5. Nat
FIVE
Nat
Chase handed me the final balloon for the arch we were building as we transformed the mess hall into a Vegas-themed casino for tonight’s poker night. The décor could only be described as camp glam, and we were doing the best we could with the short window of time we had to do it.
Sawyer and Autumn handled the lighting while Chase and I moved to the next task on Autumn’s list and began setting up the tables, placing chips, cards, and markers in their proper places.
There were eight tables in all: one for each pod, and one for the counselors to kick off our Camp Wars competition.
The occasional trash talk could be heard between counselors as we set up.
This was shaping up to be a cutthroat event.
Tonight, we’d all battle for dominance so we could put ourselves on the scoreboard.
I’d say people were taking this too seriously, but I was no better.
I’d gone as far as watching World Poker Championship videos in preparation.
I jumped at Jack’s voice from behind me.
“Where’s the photo booth going to be?”
I pointed toward the corner where Emerson and Sawyer were hanging up lights. Jack set the long boards down next to the prop table where I’d indicated to build the photo booth frame we’d reuse for future events.
As the tournament time drew closer, Autumn hopped up on the stage and announced the rules, and we helped campers get situated. Some campers, like my current pod, had already bonded to each other at the hip. Others hadn’t quite clicked yet, but I hoped this poker night would bring them together.
Jack hovered as everyone got to their tables. “I feel like I should warn you. I’m damn good at poker.”
I rolled my eyes. “So am I.”
A devious look crossed over his face. “Why don’t we make it interesting then?”
My mind went to a highly inappropriate place where he’d suggest strip poker, and my face heated. “How so?”
“If you win, which I’ll add is highly unlikely, I’ll clean those zipline harnesses you were always complaining about last summer. For a month.”
That stopped me in my tracks. Somehow, he remembered my least favorite task at this camp. The idea of giving that responsibility to Jack was beyond tempting.
“Don’t look so cocky. Those harnesses are hand-wash only, Jack,” I lied.
I would have quit if I had to squeeze out the butt sweat from those things.
I waited for some indication that he’d made a mistake, but he didn’t seem fazed.
“And I’d be doing what? Giving you notes on how to have a better attitude? ”
The look he gave me was ominous. “You’ll be cleaning the drains in the communal showers.”
Okay, not ominous. More like a curse.
“I can agree to those terms.” Either way, I’d be winning, so I figured I’d toss him a bone. I couldn’t wait to see his face when he scrubbed those harnesses by hand.
The counselors all took seats at the table.
Chase sat on my left, and Emerson was on my right.
Jack sat directly across from me as if he were personally challenging me.
I still didn’t know why he seemed to have a vendetta against me in particular, but no matter the reason, he was going to regret making an enemy of me.
If he was dead set on a rival, I’d give him the pettiest, fiercest, most stubborn rival he’d ever seen.
Once all the tables were full, campers began shuffling their decks and explaining the rules to each other.
I overheard one table making their own camp rules, where if they raised the bet, they had to quote a line from a movie before doing so.
I shook my head, laughing. I turned to Jack and found him glowering from behind sunglasses, as if he actually thought he could deceive us. It was so intense I caught a chill.
“You can try to hide your tells all you like, but just so you know, those are reflective lenses,” I remarked, proud of myself.
Jack scoffed as if I were wrong, looked at them, and casually slid the offending sunglasses up on top of his head with a pout. It would have been cute, had he not been annoying the shit out of me.
I laughed to spite him.
“You’re so immature,” he groused.
“And you’re so prickly,” I shot back.
Everyone turned to Autumn as she got up on the stage, projecting a graphic of the rankings of poker hands for Texas Hold‘em. She went over the rules and the value of each chip, of which we’d been given three hundred imaginary dollars.
Felicia’s eyes went around the table. “Who’s the first dealer?”
“How about the newest counselor deals?” Lamar offered as Felicia handed Chase the deck.
“Technically, Nat is the newest,” Jack pointed out.
“Am not,” I argued. “I was here last year.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Actually, you are. You showed up for this session halfway through the kickoff, the last arrival among all of us. Therefore, you deal first.”
I didn’t feel like arguing further, so I took the deck. We made it through our first two rounds, with most of us folding, because the cards showing were garbage.
Chase leaned into me after I took my turn. “Hazel mentioned that you love Fritos and chocolate. I haven’t tried it yet, but I love sweet pickles on pepperoni pizza, so which of us do you think is stranger?”
I laughed at his conspiratorial whisper and admitted, “I’d be willing to try yours.”
Chase beamed, while Jack’s face scrunched up as if he’d just eaten a lemon.
“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it,” I defended. “Sweet and salty always go well together.”
He let out an exasperated sigh and folded his cards when the bet was called.
That’s right, Jack. I’ve got you beat.
I collected the next two pots, explaining the rules to Emerson as we went, because this was her first time. I’d offered her a few tips since I’d played more than enough poker in my college years, and not because of my dormmates or friends. No, it was my Grandma Carol.
Some grandmothers played bunco or pinochle. Mine, however, was a hustler who’d take you for everything you had, and she’d taught me to play. I smiled at the memory.
Feeling cocky, I upped my game and my trash talk. “Put your money where your mouth is.”
Knowing my pile of chips was bigger than my enemies’ had me excited, but the fact that mine was bigger than Jack’s? Well, that was just the cherry on the cake.
Soon, Jack and Lamar were in a one-on-one showdown.
“Get him, Lamar,” I cheered, guessing Jack was up against the ropes.
“What did you have?” Jack asked a gloating Lamar as the final card was laid.
Lamar looked into his eyes with all seriousness. “You beat.”
