Page 12 of Exposed

After a few rounds of drawing, calling, and folding, an uneasy and slightly irritated feeling snuck up on Paco. Madison has folded the past three rounds, and it was now down to him and her again, with TRex having folded. He postulated that she was either out of her depth, or ...

“Call,” Madison said softly, looking up at Paco. He studied her eyes. He’s studied these eyes before. Different place. Different person. But the very same soft, yet scheming gaze. He was ready to see what those pretty ones would do when something unpredictable happened. Despite a straight, Paco cupped the cards, then placed them face down.

“Fold.”

Paco tested his theory with Madison’s response. She eyed him for a moment, halting a half-executed headshake. A subtle squint seemed to silently ask if he was sure, but then she took the pot graciously. This reaction was unusual, but not the closed case he had hoped for. This girlie’s a ringer all right. Except she’s hedging her bet to lose instead of win. He coolly sipped his cocktail, glancing at her over the rim with an amused glare. I’m onto you.

“Madison, did I hear you’re the maid of honor at a wedding? That sounds fun.” Ted asked.

“Well, yes. I just need a date.”

Paco gagged on his cosmo, coughing abruptly to clear his throat. Rex started patting his back. He grunted his breathing back into submission. “Why don’t you have a date?” he indignantly demanded.

Rex jumped to her rescue. “Well, it’s not always easy to find a date for a wedding. There are a lot of innuendos and implications.”

Ted joined in the gallant rescue mission. “Yeah. It’s terrible really. You bring a date to a wedding, and there’s romantic music and mood lighting. Then after a few drinks one thing leads to another, and all of a sudden, you’re proposing to a girl you barely know, eloping to Las Vegas, only to find when you’ve sobered up ten hours later, she looks a little different in the natural light, with the five o’clock shadow and all.” Madison, Paco, and Rex just glanced at each other. Not knowing what to say, Madison took his hand for a moment, but Paco was over being patient. He needed answers now.

“Okay, Ted, if you’re done with your marital therapy, back to Madison. I thought you were seeing someone.” His look was perhaps sterner than intended, obviously concerned that something had happened.

“Well, yes, I am.” She feebly attempted a tone that would soothe his alarm. “I am definitely seeing someone. But, well, I’m just not sure we’re ready to go public with our relationship.”

“We? So, it’s a joint decision?” Paco held his cards to cover his face, but his subdued, pissed-off, matronly voice gave him away. Madison’s already covering for Alex and his asshole tendencies. What the fuck is wrong with him?

Madison sank into her seat and started fidgeting with her arm. A potential confrontation with Paco was triggering her hives. Madison noticeably struggled to speak, when Ted took the opportunity to step in. He took her hand, and looked deeply into her eyes. In a solemn and accepting tone, he proceeded. “Listen. It’s okay. There is nothing to worry about.” Madison sighed and smiled at his reassurance. “When you’re ready to come out, you will. And we’ll be right here for you.” Her smile dropped, clearly perplexed at how she exuded such a closet vibe.

Her discomfort hadn’t gone unnoticed. Paco didn’t want that. Knowing Madison as he had come to, he was sure she was plotting an exit strategy. My ten bucks is on the old daring diarrhea escape. He kicked his feelings aside, determined to sweep her back into the game. Ted and Rex were already out, so he seduced her with an obvious mistake. “Raise,” he said, smiling at Madison, his arched eyebrows and dimpled cheeks daring her to play.

“Raise, huh?” Madison let out a laugh. They both knew his hand was pure shit. “Just to be crystal clear, you said raise?”

“Yeah, girl. I said raise,” he barked defiantly, polishing off his drink, then flipping his glass to get the cherry squarely in his mouth. He chewed the cherry like a smart-ass schoolgirl popping gum.

“Fine,” Madison tossed her chips forward, and tried mimicking Paco’s suave demeanor, finishing off her drink as well. But as she attempted the final move, flipping the glass to get the cherry into her mouth, she forgot there were two. One landed squarely in her mouth, while the other flew down, Greg Louganis style, into her blouse, hidden securely in its new nesting spot. Wide-eyed, she glanced at their reactions to see if anyone had noticed. Ted intently studied the upholstery of his chair, and Rex appeared to be counting the squares of the coffered ceiling. Yup, they noticed.

“Where’s the—,” Madison stood as Paco pointed down the hall to the bathroom, then rose with Ted and Rex while she stepped away from the table.

As she exited the room, Ted and Rex breathed a sigh of relief, and Paco extended his arms, placing his hands on their shoulders. “Well, gentlemen. I’m pretty sure the evening will only go downhill from here.” Ted and Rex vehemently agreed and scurried about to tidy up before quickly heading out. They shouted their goodbyes to Madison as they left.

Madison returned to a much quieter and emptier setting than when she’d left. “Hello?”

“Out here,” Paco hollered, luring her to the balcony. She headed over. The views of the city twinkled before her as the crisp city air gusted softly, sending electric chills through her.

“God, and I thought this place couldn’t get more amazing.” She shivered a little, and Paco pulled out an oversized pashmina he had ready. He draped it around her shoulders, and they both perched side-by-side along the balcony wall, looking out into the dazzling sparkles in the sweeping darkness.

“So, did everything come out all right?” Paco taunted.

“Yes, and became a casualty of the 3-second rule. So, I take it I scared the fellas off?”

“Hey, best poker game ever,” he assured her with a shoulder-nudge. “If you want a cappuccino or nightcap, I could call Javier to come up.”

“Javier?”

“Yes, my pool boy.”

Madison was blown away at the extravagance of his penthouse. “You have a pool?”

Paco just curled up a smile mischievously. “Nooo.” They both chuckled. “But he makes a great cappuccino, among other things.” Paco turned somber. “Listen, sorry about grilling you earlier. I was just disappointed.”

Madison winced, assuming his disappointment was in her. “I’m sorry, Paco.”

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