Declan rapped his knuckles against the table. “That’s pretty much all there is to it. Want me to start over from the top?”
Seb shook his head. “I got it!” he said brightly.
Declan cocked up a grin. “On the first try? If you say so. I’ll find us a table. If you’re not sure what to do, just follow my lead.”
When Seb joined the small table with two men about Declan’s age, he didn’t expect to play more than a couple of games, just enough to get a taste of it. They each threw down twenty dollars, a limit they had set for themselves at the booth. Once the cards were dealt, Seb was slow, conservative in making his bets. He tallied numbers in his head, calculating probabilities based on the cards in the deck, and only glanced at the quiet men out of the corner of his eye occasionally, scared to stare and upset someone.
But then he won a little, and then he lost a little. And the cards kept coming, and Declan kept grinning.
“Huh,” Seb mumbled to himself, discarding and then picking up two more cards for his hand as he considered his move. The calculations flew through his mind, and he felt a little thrill from the risk of increasing his bet.
He was having fun.
It took about a half an hour before the men started talking. Seb had figured the whole game would be played silently, but then he had won a particularly close hand, and one of them had complimented him. Before he knew it, they were all playing and talking at the same time, the conversation wandering randomly. He learned about a dam that the state was trying to build nearby, which was likely to cause all kinds of environmental problems. And once they had gotten through complaining about that project, Declan and the men educated Seb with a lively conversation about the pawn shop up front and the many things he never would have guessed people tried to sell. As much as the men pressed him to explain some of the science behind the dam, Seb felt comfortable asking about the pawn shop, too, and indulging his curiosity with friendly company.
They finally called it quits once Seb lost the money he had won, finding himself back down at zero. Declan pocketed a little, but he used it to tip the bartender and then the doorman once they were on their way out.
“Wow,” Seb said as they stepped outside. “I’m surprised how warm everyone was. That was a lot more fun than I would have guessed and way less intimidating.”
Declan nodded. The rain had stopped, so he tucked the umbrella back under his arm. “Glad you had a good time. Those guys aren’t looking to impress anyone. They’re just passing the time and happy to have the company.”
“Plus my twenty bucks,” Seb laughed. “Yeah, thanks for taking me there. That is definitely something I never would have done otherwise.”
Declan chuckled. “Just don’t go developing a gambling addiction.” They started back toward the front of the building, weaving to avoid the puddles. “I won’t forgive myself if I end up being a bad influence.”
Seb shook his head. The drink and the experience in the bar made him feel a little dizzy, like the world had tilted and become different. “You’re only a good influence on me, I promise. And it’s like Alexandria always says—I have to learn to have fun and open myself up to new experiences. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
As they reached the street, Seb’s cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He reached down to pull it out, expecting Alexandria, but saw that it was actually one of his father’s numbers instead. His heart leapt into his throat as he stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, Declan at his side.
“Hello?” Seb answered as he took Declan’s hand, squeezing it for comfort.
“Sebastian,” his father said brusquely. “How soon can you be in the city?”
“The city?”
“My office,” he barked. “How long?”
“Probably not until tomorrow. I’m a long drive away.”
“That won’t do. I’ll transfer you to my assistant. She’ll arrange something faster. You have some things to explain, Sebastian, and I am running out of fucking patience.”
