Page 33 of The Rat

“I’m not buyingit.” Rorymuttered.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “You’rebored, right?”

“Yeah.”

“So let’s have a fewgames.”

Rory sighed through his nose.“Fine.”

Theyplayed chess. Rory played badly, butSebastian played even worse. It was three games to Rory whenEinstein cleared his throat to get Rory’s attention.

“This is the perfect way towin back your phone cards.”

Rory lifted his eyebrow.“Yeah?”

Damon noddedenthusiastically. “Yeah, you’re wiping the floor withhim.”

“I haven’t got anything togamble with.”

Sebastianpursed his lips. “I’ll tell youwhat, you win, you get six phone cards, I win … and I get a backrub.”

Roryleaned back in his chair. “You want abackrub?”

“Hell, yes.”

Einstein shook his head. “Don’tworry, boy,no chance of that, he’s awful at chess.”

“Yeah?”

Damon smiled. “You’ve gotthis.”

Sebastian stuck his hand outacross the table. “Deal?”

“Deal,” Rory said, shaking onit.

As soon as they’dshook, Damonburst out laughing, and Einstein muttered ‘stupid’ under hisbreath.

Sebastian looked at his friends. “As Isaid, nothing going on in this one.”

“What?” Rory said.

Damon gave Rory a pitying look. “He’s thebest chess player in here. No one will play himanymore.”

Sebastian winked. “I think youknew it, you just wannatouch me up.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You can start on my shoulders,maybe my thighs, too.” His eyes glinted, and he gave Rory a confidentsmile. “I’m already looking forward to it…”

Damonhastily set up the board, andSebastian gestured for Rory to take the first move. He moved hispawn, and the game began.

Rory played the naïve guyperfectly, and Sebastian fell straight into his trap. The smirksand snorts from Damon and Einstein lessened, then stoppedaltogether.

Sebastian clutched his chinbefore each move, and his brow folded with more intense lines eachtime they went back and forth. Their gamegot a crowd, and a few guards stoodclose enough to watch.

Ollie came over at somepoint,butlost interest and disappeared with Teddy. The match lasted twohours, then Sebastian stood up abruptly, tilted his head at Rory,then admitted his defeat.

Rory held out his palm for thephone cards, and Sebastian slapped them down. He counted them,then handedthree to Damon, and three to Einstein. They gawped at Rory insurprise.

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