Page 57 of Princess of Thieves

I try not to laugh at how serious he’s taking himself. “Nope,” I say, and let out a laugh.

“Just let her watch,” Tuck says, then turns to me. “It’ll be easier to pick up once you see a round or two.”

Rob pauses, then nods, tapping the table for emphasis. “Fair enough. Wagering is where the real game is played, anyway.”

“Speaking of wagers, what are we playing with?” LJ asks, pushing aside his plate. “Because I’m not giving any of you idiots my money.”

“Nah, cash is too boring,” Rob agrees. “Gotta be something more interesting at stake.”

“Like what, truth or dare?” Will scoffs. “Loser has to jump in the pool naked?”

LJ snorts. “What is this, a frat house?”

Will pouts. “Well,youcome up with an idea.”

My jaw aches with the effort not to smile broadly at all of them. Maybe it’s the beer, maybe it’s the leftover afterglow from this afternoon, but it feels damn good to be here.

Their voices pick up, chattering and overlapping as they argue about the stakes of the game. I decide to take the opportunity to get up for a refill. As soon as I stand, the rest of them do too, and fall silent. I laugh into my hand in spite of myself.

“You guys do not have to stand on ceremony for me,” I say.

“Literally force of habit,” Tuck says sheepishly, getting back into his seat.

“Agreed,” Will adds. “I didn’t do two torturous years of finishing school for nothing.”

LJ just grunts. “Whatever you say, Princess.”

I meander over to the minifridge and select another beverage as the four of them bicker around rules and bets and buy-ins, and then I take a seat on the edge of the pool table with a little hop, swinging my legs above the ground, my beer between my knees, as Rob spins out the last card into place.

“So we’re agreed?” He sits, grabs his hand and evens it against the table with a couple of taps. “Then let’s get a move on.”

For some reason, all four of their gazes go to me.

Then back to their hands.

“Like it, like it.” Rob flicks his cards up, surveys them, and smiles. The other three follow suit: Will frowns. LJ barely blinks at his, unfazed as always, and Tuck just nods, revealing nothing.

Rob leans back confidently. “AndI’m gonna clean the floor with you fellas, sorry to say. Ante up, gentlemen.”

It doesn’t take long for the first casualty to hit.

Will leans back in his chair, eyes narrowing as he surveys the cards on the table, then sighs dramatically.

“I’m out.”

“Five hands to tap out,” Rob says, grinning, and rakes the pot towards him. “Not your finest hour, Scarlet.”

“Must be some kind of record,” LJ agrees.

“It’s a stupid game anyway,” Will grumbles, loosening his collar and standing up for the bar.

I try to stifle a laugh as he leaves, looking like a kicked puppy in tailored clothes.

“See, what Will did wrong,” Tuck says helpfully as LJ deals the next hand, “is bluffed big early on. But his cards never backed it up, and it ended up, uh—”

“I believe the technical term isbiting him in the ass,” Rob says. “Pair of eights doesn’t exactly win you glory, my friend.”

From the bar, Will flips Rob a silent bird.

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