“Bullshit!” Trenton whined. “Beginner’s luck sucks!”
“You’ve got a fast learner, Trav,” Jim said, moving his mouth around his cigar.
Travis swigged his beer. “You’re makin’ me proud, Pigeon!” His eyes were bright with excitement, and his smile was different than I’d ever seen before.
“Thanks.”
“Those that cannot do, teach,” Thomas said, smirking.
“Very funny, asshole,” Travis murmured.
Four hands later, I tipped back the last of my beer and narrowed my eyes at the only man at the table that hadn’t folded. “The action’s on you, Taylor. You gonna be a baby or you going to put in like a man?”
“Fuck it,” he said, throwing the last of his chips in.
Travis looked at me, his eyes animated. It reminded me of the expressions of those watching his fights.
“Whatdya got, Pigeon?”
“Taylor?” I prompted.
A wide grin spread across his face. “Flush!” he smiled, spreading his cards face-up on the table.
Five pairs of eyes turned to me. I scanned the table and then slammed my cards down. “Read ’em and weep, boys! Aces and eights!” I said, giggling.
“A full house? What the fuck?” Trent cried.
“Sorry. I’ve always wanted to say that,” I said, pulling in my chips.
Thomas’ eyes narrowed. “This isn’t just beginner’s luck. She plays.”
Travis eyed Thomas for a moment and then looked to me. “Have you played before, Pidge?”
I pressed my lips together and shrugged, displaying my best innocent smile. Travis’s head fell back, bursting into a barrage of laughter. He tried to speak but couldn’t and then hit the table with his fist.
“Your girlfriend just fucking hustled us!” Taylor said, pointing in my direction.
“NO FUCKING WAY!” Trenton wailed, standing up.
“Good plan, Travis. Bring a card shark to poker night,” Jim said, winking at me.
“I didn’t know!” he said, shaking his head.
“Bullshit,” Thomas said, eyeing me.
“I didn’t!” he said through his laughter.
“I hate to say it, Bro. But I think I just fell in love with your girl,” Tyler said.
“Hey, now,” Travis said, his smile quickly fading into a grimace.
“That’s it. I was going easy on you, Abby, but I’m winning my money back, now,” Trenton warned.
Travis sat out for the last few rounds, watching his brothers try their hardest to regain their money. Hand after hand, I pulled in their chips, and hand after hand, Thomas watched me more closely. Every time I laid my cards down Travis and Jim laughed, Taylor cursed, Tyler proclaimed his undying love for me, and Trent threw a full-blown tantrum.
I cashed in my chips and gave them all one hundred dollars once we settled into the living room. Jim refused, but the brothers accepted with gratitude. Travis grabbed my hand and we walked to the door.
I could see he was unhappy, so I squeezed his fingers in mine. “What’s wrong?”