Mike's Bet, Sarah's Win

ands were a blu

lete amateur. Which

tions. "So, two ace

ion. I peeked at my cards li

atient. Smugly patient. The

ched me with t

lay, I'd bet too much on weak car

ight from one foot to the other. I co

y minutes, I was

ky. Or I made t

ns. The flop came queen, s

ously. They

as a blank

The othe

y cards again, then at

," I said, pushi

was anot

ce. He probably had two pair, or maybe just

a show of agonizing

"I'll raise." I pushed i

vered. He hadn'

tried to look ner

his cronies whispered, lo

, sweetheart. I call."

sked, trying to keep th

r an ace and a

cket queens. Then pointed

s?" I asked,

"Yeah. You win." He sho

ybe sixty bucks. B

," he muttered,

?" I said, gath

ays with a show of hesitation, of fumbling uncertain

ng them. Jak

Vinny to raise. The way Vinny tapped his fingers when he had a strong hand.

my initial fifty and was

amusement was still there, but it was tinge

even small amounts, to a

wn after I won a pot w

g," he announced. "Pla

his eyes. "What do you say, Sa

e moment I'd be

n?" I asked, fei

rowl. "We play no-limit Texas Hold'em. B

datory light. He thought he

rward, his hand

's... that's how I lost." His

tone mocking. "Don't spoil your

hat's it gonna be, Sarah? Yo

his eyes. I gave him a tiny, alm

oked back

sweetest, most

t mean I can bet al

sh. "That's exactly w

said. "L

und that was half

ound. He started shuffling t

s time to see who was the h