," I hum, dropping a few chips into the pot. "Bet."
He looks down at his cards, rubs his thumb along his jawline. Then he looks back at me. "Going all in already?" he asks.
"At least take me on a date first."
I exhale hard, leaning back in my chair.
"Call or fold, Fontana. Pick one. I’m getting bored."
He flicks his tongue against his teeth. "Call," he says, pushing his chips forward. "What do I get if I win?" he asks.
I laugh. "You’re not going to win."
"But if I do?" he presses. "What do I get?"
I lean in. This is gonna be fun. Then I tap my cards on the felt. "Hm. If you win, I’ll be your slave for a whole day.Anythingyou want. I’ll do it. Bet."
He laughs. "Raise."
"Sure about that?"
"Play, slave," he shoots back.
I smile. I shove my entire stack forward. "All in. You’re gonna match it," I ask sweetly, "or are you tapping out?"
"All in, baby."
I lean back, laugh once. "Last chance to back out, Fontana."
"Flip the damn cards, Ravioli."
We turn them over at the same time. Shock. Actual shock. His jaw clenches. He tosses his hand face-up.
He lost.
I pull the chips toward me slowly. Very proud of myself.
Gio is staring at me like he’s never seen me before. I meet his eyes. Adjust my glasses, and wink.
His lips twitch. I smile. He leans forward.
"Where the hell have you been hiding this side of you?"
"Just because I wear glasses and read books doesn’t mean I don’t know how to wreck a table sometimes."
Gio stares at me. Then lets out this half-choked laugh. I win the next round without even trying too hard. Not a big win, a fewchips here, a couple there, but enough to make the table notice. Enough to makehimnotice.
The man sitting two seats to my right.
Buzz cut. Big jaw. He doesn’t seem to like me much. I didn’t catch his name earlier, but his presence?
