Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 102

CHAPTER 64-1

By Friday evening, I had decided that I needed one night where nobody talked about broken windows, Black Reapers, missing journal pages, or mysterious people searching through Lawson Customs.

Unfortunately, the Iron Vipers had apparently decided that meant poker. I should have known better.

The clubhouse had been loud enough all afternoon and by the time Jace picked me up, Hunter had already sent three messages reminding everyone that poker night was “serious business.”

I had replied that I didn’t even know how to play properly and his answer had arrived almost immediately.

You’ll learn.

That should have been my first warning.

We drove into town just after seven and Jack Murphy’s pub was already crowded when we arrived. The building sat on the corner of a busy street and warm light spilled through the windows onto the pavement. Motorcycles filled most of the parking spaces, while music drifted through the open doorway whenever someone entered or left and Jace held the door for me.

“Ready?” Jace asked.

“I have no idea.” I said.

“Neither does Hunter.” He said.

“I heard that.” Hunter called out as he stood near the bar with a drink in his hand.

“You heard correctly.” Jace said and I laughed as we walked inside.

Jack Murphy’s had the kind of atmosphere that made it impossible to remain serious for long. Wooden tables filled most of the room, old motorcycle photographs covered the walls and the bar stretched along the far side beneath rows of hanging lights.

Jack himself stood behind the counter, polishing a glass while watching everyone arrive.

“Paige.” Jack said.

“Hi, Jack.” I said and he pointed toward the back table.

“They’ve been waiting for you.” He said as I looked over.

Derek, Hunter, Roman, Cole, and Mason were already seated around a large poker table. Derek

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held a deck of cards like he had been born holding one.

“You’re sitting here.” Derek said as he pointed to the empty chair beside him.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because I need someone easy to beat.” He said and I raised an eyebrow.

“You’ve never met me.” I said.

“I’ve seen you rebuild an engine.” He said.

“And?” I asked.

“That doesn’t mean you can play poker.” He said and I smiled.

“You’re right. I can’t.” I said sitting down and Derek grinned.

“Excellent.” He said and Jace leaned down beside me.

“Don’t let him fool you.” Jace whispered.

“I won’t.” I said.

Clangs

The first hand began. Derek dealt the cards while explaining the basics, although he spent more

time trying to confuse me than actually teaching me.

“Remember, Paige, the important thing is confidence.” Derek said.

“I thought the important thing was having good cards.” I said.

“That too.” He said and I looked at my hand.

Not bad so I raised. Derek immediately matched me and then he raised again so I studied his face

and he smiled.

“You sure?” He asked.

“Absolutely.” I said so I called and he placed his cards down confidently.

“I’ll take that.” He said so I turned mine over.

A straight and the table went silent as Derek stared at the cards.

“You got lucky.” Derek said.

“I suppose I did.” I said and Hunter laughed.

“First hand.” Hunter said and Derek pointed at me.

“Beginner’s luck.” Derek said.

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The second hand went similarly. Then the third and by the fourth, nobody was laughing at my lack

of experience anymore.

I wasn’t winning because I understood every complicated strategy. I was winning because I

understood people and Derek kept touching his chips whenever he had a weak hand.

Hunter started talking faster whenever he had something good and Roman scratched the side of his jaw when he was bluffing while Cole became unusually quiet whenever he was confident.

It was almost embarrassingly easy so Derek raised again and I looked at him.

“You don’t have it.” I said and his eyebrows lifted.

“I absolutely have it.” Derek said.

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