Page 32 of Love is a Game

“Okay, gentlemen,” Tyson said, pulling Andrew back to the game, “what’s it gonna be?”

The four cards on the table in front of them looked completely unfamiliar to him and all he had was a pair of threes. When he looked at his watch, he was surprised to see that almost three hours had passed. How many turns had he taken without noticing? If he was going to take any money home with him, he had to focus.

He dropped his cards. “Fold.”

“I think this better be my last hand,” said Rivera, stretching. “Gotta get back to the wife and kid.”

“Yeah, right,” said Webb. “You’re just trying to get out of here while you’re ahead.”

“You should be grateful I’m leaving while you still have chips,” Rivera shot back.

Sadie and Julie came into the room as Tyson began dealing out the cards. There was something different about the way Sadie held herself. Andrew tried to be subtle as he gave her an appraising look. It was in her smile and the way she held her shoulders. She looked relaxed.

“Have a seat, ladies,” Kimura said, gesturing to the empty chairs around the table, “We’re on the last round; we could use your good luck.”

Julie sat next to Tyson, and Sadie took the chair between Rivera and Kimura, which irritated Andrew more than he liked to admit.

“Julie is my good luck charm,” Tyson said, pulling her chair closer to him. “Get your own.”

“I call dibs on Sadie, then,” Kimura said, winking at her. His T-shirt suddenly seemed obscenely tight over his chest, and Andrew was pretty sure he was flexing judging by the way his sleeves pulled tight over his biceps.

“That’s not fair. I left my good luck charm at home,” Rivera complained.

“Sadie, this is Kenji Kimura and Cameron Webb,” Tyson said, pointing at everyone as he went around the table. “You know Andrew, and this is Marty Rivera.”

“Marty’s married to Amy Miller,” Julie told Sadie.

Her eyes lit up. “Really? I used to babysit her! How’s she doing?”

“Well, she’s married to this guy, so I’d say not too great.”

Rivera reached behind Sadie and tried to smack Kimura up the back of the head, but he ducked out of the way, leaning close to Sadie’s shoulder. When he sat upright again, it looked to Andrew like he and Sadie were sitting closer than they had been before.

“I’m kidding,” Kimura said, whether to Sadie or Rivera, it was unclear. “Amy’s great.”

“She is great,” Rivera agreed, flicking a chip in Kimura’s direction. “We just had a baby.”

“What?” Sadie cried. Her smile brightened her whole face. “Do you have any pictures?”

“Oh, geez.” Kimura groaned, but Rivera ignored him.

He pulled out his phone and held it out for Sadie to see. “Oliver,” he said, beaming. “He’s three months old.”

“Oh, he’s so cute,” Sadie gushed. “He looks just like Amy.”

Heat crept up Andrew’s neck. This was a softer side of Sadie than he had ever seen before, a side of her he wouldn’t mind getting to know better. He cleared his throat. “Weren’t you trying to get home to them?” he asked.

“Right, back to the game. Sorry.” Rivera pocketed his phone.

“I guess I’m more of a distraction than a good luck charm,” Sadie said apologetically as Tyson flipped over another card.

“Nah, I’m definitely feeling lucky,” Kimura assured her. “I’ll raise.”

“Pfft, I fold.” Webb dropped his cards in front of him.

Andrew held a queen of spades, which he could pair with the queen of diamonds on the table, a pretty good hand. “Call,” he said, matching Kimura’s bet.

Tyson flipped over a ten of diamonds and Rivera immediately handed over his cards. “I was really hoping to leave on a high note.”