The next round, I lose thirty grand, but I still have triple that. I glance at my watch, and after I’ve been in the room for nearly eight hours, I decide to call it quits. I get up and take my chips, worth a hundred and fifty thousand, but I don’t know what to do with them. Nervously, I tuck them into my pockets and carry what won’t fit in my hands. When I exit the room, JJ is eagerly waiting as if he’s been standing there the whole time holding his breath.
“How’d you do?”
“Not too shabby,” I say, grinning as I hand him seventy-five thousand dollars.
“That’s your half,” I tell him.
JJ looks impressed and pleased. “Good fuckin’ work, Liam. Easiest money I’ve ever made.”
Not wanting to walk around with that much in my pockets, I go to the cashier and ask for them to hold it. My paranoia is already going crazy. JJ asks me if I want to do drinks and dinner tonight, and I decline because my head is pounding from last night and having to concentrate so hard today.
“No problem. The big games start tomorrow night at seven. Slight change of plans, though. It’s now a three hundred thousand dollar buy-in. Winner takes home a million. Still a six-player game.”
My jaw nearly hits the floor. Winning that game tomorrow means I could work less if I wanted. All my debt would be cleared, and I’d have more than enough money in the bank to do whatever I’d like. Even after I pay JJ, I’d go home with half a million dollars. I’m trying not to get too excited, but this could change my life.
“The guys who usually play with this group aren’t any better than the old fucks who were in that room today. Wouldn’t be surprised if a few of them were there,” he says confidently. “I trust you.”
Nodding, I feel a bit nervous, knowing I need to get some rest tonight with so much on the line. “Thanks, man. We’ll get together beforehand.”
He gives me a head nod, and I go up to my room.
Once inside, I sit on the edge of my bed and replay today. I experienced a whirlwind of emotions between winning and losing rounds, but I know when to fold. The moment I get overly exhausted or overwhelmed is when I start making stupid mistakes, calling ridiculous plays, and losing my ass off. If I would’ve stayed in that room another thirty minutes, things could’ve easily had a different outcome.
My stomach growls, and I decide to order room service because I don’t feel like being around people. After I look over the menu, I settle on spaghetti and garlic bread. I take a hot shower and put on boxers while I wait. Once it’s delivered, I eat while flipping through TV channels and stop when I recognize Save the Last Dance. A smile slides across my lips when I think about Maddie flawlessly dancing in the living room. The girl is like wildfire that can’t be contained, and damn, I wish I could get her off my mind.
If I want to win tomorrow, I need lots of rest because if it’s anything like today, I won’t be going to the bathroom or eating for long periods. After I’ve cleared my plate, I put the Do Not Disturb hanger outside on the doorknob, then crawl into bed without setting an alarm.
The next day, I wake up and see a few missed calls from JJ. After I brush my teeth and make a cup of coffee, I call him back.
“The invite-only game has been changed to two. They’re meeting in one of the private suites on-site. I’ll text you the room number. They’re already expecting you. Do not be late or the buy-in is forfeited,” he tells me, nearly panicked about it. I’m annoyed as hell because they don’t seem very organized. The time keeps changing, but I don’t have anything else going on this afternoon, so I can still make it work.
“Won’t be an issue,” I tell him, considering I’m an elevator ride away.
“Good. You just need to show up.”
“Just text me when you’ve got the room number.”
He agrees, and the call ends. The way he’s acting has me concerned, but I’ve learned over the past few months of being around him that he has his moods. One minute, he’s the life of the party, and the next minute, he’s standoffish. I’m sure he’s just as anxious as I am. After I get dressed, I see his text and let him know I got it.
I try not to watch the clock, but it’s hard because I don’t want to arrive too early but arriving late isn’t an option either. A lot is riding on this game, and I can’t fuck this up. Twenty minutes before the game starts, I grab my wallet and head that way.