Sevika had been explaining to you over and over how to play poker—repeating how easy it was, but you still weren't able to get it.

The cards in front of you felt as foreign as a deck of tarot. Honestly, you were starting to think that maybe you were just too stupid for this whole game. Thankfully, it was just the two of you playing, and there was no money involved. Otherwise, you'd be completely screwed.

“These are your hole cards,” Sevika said with a roll of her eyes, her voice gruff but not unkind. She leaned back in the rickety chair that creaked under her weight, the tension of the afternoon barely seeping in through the open window as she took a slow drag from the cigar clenched between her teeth. The pungent smoke curled into the summer air, and she exhaled through the side of her mouth with a casual indifference that both fascinated and unnerved you.

“Jesus, girl, you don’t listen.” She gestured at the five community cards laid out on the table, her finger stabbing at them like she was trying to drive home the point. You could feel your cheeks warm under her scrutiny. “you're Too damn pretty to play cards,” she scoffed, arching an eyebrow.

The corner of her mouth lifted in a smirk, and you could sense the playful challenge in her tone.