“I told you, they know me here. That’s why I waited until last minute to enter. Last time I entered early, they ended up using me on fliers to get people to sign up. Come Challenge Skyler Thorne – Hot Young Poker Star!” She rolls her eyes and I smile, snagging the sunglasses from her fingers.
“You wearing these tonight?”
“Definitely,” she says, glancing at me quickly before turning back toward the window. I didn’t think I knew Skyler’s weaknesses that well, but apparently I stumbled upon a nerve earlier. She’s clearly affected and as much as I want to take a small victory lap, I hate it, too. I don’t want to fuck her up. I don’t want her to not be on her game. Not necessarily just because I want to see her play at her best so I can beat her at her best, but because I saw how much she loved playing after the auction. Her smile, her cocky façade – it’s amazing to watch.
“Well, that really sucks,” I say, sliding them back into her hand. She turns back to me slowly, a questioning look playing in her eyes. I trail the pad of my thumb slowly down her temple to the side of her eye while my fingers brush the hair from her face. “You have incredible eyes. I know if I was at the table, I’d be distracted by them.”
Skyler’s eyes search mine, her face torn between two emotions that I’m not sure I can decipher. Slowly, sadness overtakes the other contender and she turns her face away from my hand and back toward the window.
Damn. Not even a corny line can shake her? The Skyler I knew definitely would have called me on my shit. Or at least joked around about me being a lame ass.
“Are you nervous?” I ask, thinking maybe a more blunt approach might get her to open up. We pull up to the casino and before the cab has a chance to stop, Skyler swings her door open.
“Nope, I’m fine.”
I stay in the cab for a moment, watching as she storms toward the tall glass doors before finally paying the driver and climbing out myself. I catch up to Skyler and we walk in silence to registration, the lights and bells of slot machines mocking our lack of joy along the way. There’s a thick cloud of smoke already building and the faces lining machines and tables range from playful and hopeful to miserable and desperate. I’ll never understand why my father loves casinos and gambling so much. If you ask me, it’s just as sick an addiction as smoking or drugs. Some people ruin their whole lives on this false hope of hitting a quick fortune.
After May, I’m done with this shit. With casinos, with poker, with gambling, and with lying. None of this is worth the trouble. My dad? Yeah, he’s worth it. We don’t exactly get along, but he’s been there through a lot of shit in my life and I know at the end of the day, he always will be. I owe him this and I honestly do want to let him live this dream through me. I get it. But damn, this turned out to be a lot more than I signed up for.
Skyler checks in and gets her first table assignment. An older man is running registration and explains that the final table most likely won’t start playing until eleven, so we should expect a late night. By the looks of it, there aren’t a ton of people here for the tournament and they have twenty minute blind levels, so that should get the less aggressive players out quick. In theory, this should be an easy night for Skyler, but judging by the look on her face, you would think we were in Vegas already.
“We have fifteen minutes. You want to grab a drink?”
She nods, sliding on her sunglasses and pulling her hood over her head before leading the way to the nearby bar. We slide up on the stools and Skyler puts five dollars in the computer game built into the bar. She mindlessly plays Keno as I order us a couple of beers.
“Hey.” I nudge her playfully, smiling. “After you rob all these chumps, wanna go skinny dipping?” I waggle my eyebrows and she deadpans before focusing on the screen again. I sigh. “What’s wrong? Talk to me. You can’t go into the tournament like this.”
Her finger hovers above a number and she stops short. Suddenly, she turns in her seat to fully face me. “Who the hell made you think you could tell me what I can and can’t do? In case you forgot, you haven’t worked with me on this since the first night you saw me play. You don’t know my style, you don’t know my before-tournament rituals – you don’t know anything about me. So back off.”
“I know this isn’t you, Skyler.” I cut her off, refusing to let her make this into a fight about us. “You don’t want to talk about what’s on your mind? Fine. But get your shit together and focus on winning this tournament. It’s a waste of money and both of our time if you blow it over your need to be moody.”
Her mouth flies open and I know I’m being a fucking dick, but I don’t know how else to get through to her. I tried joking around, I tried being genuine, and apparently she’s not shy when it comes to throwing out low blows so I’ll throw her some of my own.
“Skyler?” A voice comes from the seat beside Skyler and we both turn to find a short, smiling blonde. “Skyler Thorne? Wow, what luck! I’ve been searching for you everywhere in here! I figured you would be hiding out and I should just give up. Then I sit down to get a drink and you fall into my lap! Funny how that works. Oh, sorry, gosh I’m so rude. I’m Lacy – Lacy Moondella. I’m with Big Blind Magazine,” she rambles on, but Skyler immediately turns to me and even through her glasses I can tell her eyes are wide. Shit.
“Listen, you wouldn’t mind if I asked you a few questions, would you? I’m a new writer and I could really impress my boss if I got an exclusive interview with you.”
“Actually, we need to get to the first table. Come on, Sky.” I stand, pulling her arm but she jerks it away, throwing me an evil glare before turning back to the reporter.
“I’ve only got a few minutes. No quotes about being young or hot or a female. Poker questions only. Go.”
I let out a frustrated sigh before falling back onto the stool next to her. Lacy gives a giddy smile and little clap and pulls out a digital voice recorder. She asks how Skyler’s feeling about May, if she’s been entering a lot of tournaments, how she’s balancing school and her social life along with playing, and on and on. Skyler answers each question quickly but with character and I actually think this reporter will have a pretty decent article once she finishes.
Checking my watch, I tap it and motion to the tables and Skyler nods. She stands, smiling and leaving a twenty on the bar. “I have to get to the table, but I hope you have enough to impress your boss. Good luck.”
“Wait!” Lacy hops up quickly and we both turn back to face her. “What about the guy you were seen kissing a couple weeks ago? Can you tell me a little about him? Is he your boyfriend? Is…” Suddenly, she eyes me closer. “Is this him?”
Skyler remains calm, but I feel my face redden and I clench my fist. Fuck.
“Oh gosh.” Skyler laughs, covering her smile with her hand. “I’m sorry, but it’s just funny that you think I would have a steady boyfriend. I’m in college. I kiss a lot of boys. Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t even remember his name.”
Lacy looks me up and down, still scrutinizing, but laughs it off. “Oh yeah. Duh! Obviously. I was in college not too long ago.” Now it’s my turn to say obviously. “Well good luck tonight. Hope you’ll check out the article!”
Skyler nods curtly and forges toward the tables. I hurry to catch up with her. “Great cover. Looks like you’ve got your poker face on, after all.”
She stops short and turns on her heel to face me. “Maybe if you weren’t so stupid saying my name in a crowded bar I wouldn’t have had to think on my feet. Thank God I did, though, because clearly you had nothing to say. And stop acting like my coach. You want to help me train? Fine. But right now I need you to just back off. Back. Off.”