Page 24 of Guarding Glenda

She grinned. “I think you mean card sharp. But I’ve been at the clubhouse nearly two weeks and it used to be a casino. It was only a matter of time before I became an expert.” Just as she said that, the shuffle she was doing sent cards in various directions, some landing on the deck.

“Expert, you say. And card shark is socially acceptable now. We jacked it up so often that it just became a thing, but you’re right. It was originally sharp.”

“Do you play poker a lot?”

I shrugged. More fucked up Glenda lore. “I know some. Plus being in the military and hanging with these guys, you spend a lot of time in billiards rooms.”

“So you play pool, too?” she asked.

“What about the pool?” Leigh asked from the bottom of the steps.

I was about to tell him to mind his business, but Linny cut in. “We were talking about that earlier. Sucks the pool at the clubhouse is closed. But we were talking about shooting pool. Like eight ball.”

Leigh finally made it up the steps, Bruce passing him to take his place at my side.

I sipped my diet soda with a shit-eating grin. “Bruce loves me.”

“What’s not to love?” Leigh asked.

Linny’s brows shot high as she finally organized the deck and started dealing.

“You liked the pool?” he asked.

Grabbing the cards, I said, “Yeah. The bath was nice and I was saying how good it was to be in the water, and asked if the pool was still open.”

“Hammer said it was getting too cold, so he closed it up for the winter.”

Laying two cards down, I said, “Hit me.” I grabbed my new cards from the stack. “Hot water is probably better for me right now, anyway. But I do love to swim. Or just soak.”

“Mmmm, remember when we said we needed a hot tub at the clubhouse?” Linny said as she dropped a card and picked up another. “We need to revisit that.”

“I bet I could talk Hammer into it. He likes me.”

“That won’t be anytime soon,” Leigh said before walking back inside.

Linny smirked. “Okay, then.”

“Yeah he thinks he’s gonna hold me hostage here.” I laid my hand down.

She laid hers down and smiled. “I win.” She grabbed the deck and shuffled again. “How you bustin’ out, then?”

“That I don’t know yet. I don’t want to put you in a weird spot with Bama because it’ll just cause shit with the brothers. But I’ll figure something out.”

“They took your car back to the clubhouse already.”

“That’s good, I guess.” I loved that car. I worked my ass off to scrounge up the money for it and had it before I went to bootcamp.

“What do y’all want for lunch?” Leigh asked as he poked his head out the door.

“Steak and lobster,” I answered as I dropped two cards and grabbed two more. Her shuffles sucked.

We played several more games, and I eventually won three in a row. I ended up getting to deal eventually.

We were chatting about bullshit and laughing, enjoying the crisp weather. I didn’t realize how much time had passed, but Leigh barged out the door with two plates and some silverware, including knives.

We both looked up but didn’t say anything as he quickly walked back inside. Seconds later, he returned with a large brown bag and put it down before he started pulling out black to-go boxes.

I set my cards down and pulled the first box open to discover a steak and a foil wrapped potato. “What the?”