Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 75983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Naturally. Took a bit of searching, but the card turned up.” Troy adopted a prideful tone, which undoubtedly meant the card in question was rare and fine jewelry-level expensive. Troy fussed with a stack of paper plates as a younger woman in a full-on scarlet regency ballgown made her way toward us. Troy waved her over for introductions. “Here’s Ari. Ari, this is Alex. He’s—”
“Alexander,” Rudy corrected before I could.
“Alexander.” Troy’s tone turned long-suffering. “He’s a friend of Rudy’s and a newbie.”
“Welcome. I’ve only been coming for a few months myself.” Ari adjusted her glittery tiara, which sat atop an elaborate updo. Her dress had a wide skirt, undoubtedly supported by layers of fabric not unlike a tutu, and the quality of the ensemble went beyond Halloween costume to something worthy of a royal event. “My girlfriend showed me her empress deck, and the rest was history.”
Ari gestured toward another young woman in similar attire, including a crown and eye patch. They had to be the cosplayers Rudy had mentioned, but luckily, I’d been around enough wardrobe departments to know an appropriate response.
“That’s a fabulous costume. It must have taken hours of work.”
“It did.” Ari beamed. Beside me, Rudy puffed up like I’d done something particularly right. He’d make an excellent stage mother, complete with his not-so-subtle nod of approval as Ari continued, “What hooked you on the game?”
Rudy. That answer, while accurate, wouldn’t do at all. Setting my jaw against the sentiment, I went for an arch tone instead. “I enjoy winning.”
“Don’t we all.” Ari laughed lightly and shoved a paper plate at me. “You need a plate. Irma and Raymond brought whoopie pies. Grab one before they disappear like a ghost deck.”
“A ghost deck?” I hadn’t heard of that mechanic and was instantly intrigued. “How does that work?”
Ari launched into a lengthy explanation while I cautiously filled a plate with what appeared to be the healthiest options, but somehow, one of the whoopie pies did indeed join my collection of carrot sticks, salad, and deli meats. The seasonal confection was worth every calorie. Discussion of deck options carried us through the small talk and snacks portion of the evening before we broke into smaller groups to play. My borrowed shark deck ended up pitted against Troy.
Troy was a crafty player with a sneaky collection of card-swiping moves. He took every ounce of my concentration, so much so that I was startled when Rudy took the chair next to me as we approached the later stages of the match.
“Having fun?” Rudy asked like I wasn’t in a battle for my very life.
“I will be once I win,” I gritted out right as Troy and his blasted army of crows took my last life points with an attack I had no defense for.
“Sorry, mate.” Troy offered me a handshake across the table. “Good game. Want to go again?”
“Absolutely.” I couldn’t reshuffle fast enough, already scheming how to beat him on the second try.
“Careful before you strain something.” Rudy chuckled, a fond sound that made my chest bizarrely tight. Strain. Huh. I hadn’t thought of my knee once all evening, nor the upcoming performance or my eventual return to the stage in Seattle. Perhaps there was something to this hobby business after all.
“Deal you in?” Troy asked Rudy before summoning an older gentleman over to our table. “Raymond? Care to join? Always more fun with a foursome.”
I narrowly avoided snort-laughing. Cards were hardly my first thought with the word foursome.
“Don’t mind if I do.” Raymond took the chair next to Troy. “Have we introduced young Alexander to table politics?”
“I’m not that young.” I pursed my lips. Rudy had been right that the play group included a wide variety of ages, but that didn’t change how ancient I felt every time Rudy smiled and that zap of attraction hit me again.
“You’re all young compared to me.” Raymond gave a nifty shuffle of his deck, a high arch of tumbling cards. I’d have to learn that trick.
“Alexander is new to the game. This is his first foursome.” Rudy narrowed his eyes at Raymond. “Be nice.”
“Always.” Raymond gave a toothy grin. He wagged a finger in my direction. “And a good alliance goes far. You’ll see.”
I did see in relatively short order that my typical strategy of attacking early and often was going to get me killed far too quickly. Raymond made a nimble bargain with Troy that enabled him to weather my oncoming attack easily. Too easily. I glanced at Rudy as he rearranged the cards in his hand.
“If you attack Troy next turn, I won’t go after you yet.”
“Deal.” Rudy grinned at me. Zap. I wasn’t sure which I found more appealing: him or the game. Okay, that was a lie. It was definitely Rudy. I distracted myself from the unwanted attraction by amassing more sharks for my army.