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“Now what?” Kristin asked as she sat back in the chair.
“You’re supposed to see yourself with him as the candle burns down.”
She nodded. “Want to play dirty-word Scrabble while we wait?”
“Ohh! That sounds like fun!”
Lucas
Alex stared at me as he waited for me to show my cards. I laid them out, and Alex cursed.
“Royal flush, baby!” I said as I pulled the pile of chips over to me.
“What the fuck? That’s the last five hands you won. I’m done. I have no more money left,” Alex stated as he attempted not to pout.
I looked at James and Shawn. “Are you also going to pull out simply because I’ve had a round of good luck?”
“I think you’re cheating,” Shawn accused. “You suck at poker, Lucas. How is it you suddenly became a blank page? I haven’t been able to read your face at all. And when you do frown like you have a bad hand, it’s a good hand. It’s confusing.”
Laughing, I said, “I’m sorry, isn’t that what poker is all about? Come on, one more hand.”
James shook his head. “Nope. I need to walk out of here with my head held high. Losing to you has thrown me.”
“Is it hot in here to you guys?” Shawn asked.
Alex gave him a befuddled look. “Hot? No. It feels good.”
“It’s so hot. I feel like I’m burning up. Do you smell…lavender?”
My eyes jerked up from my winnings. “What?”
“Lavender. I smell lavender.”
“Dude, how many beers have you had to drink?” James asked Shawn.
Shawn wiped his forehead. “The same amount as you. Fuck, it’s so hot.”
“Why don’t we step out onto the back porch?” I suggested as I stood up.
“The back porch? It’s freaking below freezing out there now, Lucas,” Alex said as he stood and placed the back of his hand on Shawn’s forehead. “You don’t feel hot.”
Alex was a registered nurse, so I was confident he would be able to tell whether Shawn was running a fever.
“Do you smell the lavender?” Shawn asked. “It smells like…like her.”
James chuckled. “Like who?”
Shawn looked confused as he answered, “Kristin. It smells like her.”
“Oh, hell,” I mumbled.
James and Alex both looked at me and said at the same time, “What is he talking about?”
“Listen, guys, I think we should wrap up poker night. I think Shawn’s had a little more to drink than we thought.”
James nodded and pulled out some money for my winnings. Alex did the same but kept looking at Shawn who was now pacing.
Alex handed me some money and narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t cheat?”
