Page 100 of Love or Leave

Max shook his head. His deep scowl deepened even further. "She deserves—"

"I know."

"And you're too old for her."

Antonio nodded. "Still… I love her."

Max stared him down long enough for Anotnio's mind to wander. What had she told him? Was she willing to give them another shot?

He hoped so.

"Does she hate me?" he asked, his heart lodge in his throat.

Max shrugged. "She was upset for a few hours, but then she talked about it and kinda seemed over it. Nothing like when she broke up with Cooper."

Antonio's stomach dropped.

"No crying. No ice cream. No belting out bad power ballads," Max continued.

Antonio looked away, forcing his emotions down before Max started giving him that pitiful look he despised.

"She's even getting out this week. Tomorrow, I think," he said.

"What, like on a date?" Antonio asked, his heart cracking.

Max shook his head. "No, she's going to a poker tournament. At the racetrack. Tomorrow night. Eight o'clock."

"Poker?" Antonio's eyebrows shot up.

"Mmm hmm… Right up your alley."

Antonio smirked, remembering all the hands he'd beat Max at in the past. He had a feeling Cara would be a more formidable opponent.

"That's very detailed information. It's almost as if you want me to see her."

Max rolled his eyes, then fixed him with a glare sharp enough to burn. He looked like Zeus with a lightning bolt, itching to strike. "Fuck this up again and I'll kill you."

Antonio smiled. "Deal."

thirty-one

Cara walked into the poker room at the racetrack casino fifteen minutes early and glanced around. She wanted to get there early so she could snag a late position seat to the right of the dealer.

She'd been in big poker tournaments before and had it on her bucket list to qualify for the world series of poker one day. For now, it was just a fun distraction. She didn't know why she hadn't entered a tournament in so long.

Probably because she didn't really have any friends that played, and she couldn't stomach going alone.

She tipped her chin toward the ceiling and marched to an empty table, setting her beer precisely to her right before taking a seat. Seconds later, a middle-aged guy in a leather jacket claimed the chair beside her. Another minute passed, and a man in a hoodie and sunglasses slid into the seat across from her. She smiled to herself but kept a neutral face. They were already sizing each other up.

Neither of those two were going to be the love of her life, but she'd happily take all their money. Also, the ratio of men to women was promising. Possibly even better than golf.

Why hadn't she started scouting dating prospects here instead?

She shook off the thought, took out her phone and opened a Scrabble game to distract herself until the table was ready to start. One good thing that came from Antonio was Scrabble to eliminate anxiety. She'd just started playing when she got a text. From Antonio.

Her face soured. It was his first attempt at communication since last weekend—she was expecting it to come eventually. What she didn't know was how it would go. Would he try to get back together? Would he try to smooth things over?

She'd already decided she would do her best to be civil and move on. Reconciliation wasn’t on the horizon, of that she was certain. But they were part of the same friend group. She really didn't want to make it awkward for everyone.

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