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Gia looks away and says, “I need to go I thought we could just be friends, but…I just need to go”
“Hey,” I say softly “You don’t need to go”
She pulls some cash from her purse and puts it on the table, and I put a hand out to stop her
“No, I’ve got this Gia, don’t leave”
“I need to I’ll talk to you later” She slides out of the booth, noteye contact with me
“Come on, at least let me drive you”
“No, I’ood”
She leaves the diner then, and the only thing I know for sure is that she’s not good at all And I’m not either
Chapter Twelve
Gia
Maverick: I shouldn’t have pushed you like I did I’m sorry
I’ve read his text at least twenty times since he sent it several hours after I left the diner we had breakfast at An entire day has passed since then, and I haven’t responded I don’t knohat to say
I knohat I want to say, but I also knohat I should say My poker game is as sharp as it’s ever been I’ve reached the point where I can start playing both in casinos but also in private garow my bank balance quickly
Once I have enough e educations, I can oes well, I could get there within three months
The stakes are about to go up, though I have to be entirely focused on poker to hold , but also lose big Those are the games the best players are usually at I’ve heard of people losing not just s I can’t ia and playing poker in Vegas for years, told uy at the table lost his prosthetic leg His opponent had no use for it, but thought it would be funny to see hi if he lost it
He did And the guy on the prosthetic leg displayed it on the same wall he kept his poker trophies and other memorabilia on
Private games are where people lose not just their money, but also their heads There’s no way to reach h And I never stake more than I can afford to lose
With a heavy sigh, I lie back on my couch and text Maverick back
Me: It’s okay I overreacted I’ht now
Maverick: Are you at the sex toy shop off the Strip with the Elvisa dildo?
I laugh, wondering if that’s a real thing
Me: How did you know?
Maverick: Well, I didn’t want to say anything, but I could tell you were into Elvis porn the moment I saw you
Me: Jailhouse Cock?
Maverick: Pound Dog?