Page 98 of Against the Clock
“Did you just get traded?” I ask him, and when he narrows his eyes at me, jerking his head in what I assume to be a yes, it clicks. “Oh, you’re the asshole that hurt my boyfriend? The Miami Reef Shark?”
“Kelsey,” Jacob says quietly.
“Sorry,” I say, gritting my teeth, white-knuckling my cup. “Sorry. That was rude of me. We’re going to have fun!” It comes out manic, though, and Rhett’s eyes go wide.
When he barks out a laugh, it catches the three of us by surprise.
“He does know how to laugh,” I make myself say, and just like that, a lot of the tension dissipates, Rhett even giving me a ghost of a smile. “Well, you’re a Beaver now.”
He just shakes his head silently, checking his cards again.
It’s fun. We play hand after hand until it’s down to Ty and me, Jacob and Rhett watching, along with a crowd of players knocked out from their respective tables.
Someone refills my cocktail and I sip it as I bet, Ty’s stack of chips dwindling until he finally goes all in and I put him out of his misery.
Applause breaks out.
“Winner, winner!” Darius shouts. “And look who she’ll be going up against.”
The mountain of football players parts and Daniel walks through the crowd, so fucking handsome I can’t help but sigh.
“Wait,” I say. “You won too?”
“Yup. You and me, Shara and Jimmy L. We’re the winners. You ready?”
I nod, grinding my molars, and sip the lemony cocktail again.
“I’m ready.”
An hour and a half later, there’s a kid dozing in Daniel’s lap, face slack and heavy with sleep. Daniel holds him with one arm, playing with his free hand, completely unbothered by him.
Part of me wonders if he’s doing it on purpose, holding the kid, because it’s distracting as hell. The kid stirs in his sleep as Shara flops the cards, and my ovaries explode a little as Daniel pats his little back until he quiets again.
Daniel and I are the last two playing, and most of the team’s already headed back to their houses with their families, save the Matthews brothers, who are in deep and enthusiastic conversation with Darius while we play.
“Bets?” Shara asks.
“Check,” I say.
“Bet,” Daniel announces. “I’m all in.”
My eyebrows rise, then my eyes narrow. His pretty blue eyes are clear, and while his expression’s serious, it’s good-natured and soft. I don’t think he’s bluffing, and I could fold and let him take the pot, or… or I could play my okay hand through, and we could get back to his house.
Either way, I’m winning tonight.
“Call,” I say, pushing my chips into the center.
“Ooooh,” Shara says, laughing. “Now things are getting interesting.” Her child makes a small noise and she finally stands, taking the sleeping toddler.
“Darius or Ty, you take over while I get this guy to bed,” she says softly. She rocks while she walks him upstairs, and the Matthews brothers and Darius fill in at the table.
“You going to take the old man out, Kels?” Ty asks.
Darius flips the turn and I settle back in my seat, ignoring Ty, surprised at my good luck. Darius starts to flip the river, and Daniel clears his throat.
“Not so fast,” he says. “Raise.”
“You’re outta chips, Harrison,” Ty tells him.