Page 7 of Big Risks

Jace:Still on for poker tomorrow night?

I toss the shoebox back onto the shelf and close the closet door before replying.

Me:Yeah. 8 p.m. Bring beer.

It’s Saturday night, and my living room transforms into the closest thing I have to a social life. The poker table, really just a folding table with a green felt cover, dominates the center of the room. Chips are stacked, beer is flowing, and for once, I'm not thinking about work, bills, or the school nurse—

"Earth to Walker," Jace waves a hand in front of my face. "You gonna bet or what?"

I toss in two chips. "Call."

"Man, you're even more spaced out than usual," Tucker comments, studying his cards. "And that's saying something."

Tucker, Jace, and Brody have been my friends longer than I can remember. They're the only people besides Olivia who've stuck around through everything. They're also the only people who feel entitled to give me shit on a regular basis.

"Just tired," I mutter. "Raise you ten."

"Bullshit," Brody says cheerfully, matching my bet. "You've got that look."

"What look?"

"The one where you're overthinking something but pretending you're not."

I scowl. "I don't have a look."

All three of them laugh.

"Dude, you have the most transparent 'look' of anyone I know," Jace says. "It's why you suck at poker."

"I'm up sixty bucks tonight," I point out.

"Temporary anomaly," Tucker dismisses. "So what's going on? Work stuff?"

"Nothing's going on. Fold or bet."

They exchange glances, a silent communication that comes from decades of friendship.

"How's Olivia doing?" Tucker asks, changing tactics. "Ace mentioned she saw her at school yesterday with a scraped knee."

Even the kids are big gossips in a small town. I should have known this was coming.

"She's fine. Minor scrape."

"Ace said the new school nurse took good care of her," he continues, a hint of mischief in his voice. "Apparently, she's a vast improvement over Mrs. Peterson."

"Wouldn't take much," I mutter, remembering the previous nurse, who had the bedside manner of a drill sergeant. "Fold."

"Ace says she's single," Tucker adds casually.

I glare at him. "I didn't ask."

"You didn't have to. I'm providing a public service here."

Tucker snorts. "The service of trying to get Walker laid?"

"The service of trying to get Walker to rejoin the land of the living," Brody corrects. "When was the last time you went on a date?"

I take a long pull of my beer. "Not interested in dating."

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