Chapter 4 Seth #2
The table is already set up with snacks, a deck of cards, and poker chips.
We never use real money. This is purely for fun and bonding.
None of us needs the money either. There are only three colored chips.
White chips are a dollar, red chips are five dollars, and green chips are twenty-five.
The rest of the color chips are too high, so we leave them off.
“Five-card stud?” Reuben asks.
“Sounds good,” Slade says, and the rest of us agree.
“Travis, do you want to start as the dealer?”
“Sure thing, babe.”
We all sit down and sort through our poker chips. I grab a handful of peanuts and pop them into my mouth.
Travis deals each of us one card face down and one card face up. Then he puts in the ante of four white chips.
“Paul, you have a four of clubs, the lowest card, so you decide what you want to bet.”
“Ten,” he says, tossing in two red chips.
Edmundo is next, matching the bet.
I have a ten of spades, so I also match.
We’re all in. Travis deals another card face up.
“Seth, you have an ace, so you start this round.”
I have a ten, an ace, and I peek at the hidden card, which is a two. My cards aren’t that great, but I have three spades.
Instead of betting, I check to stay in the game. I want to see what my next card is before deciding to bet or fold.
There’s another deal, and my stomach dips excitedly at seeing the nine of spades. One more and I could win, unless someone has a four of a kind or a straight flush.
“How are classes?” Paul asks Travis.
“Good. I have some really good students this year.”
“Being that it’s a hard school to get into, I’m sure most of your students are good,” I say.
“Usually they are. But I’m thinking about retiring when I turn sixty in a couple of years.” Travis glances around the table. “Bets, gentlemen. Since Seth still has the highest hand with an ace and a ten, he starts the betting.
Now things are getting interesting. “I’ll raise it to ten.”
I drop two red chips into the pot. Anyone who wants to keep playing has to match me.
“I thought professors worked until death,” Edmundo says, chuckling. “I had a lot of professors who were in their seventies and even eighties.”
Reuben tosses in his chips to match, while Slade and Paul fold. “Travis and I want to travel before we get too damn old. We have some, but we want to explore more. Our kids are grown, I can leave my business in the hands of my regional manager, and if Travis retires, we can do some exploring.”
“God, sounds fun. Malcolm and I used to talk about all the countries we’d see, but once we had kids, that dream died. Now, I probably won’t get to go anywhere until my kids are grown, too.” I look up at everyone and wince. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring him up.”
“He was our friend, too, so yeah, we were all shocked. But it’s been two years now, Seth.
Maybe you should try dating again, or at least find someone to fuck,” Slade says.
“You know, maybe hit a gay bar, get blown in the bathroom. Something hot and raunchy. Or hell, take Edmundo up on his offer to set you up.”
My face heats because I’ve never been down with one-night stands.
Getting blown in the bathroom doesn’t sound appealing at all.
No shame to those who like that, but I can’t.
“No one wants to date a single dad who’s a stubborn nerd.
And while sex would be nice, I don’t want to do a quickie. That’s really not my thing.”
Travis grabs my shoulder and gives it a little shake. “Don’t worry. You’ll find someone who loves the nerd in you.”
“Thanks a lot. You weren’t supposed to agree with me.”
Everyone chuckles as we’re dealt the last card.
Heck yeah! I got my last spade.
Reuben and Edmundo fold, so it’s only Slade, Travis, and me. I up the ante, and the other two match and call.
Travis has three kings, and Slade has two threes and two sixes. Neither has enough to beat me.
“I win! Wow, I usually suck at this game, or the poker gods hate me.”
And I really do. I have either shitty luck or I fold at the wrong time. Still, it’s nice to get out and hang with friends.
I gather my chips as Edmundo shuffles the cards. He looks at me and winks. Jesus. He’s not going to let go of this blind date thing.
“No,” I say.
“What? I didn’t say anything.”
I huff and narrow my eyes at him.
“I was going to say maybe you should get to know your neighbor. You like him, right? He’s into guys, right?”
“No,” I say again. “I don’t like him. Not one bit.”
Everyone looks at me as if I’m lying or that I don’t recognize the obvious. Ugh. “Fine. He’s hot, as I’ve said, but I don’t want to date, especially him.”
I check the cards I was dealt—a three of hearts, a six of spades, and a two of clubs. “Well, I fold. Worst hand ever. Back to the poker gods hating me.”
I shove my cards aside and take a sip of my beer as I watch the game.
“It’s okay to date again,” Travis says gently. “They aren’t all like Malcolm.”
“I know… I guess. Still, I need to get into that mindset. I haven’t dated in way too long. And I hate that I missed all the red flags while we were together.”
“Just jump into the cold water. You’ll come up to the surface. Maybe you might even find Mr. Right,” Paul says.
“You know, you all are way too interested in my sex life,” I chuff at them. “What about Slade here? Make him date for a change.”
Slade drops two red chips into the pile. “Hey, I get laid enough. Leave me out of it.”
After we wrap up the game, Edmundo pulls me aside. “Will you just trust me? The guy I’m thinking about is really cool and nice. He’s a single dad like you. I really believe you two would hit it off. Just one date. If you don’t like him, no harm, no foul. He knows the drill, too.”
I raise a brow at him. “You told him about me already?”
Edmundo shrugs and grins. “Well, yeah, I have to start somewhere. He’s really interested, but he understands that if you’re not ready, you’re not ready. Don’t worry, Seth. He’s not holding his breath.”
My shoulders sag and nod. “Fine. I’ll try a date. One date only.”
“Yes! This will be great. If you don’t like him, no hard feelings. Really.”
“Okay, give him my number.”
Feeling refreshed after hanging out with my friends, we say our goodbyes, and I leave to pick up my children and head home.