“This is pathetic.” Sloane spoke up first. “I will not let us turn into those people who can’t enjoy a night out without their significant other.” She plunked her purse onto the table. “All cell phones in the bag. Come on.”
There were a few grumbles, but we did as she asked and left our table for another game.
“I hope Dante doesn’t show up with security,” Vivian said. “He tends to freak out when I don’t answer fast enough.” Her husband was notoriously overprotective, but the ruthless CEO had accumulated enough enemies over the course of his career to justify his paranoia.
“It’ll be fine,” Isabella said. “The guys get so into poker, I bet they’re not even thinking about us unless we text them.”
Sebastian
“Check,” Killian said, deferring his bet. He waited a beat before adding impatiently, “Young, it’s your turn.”
“Hmm?” Kai glanced up from his phone. “What?”
“It’s your turn.”
“Ah. Apologies.” The British CEO didn’t look sorry at all. “I had to reply to Isabella about something.”
“Was it more urgent than putting in your bet when there’s this much money at stake?” Killian asked pointedly. He nodded at the towering stacks of chips on the table.
“Yes,” Kai said. He smirked at Killian’s scoff of disgust, but he finally made his bet. I was next, and I matched his bet before I returned to texting under the table.
MAYA
Guess who’s winning at bowling?
Sloane?
MAYA
…
Don’t insult me like that again
I’m up by twenty, baby
P.S. Don’t tell Sloane I said that. She’s scary when she gets competitive
Like you don’t
MAYA
Me, competitive? Never
Don’t feel bad about it.
It’s one of my favorite things about you
“Laurent. Your turn,” Killian said.
“I already went.”
“It’s your turnagain.” Killian sounded like he was speaking through gritted teeth. He was hosting a poker night at his house, but I could tell he regretted it.
I quickly made my bet and checked my phone. No response from Maya yet.
“Markovic!” Killian’s frustration boiled over into a near shout.
I glanced up again to see Vuk also on his phone. He wore a faint smile, which meant he was texting Ayana. She was the only one with the power to mold his face into anything other than stoic boredom or an outright scowl.
