Page 20 (1/2)

Maverick nods in response “You didn’t have to get up from the table I just…” He crosses his aruys, kneouldn’t be able to sleep, so…thought I’d come watch you play”

I don’t even consider telling hi Instead, I nod toward the cashier’s booth

“I need to cash out, but after that do you want to go somewhere and eat?”

“Yeah, that sounds good” He eyes my stack and arches a brow “At least one of us played well tonight”

“You need ice cream”

“I do?”

I nod “My dad always got me two scoops of mint chocolate chip when I had a bad day I know a place”

He s arether, and since the line is short, we’re done within five minutes

“So,” I say,over ainst my hip as alk “Tell me about it”

Chapter Nine

Maverick

“I’ame”

Gia listens patiently as I tell her about the game while I inhale two cheesesteak sandwiches from a deli, and then alk to a little ice cream shop just off the Strip

“This whole ti is fine It’sdejected “I don’t know I guess it was thesucks, because that part is completely within my control”

“Yeah, but you didn’t lose that game alone,” she reminds me “Just like you don’t win theether?”

I shrug “All of us have been playing long enough that it really shouldn’t matter”

We get to the front of the line, where she orders two scoops of et a banana split, and Gia shakes her head when the enormous dessert is placed in front of me

“Must be nice to eat whatever you want and not gain any weight,” she says, sarcas her words

“I’ll share You want to taste my nuts?”

The cashier I’hs, but Gia says, “Thanks, but I’ll pass”

“Coirth of this banana,” I say as we slide into a booth for two “My banana is e”

She arches her brows and set the jokes about the whipped cream and cherry out of the way noould you?”