Page 99 of Forged

“A couple of months,” he answers. “I tend to move around a lot. Either from boredom or to be near clients.”

That answer catches her interest.

“I know that feeling.”

He glances at her. “You travel?”

“Quite a bit—or I used to,” she says. “I’ve made my living playing poker for the past few years. I went where the games were.”

Gabriel’s brows lift with genuine curiosity. “Professionally?”

She nods. “Made a substantial living doing it.”

“What kind of games?” he asks.

“Cash mostly. Some tournaments when the buy-ins were interesting enough. Mostly hold ‘em, sometimes Omaha or seven card stud.”

Gabriel leans in, studying her now in a way that feels less like polite conversation and more like recognition.

“That lifestyle gets old eventually.”

“It does,” she agrees.

“You live out of suitcases long enough and every hotel starts to look the same.”

“Exactly.” She turns to me and smiles. “I guess I didn’t realize how lonely it was until I found Lars and for the first time in years, I wanted to…stay somewhere, stay with someone.”

Her words sink into me. She wants to stay, she wants me. Words I never thought I would hear from someone again. I tuck her hair behind her ear and kiss her temple.

Fuck, she’s perfect.

Seeing the way her and Gabriel share the quiet understanding of people who have spent long stretches of their lives without roots. It makes me appreciate my family and my home.

I watch the exchange carefully.

The connection forming between them feels natural. It's the kind that happens when two people recognize something familiar in each other.

“Did you like it?” Gabriel asks her.

“Playing poker?”

He nods. Neomi considers the question while swirling the wine in her glass.

“I liked winning,” she says finally.

Gabriel laughs. “That’s usually the best part.”

The waiter arrives with our food, giving the conversation a natural pause while plates are set in front of us. For a few minutes we focus on eating. Then Gabriel looks toward me.

“And what about you, Lars?”

“What would you like to know?”

“What do you do for work?”

I take a slow sip of wine before answering. “My family owns several businesses.”

Gabriel nods. “What kind of businesses?”