He showed my rival the straight he’d managed to pull on the flop, and I beamed. Sawyer cackled at the playful trash talk, which got snickers from the rest of us. Even grumpy Jack seemed to be having fun.
In the next round, both Sawyer and Emerson lost after going all in. I promised Emerson we could play again soon, to her delight.
“Kenny Rogers was supposed to be on my side,” Sawyer complained, and I felt that in my bones.
That seventies silver fox wasn’t on either of our sides.
My pile of chips had dwindled slightly. I guessed I also needed a refresher on when to fold them, when to walk away, and when to run.
My dignity was at stake, and I needed to get it together.
Sawyer left the table, vowing to destroy us next time. We all took a quick break after refilling drinks and stretching.
Chase, Lamar, and I all went head-to-head when we came back for the next round, and I managed to squeak out a victory by sheer bluffing as they folded. I shoved my two-seven off-suit hand into the pile of discards, making sure no one saw.
Jack’s eyes searched my face before he smirked, as if he could see right through me. But he was about to see just how wrong he was.
Felicia went out next, and things were getting serious. By the time Chase went out, Jack was looking all too smug.
Chase stood up next to me and leaned down while Jack dealt out our cards. “Maybe I’ll see you around for those chocolate-dipped Fritos later.”
I gave him a quick, “Sure,” practically waving him off. I needed to focus on taking down Jack. Lamar, too, but mostly Jack.
The game went on, and soon I was certain of my impending victory.
“You’re on. I’ll call,” I said, dropping my cards down with gusto. My large pile had been shrinking, but I was still on a mission to put Jack in his place.
Lamar folded, setting his cards down in front of him. “Too rich for my blood.”
Two losses later, however, Jack was looking a little too pleased with himself.
“Looking a little sparse over there, Lamar. But I suppose it’s time to get you off this board,” a high-handed Jack gloated.
“Keep talking, Jack. It won’t matter when I knock you out of the game,” I replied as if Jack had taunted me.
I pushed my bet into the community pot, and Lamar went all in after me. If I were going to lose, I’d much rather it be to Lamar.
Jack and Lamar were all in, and it was down to me. I had nothing left to give, but I believed in my pocket queens. And while I couldn’t help but pout at my significantly weakened standing, I wasn’t about to give up.
I nearly gave away my hand when a third queen was revealed on the flop, which meant a full house, or four of a kind, was on my radar. Either way, it was a solid bet. Jack raised, trying to get me to fold before the turn, and it wasn’t happening.
The infuriating man was trying to bait me into a bad decision, but I didn’t fold pocket queens, ever, and especially not when it was just between Jack and me. He might have thought he could bluff me out with this new bet, but he was dead wrong.
The answering smile on Jack’s face told me he thought he’d backed me into a corner. He had a gleam in his eye, and it screamed trouble.
“Since Nat can’t call—” Lamar started.
“I have this,” I blurted, then dangled Bernice in front of them. I’d brought her to give me an edge. The frog talisman had been sitting in my pocket all night. This wasn’t what I’d had planned for her, but I had to do what I had to do.
Jack’s gaze went from me to Bernice. “A keychain?”
I ran my fingers over her metal form. “She’s not just a keychain. She’s my lucky charm.”
Lamar looked at Bernice skeptically. “It looks like it’s on its last legs.”
I shook my head. “As I said, she’s lucky. And priceless.”
Jack’s eyes lit up, and it almost seemed as if he wanted her more after that. “I’m fine with it if you are, Lamar.” Then he shrugged noncommittally, as if he hadn’t just played his hand. How this man had been at the top of this game, I had no clue. He couldn’t bluff his way out of a paper bag.
“You must really need some luck.” Lamar ran his hand over his brow and grinned. “Yeah, okay, let the frog in.”
I wasn’t going to lose, so I kissed Bernice and set her on top of the pile of chips. “Just for a moment, baby,” I murmured.
Jack’s eyebrows went high, as if he were trying to decipher this interaction. I wasn’t about to explain.
“You’re gonna wish you’d folded,” Jack said as if my prized possession wasn’t on the line. His tone was all too playful in front of the audience I hadn’t noticed had gathered. The mess hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Apparently, we were now the entertainment.
With that added pressure, I decided the only folding I’d be doing was my arms across my chest. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”
We all flipped our cards, and I tried not to give away anything I was feeling. Jack had two low clubs. He was obviously going for the flush I hadn’t considered. Lamar had two pairs. And I desperately needed that full house. Three of a kind was no longer an option.
My gut clenched as I questioned my impulsive actions that had gotten my cute little keychain into this mess. No, it would be okay. I was going to get the full house. And the next card revealed was going to grant my wish.
The final card was turned. A four of clubs.
Lamar gracefully pushed in his cards. I looked over to Jack, his face split into an infuriating smile.
No, no, no. This wasn’t happening. Jack showed off his pocket clubs, completing his flush with low cards. I could have screamed at myself.
Jack was already gloating, seeing my expression. Lamar gave me a conciliatory glance that said he understood.
The cheers in the room didn’t overshadow Jack’s villainous laugh as he scooped up his pile of winnings, taking both of us out in one fell swoop.
“Looks like you have a new home, little frog,” he gloated, dangling my keychain, and I was this close to flipping the table. But Grandma Carol had taught me better than that.
“You don’t actually want that garbage,” Lamar joked.
I held out my hand. “He’s right, I’ll take it back.”
“No way. You lost, princess. But I think you’re right, this little frog is lucky. For me, at least.”
I looked at my frog, then back to his obnoxious face. I was done letting his rugged good looks distract me. This man was poisonous, and now, as he swung my frog around his finger, laughing, I was more determined than ever.
Taking Jack Hawthorne down was personal.