Chapter Three

Part 3

An hour later, I had rendered Dominic Thomas completely impotent, and damn, was it fun. I can’t place all the credit on my poker talent, though. The kid was so totally inept he made me and everyone else at the table look like the most adept players in the world. He wasn’t particularly cunning. He fidgeted whenever he had a bad hand and leaned back in his seat whenever he was comfortable with his cards. Plus he was oblivious to everyone else’s obvious tells. During one hand, Chris scratched the back of his neck about a hundred times—a clear sign of nervousness—but Dominic folded anyway and Chris took a twenty-five dollar pot on a pair of fours. Dominic looked like an idiot, and I wanted to hug Chris. Every time Dominic lost a pot, which was often, I relished the moment, no matter who had acquired his cash.

You stole my girlfriend, my friends and I are making off with all your money. Seems like an equitable outcome to me, I thought.

“Okay, everyone ante,” Ian said as he shuffled the cards.

Some people play with big and little blinds and a rotating dealer, but in our games, Ian was always the dealer, so we had a regular ante. We each threw in two dollars worth of chips, then Ian dealt the cards. I glanced at Dominic as he checked his hole cards. He flinched, and I tried not to exult. This kid had a pathetic poker face. It made me wonder how he and Marcy had gotten away with their subterfuge for so long. Of course, I didn’t want to think about that. I checked my own cards. Ian had dealt me a solid hand. A queen and a ten. I had a shot at a royal straight with these cards.

Over at the second table, one of the new kids cheered as he won a hand. Brad clucked his tongue and mucked his cards, pushing them toward Ian. Everyone else at my table called their bets. I expected Dominic to fold since he had a paucity of chips and was clearly holding some lame cards, but he threw in another two bucks. Apparently he was a glutton for punishment.

“Dealing the flop,” Ian announced.

He placed three cards face up on the table, and it was all I could do to quell my excitement. There were the jack and king I needed, plus a useless two. All I needed in the next two communal cards was either a nine or an ace, and there was no way anyone could beat me.

One of Dominic’s friends folded at this point, and Chris did as well. I upped the bet, and Dominic’s other friend, Lucas, saw my bet. Much to my surprise, Dominic raised the bet.

“Wow. Someone must have some good cards,” I quipped, glancing at Brad, who laughed. Normally, at this point, I might be getting a little nervous, wondering if I had misread my opponent. But Dominic was clearly sweating this one. He must have thought I was bluffing. Why, I have no idea. I had made sure to stay as still as possible all night long. It was amazing what having your sworn enemy at the table could do for your concentration.

“Whatever, dude,” Dominic said.

“Dealing the turn,” Ian said.

He flipped the card over on the table. It was a ten, which gave me a pair if the straight didn’t work out. But it wasn’t the strongest hand. Now I started to sweat a little, but there was no way I was dropping out. Call me obstinate, but Dominic was almost out of chips, and I wanted him out of here. Correction. I wanted to debase him, and then I wanted him out of here.

I threw in a couple more chips. Dominic looked at the pot in wonder, as if he wasn’t expecting that move. Lucas saw my bet, then Dominic sighed and threw in two more chips.

“Everyone’s in,” Ian stated. “Dealing the river.”

Please give me a nine or an ace, I begged silently. Please give me a nine or an ace!

Ian turned the last card over. I felt as if it were happening in slow motion, but then, there it was. The ace of spades.

Lucas groaned and threw his cards down. “You screwed me, O’Connor,” he said.

“I guess that means you fold,” Ian said dryly. “Mike?”

“I’m in,” I said, adding two more chips.

We all looked at Dominic. He clenched his jaw and tossed his last chips into the pot. “I call,” he said, and swallowed hard. “Whadaya got?” he asked.

As if he had anything good. I grinned, loving the moment, and placed my cards down on the table.

“Holy crap!” Chris cried. “A straight, ace high!”

Dominic’s skin turned waxy. He looked as if he might throw up all over the table.

“What do you have, Dom?” Lucas asked hopefully. Could none of these guys read body language?

“Pair of kings,” he said, tossing his cards down.

“Better luck next time,” I said, gathering up all the chips with alacrity. I had absolutely no compassion for Dominic. In fact, I couldn’t have been more giddy if someone had just announced I’d won the MegaMillions jackpot. This win was the sweetest I could imagine.

Dominic threw his cards down and shoved his chair back. “We’re outta here,” he said to his friends. “Cash out.”

He grabbed his leather jacket and stormed out the door without a second glance. Everyone except his two buddies laughed as the door slammed. A totally perfect end to a totally perfect night.