It was hardly only a game. It had been his life for as long as he cared to remember. She said it was only a game. But it wasn't. He supposed he could see why she had such a problem with it. But her problem was Global, and Walter and the Russians, not the game itself. Oh she'd regret thinking like that one day when she didn't have anything else. When all she had left was the game she'd abandoned. "I've been playing here you know, against amatuers, kids, people that have never played before. teaching them, and its actually been fun. Its just for the sake of the game y'know. They don't think of money or fame. Its just a game. But its the best game. You have to be smart enough, you have to think. It keeps your mind sharp doesn't it. Maybe the problem was it stopped being about the game for you. Maybe if it had have been things would have been different."
It would have done her some good to think of it like that. Like the game started by those two brothers and turned into the perfect game they knew. Elegant and all consuming. The light finally changed and Freddie quickly crossed, turning down the block to the Starbucks..
Just as Florence said she might beat him. Hah. "My ego would be fine honey cause it wouldn't happen. No way you could actually beat me, we figured this out years ago." He returned the smirk but at the same time he was a little amused at the banter. Just like old times. It was weird that though so much had changed he was pretty sure some things never would. Like the snark between them, even about his ego. Oh he didn't deny he had one, far from it. It just wouldn't be bruised by her. Not anymore.
Reaching the door of the Starbucks Freddie pushed it open holding it for Florence. "Welcome to the new millenium.