It’s one of the ways Troy bonded with my pops—trying to get an edge on us during poker nights. I’ll never tell him just how bad he really is. He loves getting to hang out with my dads like that, especially since his family still lives in San Diego.
“So you like to think,” Cash states.
“Is this gang up on Troy night?” he huffs out. “I’m not liking this.”
“You make it easy,” Noah tells him, taking the seat next to me and grabbing his own slice of pizza from the second box—meat lovers.
“I’m losing my edge on you guys.”
“What edge?” Cash asks. “You’ve never had an edge on me.”
“Maybe I’m just letting you think I don’t when in reality, I do.”
“Wait, now you’re confusing me,” I tell them. “Who has the edge?”
“Troy, apparently,” Cash says. “Or me? Hell, I don’t know.”
“It’s a good thing we’re better hockey players than insulters.” Noah laughs, handing out plates to the guys to grab their dinner. “We’d all be epic failures otherwise.”
“Insulters? Really?” Cash looks at Noah with a weary grin.
“What? I went to school with my mom the other day and one of the kids said the other kid was mean because he was an insulter, i.e., you guys.”
There’s a moment before all three of us break out into laughter. “Oh man, little kids. I can’t wait to have some of my own,” Troy says. “I hope none of them are insulters.”
“Kids say the damndest things,” Cash agrees.
“If you guys are ready, let’s get this game started,” Noah cuts in. “I’m ready to win some money.”
“If you say so.” Troy jabs his elbow into his side as he passes by him on the way to the table.
The felt poker table cover we use is already spread out. Poker chips sit in the middle, and an ice bucket filled with our favorite drinks is waiting for us.
Darkness has already settled outside, our reflections casting back at us in the windows. Each of us settles into our usual seats, grabbing various chips to start playing with.
Cash, having won the last game, starts dealing.
“Alright little Nicky. I think we’ve gone long enough. How is dating going?” Cash asks as he starts dealing the cards.
“Yeah, you’ve been quiet on the whole ‘set me up’ thing,” Troy agrees. “Even Angie says you’re mum on the subject.”
“That’s because Angie is nosey,” I tell Troy. “If I tell her anything, she’ll tell you and our dads, who in turn will tell everyone they know. And I don’t need that kind of pressure.”
Noah’s eyes light up with excitement as he takes his cards. “Does that mean there is someone?”
“I don’t know if you’re excited for me or for what you have in your hand.” I stare him down, trying to get a reaction out of him.
Noah pulls his cards closer to his chest. “You’ll just have to wait and find out.”
I arrange my own hand, figuring out what to go for.
“You all knew when I was dating someone,” Cash points out. “You have to tell us.”
“There isn’t anyone.”
The lie tastes bitter leaving my lips. Could I trust these guys with the truth? Yes, but I don’t want to worry about them letting it slip.
Bex isn’t someone I want to hide. She’s starting to mean everything to me. I want to shout it from the rooftops that we’re together. But I don’t want that kind of attention on us.
