Time to fish or cut bait. Am I in or out?
Fuck it.I’ve done enough exposure therapy to handle this. Besides, it’s for the job. It isn’t real gambling.
Essentially.
Retrieving my wallet, I quickly throw down five twenty-dollar bills. A few seconds later, she passes me a small stack of chips.
And just like that, my three years of gambling sobriety is over. When I wake up tomorrow, I’ll be back at day one.
A lead brick settles in my gut, threatening to drag me down into the abyss.
Nah. That won’t happen this time. I’m stronger now. At least I’m breaking my clean streak for a good cause.
I lose the first hand. Win the next.
Despite the tiny spikes to my adrenal system, I remain calm and collected. Completely in control.
By the third hand, the old guy starts flirting with her again. Then her dainty giggles and batting eyelashes return. At him. Like before, it causes an irrational flare of rage.
Wait a minute.
My trained law enforcement brain takes the whip from my balls and cracks it to get my attention. Maybe this guy is part of whatever’s happening here. They’re obviously chummy, and he’salwaysat her table unless there’s no open seat.
“What did you say your name is, buddy?” I ask him after the next hand, trying to be casual.
Smirking, he tosses back a sip of an amber-colored liquid. “I didn’t say.”
Lila joins him in muted laughter, which makes my jaw clench.
I try a different approach, facing her. “What about you,doll?”
“Don’t call me that.” A sexy little sneer escapes her. “You know my name.”
And she damn sure knows mine too. I remember how she screamed it when I bit her rosy nipple and sent her spiraling into her third or fourth climax.
“Well, well, well. This is an interesting development. Seems like you two know each other. Or used to, perhaps,” the old flirt says, his gaze flickering between us before landing on me.“I’m Keith. Care to tell me why the sweetest gal I’ve ever met is looking at you like you club baby seals for fun?”
“No. I wouldn’t,” I reply without hesitating, then turn it back on him. “Doyoucare to tell me how you know Lila well enough to give her a demeaning nickname?”
A player a few seats down huffs and puffs. “Are we gonna play or what?”
“Sorry, ma’am. My apologies.” Frame stiffening, Lila rapidly slips cards out of the shoe one at a time. Under her breath, she adds, “Some people think the world should bow down to them just because they have a badge.”
Her eyes turn molten for the briefest of moments, practically burning through my skull. When she looks at me, she’snotthe sweet, polite Pollyanna she pretends to be.
She’s a viper waiting to strike.
Same as every other person I’ve ever met. Given enough time, their true colors will show.
Old Flirty McGee starts humming beside me. He pauses to level a humorous glare at me. “This one’s dedicated to you from my favorite brunette.” With a wink, he resumes humming, louder this time. I don’t identify the melody at first, so Itunehim out. Pun intended.
Then Lila meets eyes with him, her cheeks puffing slightly with a laugh that she’s restraining behind tightly sealed lips. She continues dealing cards, moving from player to player, all the while that snicker keeps wriggling free.
I recognize the Gotye song a second before the player on the other side of the table utters some of the lyrics under his breath. “But you didn’t have to cut me off.”
“Ha, ha,” I deadpan with an aggravated huff. “I’m just somebody she used to know. I get it. Hilarious.”
Smugly, he finishes his drink, then busts on his next deal. Justice is sweet.
