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“How about it?”

Rory peeked at his cards. “I guess.”

“Great… Do you know how to play Crazy Eights?”

Rory’s lips twitched with a smile. “I do.”

They played cards, and their game got the attention of Sebastian’s closest friends. A middle-aged man with a scarred face called Vince and an older guy with glasses and wisps of hair around the side of his head.

Rory had heard Sebastian refer to him as Einstein.

Rory had watched Sebastian be welcomed by most of the friendship groups on the wing, but he spent most of his time with Vince and Einstein.

“I’ve got to say, you’re not bad, Rory,” Sebastian mumbled, “but why don’t we play for real stakes.”

“Like what?”

Sebastian huffed, then removed a wad of phone cards from his pockets. “I came by these today…”

He gave Rory another challenging look, but he didn’t rise to it. Rory knew the officer had handed the cards over; he’d been watching after all.

“Ten phone cards,” Sebastian counted. “How many have you got?”

“Two…”

“Okay, if you win, you get my ten phone cards. If I win, I get your two.”

“Why would I want ten?”

Sebastian shrugged. “You could trade them for favours or sweets, or maybe it’s not about the cards, maybe it’s about trying to beat me when you’re under pressure.”

“Oh, go on, kid,” Einstein muttered. “Wipe that smirk off his face.”

Vince nodded along. “You’ve got this, Roar.”

“Roar?” Rory asked.

Vince shrugged. “You know, Rory…Roar.”

Rory turned back to Sebastian and shrugged. “Fine.”

Sebastian shuffled in a fast blur, then dealt the cards out. Rory peeked at him and nodded to himself. Vince squeezed his shoulders. “You’ve got this. Roar.”

Sebastian beat him.

With ease.

His eyes flashed with triumph, and he glanced at Einstein, then Vince as Rory handed over his two phone cards.

“One for you, and one for you…”

He gave one to each of his friends. Humiliation heated Rory’s face. Vince tapped him on the back, and Einstein walked away laughing.

Sebastian leaned over the table. “You may have found your balls, but there’s still not a lot going on in that head of yours, is there?”

“You cheated.”

“I outplayed you.” Sebastian bit his lip. “I think you should get used to that feeling.”

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