Page 107 of Just Another Silly Love Song

Ben slid his glasses down his nose and looked over the rim. “How did you do that?”

I smirked. “A magician never reveals her secrets.”

Ben chuckled and shook his head in surprise, glancing back down at the table. “Come on, give me something good.”

The dealer flipped over the first three cards, which didn’t help either of us.

I was still winning.

My heart was so close to banging right out of my chest.

We weren’t even playing for real money, but I didn’t care.

I wanted to win.

There were two cards left.

If Ben didn’t pair up his two or five, it was impossible for him to win.

I held my breath, waiting for the next card.

The crowd cheered.

I blew out a breath of frustration and nerves when the dealer flipped over another two.

My heart sank a little, but I wasn’t giving up hope.

Ben had a pair of twos and I had a pair of kings.

If he got another two or five, he would win.

Anything else and I would be the winner.

I held my breath as the dealer turned over the next card.

The place went wild again as I stared at the card in disbelief.

It was another king.

I won.

I jumped up and down and shot my arms in the air. “Yes!”

“Lori! Lori! Lori!”

The dealer pushed all of Ben’s chips in my direction and pointed to me. “Winner!”

“Give it up for our new champion, Lori Martin!” declared the man on the microphone.

More cheers and applause.

Before I could even fist bump Ben someone pushed me back down in my chair. Five or six men lifted my chair in the air like they typically did with the bride at a Jewish wedding, parading me around the room as I held on for dear life.

The room continued to chant. “Lori! Lori! Lori!”

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T” by Aretha Franklin blasted through the speakers.

I glanced back in the direction of Ben as the guys got to the end of the room and turned around to work their way back to the table with me in my chair, high in the air.