Page 121 of The Wild Card
“Molly?” From beside me, Winnie nudges my arm. “Your call.”
I glance at the faces around the table, narrowing my eyes as I try to get a read on them. After we established a monthly game, which consists of family and usually a few friends, I’ve gotten better at reading people.
Pat, Tank, and Big Mo are already out. Chevy has what I call his lazy happy look on his face, which means he has good cards he wants us tothinkare great cards. James and Winnie are both almost impossible to read, so he’s a question mark. But Winniekeeps running the corner of her cards under her fingernail, something she does only when she’s unsure about her hand.
Jacob, who’s in town to check on The Oven’s progress, is wearing sunglasses to hide his eyes like he thinks he’s on the World Series of Poker tour or something. But one glance under the table tells me he’s tapping his foot again, which he only does when he’s bluffing about his hand. Harper isn’t playing, but she’s sitting next to Chase, and based onherexpression, my brother is going to fold if anyone raises.
And Collin—well, he’s the easiest to read. And the only one I’m worried about right now. Across the table from me, he grins.
My hand is amazing: a straight flush. Rare. Only beatable with a royal flush, and because the four diamonds out there include a seven, ten, Jack, and Ace, Collin could have it.
There are probably several people still holding on who have flushes. But only Collin looks completely at ease, like heknowshe’s got a winning hand. That makes two of us.
I decide to take my chances. “All-in,” I say, pushing my stacks to the center.
I’m pretty impressed with my poker knowledge and prowess. Which has gone from zero to being able to consider all these possibilities. It hasn’t helped at all with my poker face though, apparently, because Chevy announces, “She’s not bluffing. I fold.”
“Me too,” Jacob says, pushing his two cards away with a sigh.
One by one, everyone left folds until we reach Collin. He doesn’t have as many chips as I bet, which usually means buying in again to get more chips or having a side pot.
Collin pulls out his wallet. “Let me see what I can do here.”
“You could fold,” I suggest with a cheerful smile. “Rather than buying in again. I’m going to beat you this time.”
I hope. I rarely get good hands, and it would stink to have a straight flush only to get beaten by my boyfriend.
“We’ll see about that.” Collin frowns as he opens his wallet. “Huh. Guess I’ve got all my cash already tied up.”
“Put in what you’ve got and stop stalling,” I tell him. “You’re not going to win.”
“I’ve got another idea,” Collin says. He sets down his wallet, gives me a narrow-eyed look like he’s trying to figure me out, then pulls something else from his pocket and tosses it onto the pile in the center.
Only, it doesn’t give the satisfying clink of chip hitting chip. And as the object rolls over the top of the pile and comes to rest on the felt in front of me, my eyes widen.
It’s not a chip. It’s a ring. Of the engagement kind.
“I’m all-in,” Collin says, getting up and walking around the table toward where I’m currently frozen in shock while my brain tries to compute.
This is not a drill. This is a proposal. This. Is. Not. A. Drill!
I’ve been ready for what seems like forever, even though it hasn’t been that long. A lot of couples date for years before getting engaged. But I’d have said yes even if Collin asked me as far back as Winnie and James’s wedding night. Which has made me feel outrageously impatient waiting months.
I know Collin, for his part, has been trying to give me space and time to feel like I’ve truly been able to feel free after being under my dad’s control. Which I appreciate.
But hevastlyoverestimated the time I needed. I’ve been about ready to flip the script and propose tohim.
Collin reaches me and drags my chair back from the table, then gets down on both knees before me. “The bet’s to you. Like I said, I’m all-in. It’s your call, Molly-girl. Want to go all-in with me?”
Leave it to Collin to propose without actually saying the wordsmarry me.
But I don’t need the exact words. I just needhim.
I throw myself at him, almost toppling him over as I wrap my arms around him, whispering “Yes, yes, yes, yes!” in his ear. “I’m all-in too!”
Chairs scrape back as hugs and congratulations are passed around. I’m not sure I’ve ever smiled this hard. My cheeks hurt, and I can’t stop looking at Collin, who’s smiling just as big.
Chase gives me a tight hug, and a swell of emotion threatens to bowl me over. “He asked for my approval as well as Dad’s.”
