Page 5 of The Gangster's Girl

“Stud, are you saying if you win tonight, you’re getting Clay’s house?” she says.

“That’s right,” Robbie nods, looking as if he’s already won and Ronnie raises her arms in the ear, letting out a long,

“Yee-haw, fuck yes!” They kiss sloppily and passionately and my eyes go to Clay’s.

“What are you going to wish for Uncle Clay?” I breathe and he shoots me a long look, putting his napkin into his lap because he’s the only one with impeccable manners.

“It’s a secret,” he answers cryptically, riling Ronnie up who leans over the table.

“You mean he hasn’t told you what he wants?” she says and Robbie shakes his head.

“The cagey bastard won’t tell me anything.” He swipes some water, pointing at Clay. “Just know not to go crazy. Remember I’m a family man.”

Clay doesn’t answer, picking up his utensils between his strong fingers and turns to me. “I hear you did well on your last chess tournament. Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” I murmur, my cheeks tinting because even though I don’t care that much about other’s people’s opinion of me (you can’t if you’re a Penrose), I still care about Clay’s. I want him to think nice about things about me.

“How were the guys?” Robbie asks, dipping his bread into the sauce. “Did they hit on you?”

Clay tenses, his eyes carefully going to mine. “N...no, although there was this one annoying guy who kept hanging around me.”

My parents turn wary, and a cool breeze emanates off of Clay’s body, as if somebody just opened a window and I shiver.

“He kept asking me if my name was Winter.” I say and my parents frown.

“Huh?” Robbie says and I shrug.

“I know, it was weird. It got even weirder when he told me I’ll be coming soon.”

Silence spreads around the table and a pin could drop in here and I shrug again. “Yeah, I didn’t get it either,” I murmur, flinching when Ronnie bursts into laughter and Robbie grunts but Clay doesn’t utter a sound. He’s gone rigid and his eyes are a snowstorm.

Brushing a tear off her cheek, Ronnie sniggers, “Next time you just stay away from that rude boy, okay?”

Was planning to. But I don’t tell her that, because sometimes everyone still treats me like I’m younger than I am. And I know I’m innocent but it would be nice if they didn’t rub it in my face all the time.

Glancing at Clay, I’m happy to see he’s eating again and Ronnie lets out a loud sigh.

“Honestly Clay, I have to say you’re kinda crazy for risking this house,” she says, looking around with round eyes, “If I were you, I don’t think I could ever give it up.” Giving him a curious glance she says, “It’s not your family home, is it?”

Clay shakes his head. “No.”

Typical answer from Clay who hates talking about his cryptic past. But once I accidentally heard from Robbie that Clay had been raised very rich and privileged. Then one day, his mother died from a mysterious fall down a staircase and three days later his father was seen running from town in the middle of the night, together with her sister.

If something like that had happened to me, I don’t think I would want to talk about my past either.

“Alright, alright, let’s ask the question Ronnie has been dying all night to know.” Robbie raises his brows at Clay, taking a sip of his ice water. “Are you finally settling down?”

My stomach dips and I squirm in my seat, shrinking from the answer. I don’t want Clay to say yes but what if he does? Maybe the next time I show up here, Clay has a wife on his arm with a big, rounded belly. It’s enough to make me feel like I’m getting smaller and smaller.

“Not just yet,” Clay answers calmly. “I’m waiting for the right woman.”

Exactly.Woman. Not girl.

“Ohmm, I can already see it in front of me,” Ronnie says, “some tall gazelle probably who only wears haute couture. Isn’t that your type?”

“Not quite...” Clay answers carefully but I’m not in the mood to listen at the rest of the conversation and I get up.

“Where you going?” Robbie asks.

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