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Shaking his head, he admits, “No, never.”
“Can I teach you?”
Patting the top of the table across from me, I motion for him to sit. He doesn’t hesitate to pull the chair back and plop down into it, scooting it in as he focuses on the deck of cards in my hands.
“I’d love that,” he smiles. “You might have to explain it to me a few times.”
After shuffling the deck, I pass the cards between us, alternating them one at a time. “The goal of the game is to collect all of the cards. We lay our cards down one at a time, and whoever has the highest card takes both.”
Rhett cracks his knuckles, taking his pile of cards in his hand. “Can I look at them?”
I shake my head. “No. It’s totally random.”
“So this is really just a game of luck?”
Letting out a laugh, I grin at him. “I hadn’t ever thought of it like that, but I guess so.”
“Got it…” he nods as his voice trails off. “How do I know you’re not cheating?”
A burst of laughter erupts from my throat and I slap my hand down on the table. “You can’t cheat at this game. Trust me. It’s almost impossible.”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way if I’m winning,” Rhett teases. “Let’s do it.”
Rhett licks his bottom lip as he focuses and leans forward with his half of the deck in his hands. His competitive side is shining through, giving me a glimpse behind the curtain he keeps tightly closed. I get caught up watching him for too long, admiring the sharp features of his face. His eyes meet mine, locking with them for a moment before I break eye contact and look away.
I throw my first card down, flipping it over to reveal a four.
“Shit,” I hiss at my piss-poor start.
Following my lead, Rhett throws down his first card. It’s an eight. He slams his hand down, covering both cards and pulling them toward himself.
“That’s a win, right?” he asks as he straightens the two cards into a tiny pile.
Rolling my eyes, I sigh, “Yes. You won that battle, but I’m going to win the war.”
Rhett burst out in laughter, throwing his second card down. “The war? That’s why this game is called ‘War?’”
I place my second card on the table, letting it make a snapping sound when I reveal it.
To my immediate excitement, it’s a queen. Glancing at his card, I’m crushed when I see a king.
“Fuck!” I curse, throwing my hands up. “Beginner’s luck!”
Rhett grabs the cards, adding them to his pile. We play back and forth for at least ten minutes. I lose the strong majority of the battles and my half of the deck dwindles rapidly. He’ssmiling and laughing, showing me a side of him I’ve been dying to see. There’s a twinkle in his eye and it lights up the entire room around us. I’m feeling like I can breathe for the first time in several days.
That’s when I remember my mission.
This isn’t supposed to be fun. This game night is to win him over and earn his trust. He’ll let his guard down and I’ll be able to make my escape. It’ll take time, but I know I can do it. I have to.
“Want some more wine?” Rhett asks when the fourth game is coming to an end. He’s the clear victor. Again. Four times in a row.
“Yes,” I nod my head. “White, please. There’s an unopened bottle in the refrigerator.”
“I’ll be right back. Don’t move, beautiful,” he purrs, letting the compliment roll off the tongue like it’s the most natural and true statement he’s ever made.
Rhett scoots his chair back, beaming at me before leaving me at the table alone while he disappears around the corner and into the kitchen. This is going well. We’ve each had at least four glasses of wine. I’m beginning to feel a bit tipsy, and I know he is, too. I’ve been purposely filling his glasses more fully than my own. I let out a content sigh, looking around the room in a buzzed daze.
I glance down to find his phone sitting on the table, less than an arm’s length away. I could grab it. I could unlock it and call for help right now and end it all. I’ve watched him unlock it and type in the passcode7825more times than I can count by now.
