Page 67 of Keeping Knight

“They’re delicacies,” Wraith explained. Giving Houdini a pointed look, he added, “Some people have simple palates, so they don’t appreciate them.”

“If having a simple palate means I don’t eat fried tarantulas,” Houdini replied dryly, “I think I’m okay with that.”

To Ruby, Wraith offered ‌a rare smile. “You don’t have to try one. I won’t be insulted.”

“No, because he brings them to torture us,” Jester added. “But I’m never one to back down from a challenge.”

“I brought something else.” Wraith reached into his pocket and pulled out a drawstring bag. “Kind of a welcome to the family gift.”

Ruby opened the bag to find a small dreamcatcher inside. “Wraith. This is so nice.”

“It’s to catch bad dreams,” he told her. “I can’t promise it’ll help. But can’t hurt to try, right?”

That’s why, even when my friends are giving me shit, I still love them.

“I don’t need to go upstairs,” I reply as I give Ruby a reassuring smile. “I feel fine. Rogue’s just afraid I’m going to win, so he’s trying to get me out of here.”

Although a win doesn’t seem likely when I glance at my new cards. Now I have two threes, a four, a seven, and an ace. Could I bluff my way into winning with one pair? Possibly. But the problem with playing poker with four guys I’ve known for over a decade is they know me too well.

“Hardly,” Rogue scoffs. “If anyone should be worried, it’s you. Because I have a killer hand. In fact—” He adds more chips to the growing pile in the center of the coffee table and shoots me a cocky smirk. “Here’s what I think about you winning.”

Wraith sets one card down and briefly glances at his new card before adding it to his hand. His expression is completely neutral as he places a towering stack of chips beside the rest. Then he nods at me. “You ready to put your money where your mouth is?”

Jester eyeballs the chips for a second before tossing his cards facedown on the table. “I fold.” To Ruby, he explains, “When Wraith gets that look, it means he’s got something good.”

Ruby frowns in confusion. “What look? I didn’t notice anything.”

Sofia laughs. “I know, right? But these guys have played a lot of poker together. So they’re used to each other’s little tells. I’m starting to figure out some of them, like how Jaxon’s knee always bounces when he has a good hand, and Nico’s left eyebrow quirks up when he’s trying to bluff.”

“Soph.” Rogue gives Sofia a pointed look. His lips twitch. “You’re not supposed to say that. Now they’re all going to know.”

“We already know,” I say with a chuckle. “It’s one of the first things I look for.”

Jester frowns at his knee. “My knee doesn’t bounce. Does it?”

“It does,” Houdini replies. “The better your hand, the more it bounces. When you got a royal flush that one time, I thought your knee was about to launch into space.”

Ruby’s gaze bounces from one person to the next. She pulls her lip between her teeth as she looks down at her cards. Her brow furrows in indecision.

“It’s just for fun,” I remind her quietly. “We’re not playing for actual money.”

Her gaze lifts to meet mine. “I know.” But she still looks worried. “I’m just thinking.”

Concern niggles at me. I thought Ruby was having a good time, but maybe poker is too stressful for her right now. Or maybe she’s feeling left out, since she’s the newest one in the group. I hadn’t considered it before, but for a self-admitted introvert, this could be too much for her, especially now.

Guilt seeps through me. Shit. I wanted Ruby to have fun tonight. Not to worry or feel like the odd one out.

“My hand isn’t that good,” Wraith offers. “And like Knight said, it’s just for fun. The winner gets bragging rights, but that’s it.”

Sofia nudges Rogue in his side, and after a beat, he says, “Mine isn’t that great, either, Ruby. Like Soph pointed out, I’ve been bluffing a little.”

Ruby stares at her cards for a few seconds longer. Then she takes the last of her chips and puts them on the coffee table. “I’ll call.”

Jester lets a low whistle. “Nice, Ruby.”

Sofia smiles as she lays her cards face down. “I fold.”

So it’s just me, Rogue, Wraith, and Ruby left in the game. Rogue’s already admitted to bluffing. Wraith may or may not have a good hand. Mine definitely isn’t anything to brag about. And Ruby’s is a big question mark.