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I force myself out of bed, Spike greeting me immediately from his cage.
‘Hai, pretty lady!’
‘Hi, Spike. Was someone here?’ I ask, noticing my front door is wide open. I glance around my apartment, wondering if perhaps I should be watching Laney’s beloved true crime shows so I’d know what the hell to do right now. Instead, I shuffle out the door (did I leave it open?) and into Thomas’s open front door, spotting my dad and him sitting at his dining table.
‘Sleeping beauty!’ Dad says with a grin. ‘Are you ready to supply Thomas’ laundry money this month?’
Sleepily I rub my eyes, making sure I’m really awake. ‘I forgot about this.’ Every so often, Thomas, Dad, and I have a poker night. He taught me to play as a kid, and I got pretty good. Lately, though, Thomas has also gotten very good. We only play for quarters, but last time we did, I owed him fifteen bucks. He said it paid for his laundry for a month.
‘Quick question, though. What do I smell?’
‘That’d be your mother’s famous taco soup,’ Dad says. ‘Thomas made it. I thought I’d gone back in time when I walked in. It was a little heartbreaking and heart-waking at the same time.’
I nod, understanding completely. ‘Why’s my door open?’
‘We didn’t want to wake you, so we let the soup do it for us,’ Thomas says with a sweet grin.
An hour later, I’m down six bucks, but the soup is warming my soul, so it’s worth it. I’m also two beers in and starting to feel overly chatty. I toss a card for exchange towards my dad, who is playing the part of dealer this evening. He hands a new one back. Bingo. Three Aces.
‘I’ve got a hot date tomorrow night,’ Thomas announces as he waits for his card trade-ins.
‘You’re going on a date?’ I ask, surprised to hear this. Thomas’ wife died a decade ago, and to my knowledge, he’s not dated since. ‘Do I know her?’
He shakes his head. ‘She works at the grocery store I go to. Real sweet to talk to, and not bad to look at either.’
Dad drops his cards face down onto the table. ‘I fold.’
I glance at Thomas, who playfully glares. ‘Just you and me, kid. You in?’
Could he have a better hand than me? It’s possible. But I’m feeling lucky. ‘I’m all the way in,’ I say, pushing every poker chip I have to the center of the table.
‘Oh,’ Dad murmurs. ‘She must have something good.’
‘Or she’s bluffin’.’
‘My Jade would never lie. She was bitten by the truth bug at birth.’
If he only knew the lies I’ve been telling. Primarily to myself, but they still count.
‘What?’ Dad asks, knowing immediately something is wrong. I can’t hide things from him, but I also don’t want to tell them what’s happening in my life because even I don’t understand it.
‘Nothing. Well, maybe not nothing. I do have one question, and since you two are full-grown men, you’ll probably have the best advice. Buuuttt, it’s kind of X-rated.’
Dad scrunches his face but pulls it back together pretty quickly. ‘You can tell us anything, Jadeybug.’
‘What kind of man asks women for nudes?’
Both he and Thomas freeze. They glance at one another and then back to me, where Dad suddenly clears his throat.
‘Did someone ask you for a nude?’ he asks.
‘No, but it was suggested, and I just wondered, is that love? Nudes?’
Thomas laughs, shaking his head. ‘That’s lust, sweetheart.’
I sigh heavily. That’s what I thought. Conner is a playboy. Everything points in that direction, so why did he propose to me? Was it just a last-minute ‘I forgot a gift’ decision? I lay my cards down after Thomas goes all in with me.
‘Damn it, girl,’ he says, tossing his cards onto the table, obviously unable to beat me.
