Gettin' Lucky by Micol Ostow Read Free Book Online Page A

said, nodding.
    “But you should also come to my place on Saturday night. It’s poker night.”
    I don’t know why I was so surprised. I’d heard about some of these games before; Jesse and Alana both were big into them. I had always demurred, my father’s experiences on my mind.
    It wasn’t all that odd that Kelly had her own game. But it was a little bit weird that she was inviting me to join in. Or, if not weird, it was unexpected. In three years of high school we’d never been more than casual acquaintances. But maybe some kids were just friendly that way. Or maybe she thought I was really pathetic.
    I decided she was just friendly.
    “I don’t know,” I said tentatively. “I don’t really gamble.”
    Kelly laughed. “It’s not such highstakes. Five dollars to get in. You must know how to play, right? I mean, I don’t think there is anyone in Vegas who doesn’t know how to play poker.”
    “I know how to play,” I said quickly. “I just … like my money when it’s my own.” I didn’t have all that much, after all—just cash from the odd babysitting job here and there.
    “I hear you,” Kelly replied. “And, you know, no pressure. But it could be more fun than talking to your dog. Maybe you could just play a hand and see how it goes.”
    The offer was both tempting and terrifying. I really wouldn’t know anyone on more than a casual “hey” kind of basis. But then, given that I hardly said more than that to my so-called friends these days, what did I have to lose, really?
    Other than five bucks, of course.
    I guessed that I could spare five bucks.
    “One hand would work,” I said. “But I should warn you, I’m not that good at the game.”
    Kelly smiled. “Don’t worry. You’ll get good. Quickly. Practice makes perfect, blah blah.”
    “Are you, like, down a player?”
    I had to ask. Not that it was beyond the realm of possibility that Kelly would want to hang out with me. But it wasn’t necessarily the first thought I would have had.
    “As a matter of fact, we are, this week,” Kelly explained. “Becs has pinkeye and she’s under quarantine.” She shuddered. “Gross. But I would have asked you, anyway. I’ve been dying to have you over to my house.”
    At my puzzled look, she giggled. It was a strange sound coming out of Kelly, who looked like a bonafide non-giggler. “It’s my room. It needs serious feng shui. That strikes me as the kind of thing you’d be good at.”
    I rolled my eyes, but I had to laugh. Of course it was the kind of thing I was good at.
    I supposed I didn’t mind being so predictable. Not if it meant that I had a chance to start over with some new friends.
    When you thought about it, it might be kind of lucky, really.
    I wasn’t sure how to dress for poker night. On the one hand, it was being held in Kelly’s den, but on the other, it was a coed affair. Just because I was still in the process of mourning my failed relationship didn’tmean that I wasn’t interested in attracting the opposite sex. Everyone wants to be cute, right? I finally settled on a lightweight sweater, jeans, and my favorite pink sneakers. I decided it didn’t matter that they were almost identical to the ones I’d been wearing when I first met Jesse. Jesse wasn’t here right now, was he?
    As I ran a brush through my hair, my father popped his head into my bedroom. “Did you walk and feed Maxine?” he asked.
    I nodded and stepped back from the mirror, smacking my lips together to better distribute my lip gloss. “Yup. An hour ago. You’re welcome.”
    “Thanks, babe,” he said automatically. “You’ll be ready to leave in five?”
    “I’m ready now,” I said. I was dropping him off at the restaurant on my way to Kelly’s.
    “Great. What have you got on for tonight?” he asked. “Hot date?”
    His face blazed crimson the moment the words were out of his mouth. I could tell he felt twelve different types of sorry that a comment he’d intended so casually had been