Match-Up Who: Ellen Brandt and Jet Slootmaeker What: Random Encounter When: One Cold March Day Where: The Casino Warnings: None So Far Status: Closed, Incomplete
Ellen revealed her hand, face blank despite her certainty that she'd won. Then the player across the table revealed his. Her expression didn't change, but her heart sank. She'd been sure he was bluffing--as he'd intended, no doubt. "Yes," he hissed with a triumphant grin, reaching to rake in the fairly substantial pot. "Come to papa!"
"I'm out," Ellen announced. She collected her stack of chips--substantially smaller than the one she'd started with a couple of hours earlier--and left the table. It was disappointing, but not unexpected. They called it gambling for a reason. She won more than she lost, and often substantially more. Enough so make a living at the poker table. But not today. It happened sometimes.
After cashing in her chips, Ellen considered heading home. Only an empty apartment awaited her. She had no plans with John today. She stood by the entrance dithering for a moment before deciding to get a drink at the bar--and realized she was blocking a stranger's path.