It’d rain down on us from all sides if we were found out.
“Raise.” Troy breaks through my thoughts.
“Call.” Noah flips his cards over and I do the same, my flush beating all of their hands.
“Damn it! How are you so good?” Troy gripes at me as I pull the small stack of chips to me.
“Lucky.” I shoot him a playful grin as he shuffles the cards.
As the game goes on, the stack of chips sitting in front of me continues to grow, earning me annoyed glares from the guys.
Pulling in another stack of chips, I turn their angry glares into something I know they’ll like talking about. “Are you guys excited about the All-Star game next week?”
“No,” Noah grumbles. “Just means more PT for me to try and get back onto the first line.”
“You’ll get there.” Troy tries to lift his spirits, but it’s been hard on him. “Cash and I will make sure the team looks good.”
“You bummed you didn’t get picked, Nick?” Cash asks, dealing out another set of cards.
“No. I could use the break.”
More so, I want the break that Bex and I have in mind. A weekend away at her cabin? It’s all I can hope for.
I’m muttering to myself, playing the hand I’m dealt as Cash eyes me. “Hang on, are you counting the cards?” His jaw drops.
“Fuck you!” I balk at the insinuation, flicking a poker chip in his direction. “Just because I’m good and kicking your ass doesn’t mean I’m cheating.”
“I’m keeping that,” Cash tells me, flipping me off.
“Wouldn’t you know by now if I could count cards? Besides, you won last time.” I point out to him.
“Maybe you let him win,” Noah counters.
“You are just exceptionally bad, Cash,” Troy agrees. “Sorry you’re losing your money.”
“Pretty sure Oreo is better than you, and he doesn’t have thumbs,” Noah confirms. “I never knew you liked losing this much.”
Cash throws his cards down and grabs his empty beer bottle. “Screw you guys. I’m out this next round.”
“Aww. Poor Willy. Can’t take the heat,” Noah chirps.
“More like a sore loser.” I laugh.
It feels good being with the guys like this. We travel all the time, and live and room together on the road, but somehow it’s different. There’s not the pressure of a game to disturb our focus. It’s a rare night off, and instead of them spending it with their loved ones, we’re all hanging out together.
This is one of the things I love most about being on the team.
“If you do want us to try setting you up again, we’ll make sure to thoroughly vet this person. Not like the last two.”
I roll my eyes at Cash. Can’t catch a break, I guess. “They were nice, but just not for me.”
“Are you sure it’s not ayouproblem?” Noah directs at me.
Before, I would’ve said yes. Turns out, all I needed was to find the right person. That person being Bex.
“I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”
Hopefully, I’ll never need to take them up on it again.
