Page 127 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

I pick up one of the chips. “Which is the statistically strongest wager?”

“Banker,” Lucian says. “Although the house takes a commission on most tables because of the slight advantage.”

“And player?”

“Marginally worse but generally pays evenly.”

“Tie?”

Caleb answers. “A terrible decision with an attractive payout.”

“Which ensures people make it.”

“Frequently.”

I examine the betting spaces. “So the game offers almost no meaningful player control, dresses random outcomes in ceremony, and encourages people to believe past hands predict future ones.”

Lucian’s eyes gleam with approval. “Yes.”

“Do people track the results?”

Without speaking, Nina slides a paper scorecard toward me. It is divided into narrow columns intended for red and blue marks.

I stare at it.

Then at them.

“This is apophenia with complimentary pencils.”

Caleb’s laugh is immediate, deep, and entirely unrestrained.

Even Nina gives up attempting to remain neutral.

Lucian picks up the pencil and rolls it between his fingers. “You say that as though it diminishes the experience.”

“It weaponizes the human desire to identify patterns.”

“Which is precisely why you’ll be excellent at the game.”

“That makes no sense. Understanding that the patterns are meaningless doesn’t improve my odds.”

“No,” he agrees. “But it keeps you from making emotional decisions based on them.”

He places an ivory chip in front of me.

“One hand.”

“No.”

“One practice hand, with no money at risk.”

“And if I win?”

“You may ask either of us one question. We’ll answer honestly.”

I turn the chip between my fingers.

“And if you win?”