“Wow, talk about cocky.” She holds up a large bag of trail mix. “Let’s separate it. We use all the yicky healthy bits as poker chips, and the M&Ms are the prize.”
“You’re on.”
A few minutes later, we’re seated at the table, each with piles of squirrel food and bottles of Corona. I show off a little while I shuffle the deck. “The game is Texas hold ’em. The ante is one raisin. No wild cards, just straight up poker.”
Sliding a raisin to the centre of the table, she says, “Those M&Ms are going to taste so good.”
“Yes, they will. I might even give you one if I feel sorry for you.” I toss two cards out for each of us, set the deck down, and check my cards. A four of clubs and a seven of diamonds. Crap.
Nora checks her cards and bets two walnuts.
“Ooh, pricey.” I slide my walnuts in. “Wait. Walnuts are worth more than raisins, yes?”
“Uh-huh. It’s by size. Sunflower seeds are worth one, raisins are two, cashews are five, and walnuts are ten.”
“Ten?” I emit a low whistle and deal the flop—jack of clubs, queen of diamonds, and four of spades.Mierda, all I’ve got is a pair of fours, and based on Nora’s gleeful expression, I’d say she has at least another jack in her hand. “Do you want to call or raise?”
“I’m raising.” She pushes two raisins and three walnuts into the pile.
“Phew! You must have something nice. Maybe a pair of jacks?”
“You’re going to have to pay to find out.”
I do, then turn the fourth card. A queen of hearts.
“This is too good,” she says, going all in.
“What? You can’t go all in this early in the game.”
“Oh, I can. And I just did,” she says, giving me the crazy eyes.
“I have to fold,” I say, shaking my head. “It’s always the queen of hearts that’ll get you.”
She scoops up her winnings while I rake up the cards and shuffle.
She holds out her hand. “My turn to deal.”
Our fingertips brush while I hand her the cards, and I can literally feel my level of concentration dropping. “What’d you have in your hand?”
“Nice try, but I’m not about to tell you.”
“Come on, it’s just a friendly game.”
“If you wanted to see it, you should have paid.”
It takes her an hour to clean me out, then she begins slowly eating her M&Ms one at a time, smiling smugly. “Mm, so good.”
“I bet.”
“You did bet, and you lost.” She laughs, and I can’t help but find her adorable.
The dryer stops, and she jumps up, suddenly panicked. “I’ll get that.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re hiding something from me?”
Her cheeks turn pink. “I’m not hiding anything. Just trying to be helpful.”
She scurries off and returns with my clothes, which have been neatly folded. She’s still in her robe, but I suspect she’s now wearing her top-secret panties and bra. She sets the pile down on the credenza. “Here you go. All clean and dry.”
