“Yes, but just from the casino. And we don’t call it banned. We call it a mutual understanding.”
In my head, alarms blared. Mutual understanding was exactly the kind of phrase the mob said right before you got fitted for cement shoes and took a drive off the pier.
“Fine,” I said, standing. “We’ll just go now. Quietly and quickly. Without incident. Just don’t send Tony with the shovel.”
The pit boss scrunched his eyes. “Who’s Tony, and why does he have a shovel?”
I didn’t answer but grabbed all my chips, cradling them in my sweatshirt, including the fresh three thousand from the two blackjacks, and raced to the cashier, followed by the girls. When I finally cashed out and the teller counted my winnings and took my tax information, it was a total of nine thousand, seven hundred and ninety dollars. I asked for cash instead of a check. The stack of money looked obscene in my hand, but Gray made me stuff it all in my purse as Basia and Gwen giggled. Arm in arm, we headed for the elevator.
“That pink stripe down your back almost looks fashionable,” Basia joked in the elevator. Gwen laughed with the hysteria of someone who had had way too many daiquiris, and even Gray was swaying a bit on her feet.
Back in the hotel suite, everyone but me collapsed on the couch in a heap of laughter while I watched with narrowed eyes. “I’m glad you find this funny, but you weren’t the ones who almost got offed by the mob.”
Gray laughed so hard tears ran down her cheeks. “‘Don’t send Tony with the shovel.’ I can’t even.” She gasped for air before she dissolved in more laughter.
I took out the wad of cash and threw it on the glass coffee table. “I warned you this wasn’t a good idea.”
“What are you talking about?” Gwen said. “You won nearly ten thousand dollars in just a few hours.”
“I still can’t believe it,” Basia said between giggles. “We got banned from the casino and Lexi got banned for counting cards.”
“I didn’t count cards!” I protested. “I just aggressively remembered. Technically, it’s not illegal to be good at math.”
“No, it’s cool,” Basia said, her smile wide. “You’re so smart even the casinos are afraid of you. That’s legit queen-level cool.”
“Great. I’ll be sure to have that etched on my tombstone. ‘Lexi Carmichael, legit queen banned from Atlantic City casinos for crimes of arithmetic.’”
That sent everyone into another roar of laughter and even I smiled a bit at the absurdity of it, although a part of me still half expected security to rappel through the window and take me away.
When the giggles subsided, Gray sat up. “Oh, God, I need to breathe.” She pushed her hair off her forehead. “So, Lexi, what are you going do with your outlaw fortune?”
“First,” I said, “it’s neither outlaw nor a fortune. It’s a modest collection of legally earned money acquired through ethically gray probability assessment and observation.”
Gray snorted. “And second?”
I looked around at them, my brilliant, ridiculous, loyal friends. “Second, I’m buying dinner. Something fancy. Preferably somewhere without pit bosses, cement shoes, blackjack tables, or daiquiri-soaked shirts and pants.”
“Dinner is on Lexi,” Basia squealed. “Hooray! I’m famished.”
“I’m thinking seafood,” Gwen mused. “Or maybe a steak house. So long as we go soon, because I’m ready to eat Basia’s really cute shoes.”
“These are my Hermès maternity-focused sandals, providing exceptional support and comfort,” Basia protested, wiggling her feet. “You may not eat them. They cost me a bundle.”
“I don’t care what we eat, as long as it’s not shoes,” I said. “I’m up for whatever. We’ll eat like high rollers…minus the rolling part. And the high part.”
Gray stood, stretching her arms above her head. “I guess this is what criminal masterminds do with their winnings. Order lobster and steak and pretend they’re innocent.”
“I am innocent,” I said, picking up the wad, peeling off some bills, and stuffing them into my purse. “Mathematically misunderstood, but innocent.”
Basia looped her arm through mine. “Come on, you delightful delinquent. Let’s celebrate before the casino changes its mind and kicks us all out of here.”
I quickly changed my clothes. As we left the hotel and headed down the boardwalk to find a nice restaurant, I glanced up at the hotel’s glowing casino sign. It blinked smugly, like it knew I’d never be welcome there again.
That was fine with me. I had friends, money, and a good dinner to look forward to. Plus, Slash was going to have a very hard time topping me at poker. Even though they’d banned me from the casino, I still had all my winnings.
For once, my little black cloud had rained something good.
Chapter Five
