Page 9 of Big Balls
I add the remainder of my chips to the betting pool. “Let’s do this, Basher.”
Jackson whistles. “You two are crazy. It’s supposed to be poker night, not poker hand.”
“Shut up, you chicken.” Sebastian never breaks eye contact with me as he taunts Jackson. “Now throw that card down and let’s see who’s winning.”
I take a deep breath and flip over the turn. A three of spades isn’t going to do anything for me, but it shouldn’t do anything for Sebastian either. We both have a pair of threes now thanks to the common cards, but it’s looking better for me with my two pairs.
“Buyer’s remorse?” I ask. I lean back in my chair and feign a casualness that belies the trickle of cold sweat running along my spine.
Sebastian’s shark smile stretches even wider. “Come on now. You know I’m a man who lives his life with no regrets.”
I fold my hands behind my head and pin him with one of my no-nonsense dad stares. “I’m sure you have a few.”
Sebastian’s eyes light up with delight. “Regrets are for people who live in the past. Now why don’t you turn over that river card and get it over with.”
Jackson snorts. “It’s either that or you two have to fight each other.”
Tate chimes in, “Or kiss.”
Katy’s eyes go wide as her attention swings from Uncle Tate to me. “Are you going to kiss Uncle Sebastian, Daddy?”
Sebastian gives me a feral look, one that I’m sure he’s practiced on his legal opponents many times over the years. “Well, Katy, your daddy can kiss my—”
“Nope.” I hold up my hand like a cop stopping traffic. “Quit acting like that in front of my daughter.”
Jackson shakes his head. “Or you could quit behaving that way altogether. You know that kind of intimidation tactic doesn’t work on any of us.”
Tate swings Katy up to his lap, wraps his arms around her, and starts a slow clap. “Well said, chicken boy. Now let’s see what’s on Fifth Street.”
I turn over a third jack and force myself to keep as still as possible. A full house is a good hand, especially with the suit mixes in the common cards. Whatever Sebastian has in the hole across the table from me, it’s not a straight or a flush.
“Let’s see what you’ve got, Big Balls. I can’t wait to get payback for that fucking tutu disaster.”
I flip over my jacks and crack my knuckles. “Look at these brothers and those two threes, sitting in a full house. Do you want to talk about what you’re going to do for me now or later?”
Sebastian’s face doesn’t change at all. He flips over his first card, and it’s a three. Well tough. His three threes isn’t going to save him. But then he flips over his other hole card, and I know I’m a goner. Four of a freaking kind. This man has the luck of the devil himself.
“Crap,” I mutter, and pinch at the headache that’s formed at the bridge of my nose. “I can’t believe you went all in with a stinking pair of threes.”
Sebastian shrugs, raking the poker chips toward his side of the table in a lazy, indolent manner. “I don’t know why you keep losing like this. It’s almost like you enjoy being terrible at things.”
I clench my fists, but keep still. I know he’s baiting me, but I’m not going in for it. Sebastian Davenport III lives to make people lose their cool, and I’m not going to fall for it.
“Crap, crap, crap.”
Jackson comes over and pats me awkwardly on the shoulder. “What’s the matter with you, anyway? You’re turned up to like eleven tonight. And don’t try telling me it’s this little pissing contest with Bas because that’s just how you both are, and we like you despite all that.”
I clear my throat and send Katy off to bed after she’s given each of her honorary uncles a goodnight hug. Even Bas, that jerk.
“Look, guys, here it is. I’ve got a two-week-long away stretch coming up and nobody to watch Katy. I was hoping to win tonight so I could put the three of you on Katy sitting duty.”
Jackson shrugs. “I know your parents are gone, but just call whoever your sitter is and pay them extra. It’ll be fine.”
I shake my head. “I can’t do that. I don’t have a regular sitter. You know I never go anywhere except to work.”
Tate shakes his head. “Well, call your nanny service. I’m sure there’s some hot, scantily-clad nanny just waiting to come over and steal a pair of your underwear while she’s supposed to be watching Katy.”
I groan. “No. Not happening. I don’t have a nanny or a sitter, and I don’t want some stranger watching my daughter. Especially if it’s some random fangirl who’s going to try to sell a pair of my underwear on eBay or something.”
