Bebop Blues
Chapter 18: You Make Me Cool
He knew she knew.
He also knew she wouldn't call him out; she really trusted Roy's judgment and actions completely.
Roy found a keeper all right.
Mai was some kind of saint.
Spike took a look around the casino after getting his chips. He felt like counting cards and taking names.
He found a crowded table and sat across from the dealer. He wanted to show up the young hot shot on the side that was raking in the chips.
The hot shot wasn't as young as he presumed once he saw him up close, but he was definitely confident.
Spike placed his bet and eyed the man warily.
The grey-eyed man looked back. "I'm a heavy better."
"I'm a lucky player," Spike shrugged.
They smirked at each other, unsaid understandings forming between them.
The women around the hot shot kept trying to inch closer, but he kept pushing them back.
"Don't you want to buy me a drink?" the blonde one asked.
The busty redhead spoke up with her shrill voice. "I've got a suite on the 4th floor."
"Ladies, I already told you that I'm not interested, but I can see you don't understand rejection."
"You're just being coy! Have you seen us?"
Without a glance, he responded. "Not impressed "
The blonde scoffed.
The raven-haired lady spoke up now. "You're just full of yourself."
He looked at them after placing his bet.
He pointed to the blonde. "I don't like blondes." He pointed at the red head. "I don't like sopranos." He then pointed at the raven. "And you are far too tall and leggy."
The three of them shot him dirty looks.
"21," Spike smirked.
The ladies changed their tune. "Ooh! We think he's stolen your luck!" They gathered around Spike as the game continued.
They played several hands, each man winning every other round. The other players had left some time ago, and the crowd around the table was growing each hand.
A woman sat between Spike and the hotshot. "Deal me in," she told the dealer.
"Ah, the pixie," the hotshot responded.
Faye looked at him. "The cellist? You gamble?"
She was more confused as to how he had the money to gamble there specifically.
"I'm a man of wealth and means; I have many hobbies."
The ladies around Spike shot dirty looks at Faye. They were still sore about rejection, and the man seemed to warm up to this new woman rather quickly.
She turned to face them. "What do you things want?"
"Things?" said the raven.
"You're going to let her speak to us that way, Spikey?" the blonde whined.
Faye rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Spikey," she snorted, "are you going to let me talk to them that way?"
Spike grinned. "Oh Faye, jealous?"
Faye was placing her bet. "Hardly. Lame men aren't my type."
The cellist hotshot snickered.
Spike glowered. He flipped his cards. "20."
"20," Faye and the hotshot said in unison.
"21," came the earthy voice at the end of the table.
The women turned to face the new threat.
"Sorry, Spike. You never seem to win between me and Faye," the newcomer revealed. She was eying the cellist; she seemed entranced.
"Mai, you never give me an inch," he grinned.
"Not when you'll take a mile," she grinned back.
The hotshot stood up. "I fold, and I'm out."
Mai smiled at him. "Cold feet, Zen?"
He smiled in return. "Not at all."
"Zen? You told us your name was Roy!" the women harped.
Faye froze in her seat.
The dealer had long since stopped paying attention to the dysfunctional group.
"That's 21," Mai called again.
Two hands in a row. Just her luck.
Roy walked to Mai, beaming widely. "Just my type." He kissed her.
The women narrowed their eyes at Mai. "And what does she have that we don't."
Mai, still face to face with Roy (he was leaning to kiss her), stuck her left ring finger out. "His last name."
They tried to grip Spike closer, but Faye was already playing her hand, running her fingers up Spike's arm to grip his opposite shoulder. "No thank you, ladies. I'll take that," she smiled up at them devilishly.
Spike, who would normally push her back and call her out, couldn't help but grin. He had found the harpies to be more annoying than Faye, and Mai's presence made Faye much more confident. Her increasingly sexy deadliness was starting to get to him.
Mai folded. "I'm out."
"After two hands?" Spike questioned. "Better for me then." He flipped his cards over, "Ten and ten. 20."
Spike had been counting. There was no chance of defeat.
The trio women had left. Faye was the victor.
"Not quite, cowboy," Faye revealed her final hand, having let go of Spike's arm. "Jack, Queen of Hearts, and..." she turned her third card over, "...Ace of Spades."
