Page 29 of Playing for Keeps
“Early days,” Alfie said.
In the next hand, Alfie and Reuban outbid us by calling eight diamonds in an attempt to get some points. But Luke and I took them down easily. And the next hand, we got eight spades.
“And I believe that gets us to five hundred,” Luke said as he collected the last trick. He’d barely cracked a smile the whole game, but I could tell from his sparkling eyes how much he was enjoying himself.
“Just like I said after basketball, these two have some insane psychic link,” Reuban said.
“You’ve got us. We share just one brain between us.” I leaned back on my chair.
“Well, having half a brain would explain the quality of your jokes,” Alfie said to me.
“Ouch. That wounds. But you know what wounds more? Losing.” I gave him a broad grin.
“Rematch,” he demanded.
“Are you sure you can handle losing again?”
Alfie’s gaze narrowed. “Rematch,” he repeated.
I flicked a glance at Luke. “You want to play again?”
“Yeah, I feel like I’m getting the hang of it now,” Luke said.
I coughed to cover up my laugh.
As we kept playing, a warm feeling radiated through my chest. Meeting Luke’s eyes across the table, seeing the secret smile at the corners of his mouth, the triumphant flush on his face as we continued to win every hand…
This was the dynamic that made sense to me.
Luke and Ethan against the world.
I clutched my cards tighter in my hand.
Later, after Alfie and Reuban had finally conceded, Luke and I headed out of the lodge together. It was dark but the stars were out and the moon was almost full, so we could see the mountains surrounding us like giant hulking warriors.
“Are you going to judge me if I say I really enjoyed that?” I asked.
Luke grinned at me. “Nothing like a bit of blatant cheating to ensure world dominance.”
“Did you see the look on Alfie’s face? Fuck, I wish I’d had my phone to take a picture. It would have been my new screensaver.”
Luke laughed.
Oh my god, that sound. I’d spent my entire childhood chasing Luke’s laugh.
I took a deep breath. I couldn’t stand this anymore. “So, are we ever going to talk about it?”
Luke’s laughter faded as if the light had been switched off. His jaw went tight. “Talk about what?”
I just gave him a look.
He stuck his hands in his pockets, looking out toward the mountains. “Not sure what there is to say.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m sorry things went down like they did,” I said. “And I dunno, is it possible to regret something happening but not regret the outcome? Because I really wish I hadn’t slept with Char, but I don’t want to apologize for my son existing.”
Luke’s eyes snapped to mine. “Of course you shouldn’t apologize for that. Theo’s a great kid.”
“Sometimes he reminds me so much of you,” I admitted.
