Page 88 of You Again

Rosalie leans forward and away from her friend. “Frances⁠—”

“Gah!” Fran gasps, a hand covering her mouth.

Whoa. We all know better than to refer to Fran by her given name.

“I’m sorry.” Rose looks at her again. “It had to be done. You’re losing it. Just sit down and let me play.”

“Are you afraid, Conrad?” I say—because I’m delirious too.

“He did not say that.” Maggie peers at Stella as if confirming my insanity.

“If I weren’t about to become a mother, Zev...” Stella runs a hand over her protruding belly. “If I didn’t need to stay out of prison, you would have a revolt on your hands.”

Wow. All for asking the girl if she’s scared. I was kidding, ladies.

Roman snickers at his wife’s threats, wrapping one arm around the back of her chair.

“I’m not afraid. He knows it,” Rosalie gripes. Then looking back at me, she lifts her brows. “I’m the one who’s all in.”

“Maybe he’s afraid,” Maggie sneers.

“Maybe he’s bluffing.” Stella’s hand continues to circle over that belly bump.

Rosalie just smiles. “I’m guessing both. Afraid and bluffing.”

“At Rosalie being all in?” I say, my eyes on her baby blues. “Not even a little.”

“Are we still talking about poker?” Fran asks, looking around the table.

Callum runs his palms over his thighs. I think he might be sweating. “Zev, you better show your cards.”

“Yes,” Lucca says, hands on the table. “And they better be good.”

“Looks like we’re all invested. Men against women?” Rosalie says, eyeing her friends.

“Absolutely.” Maggie winks at Lucca.

“Oh boy,” Callum mutters, scrubbing a hand down his face. “I’m getting a drink.”

“Nope.” I hold out a hand, stopping my friend from standing. “We’re in this together.” Then I look back at Rose. “Care to make it interesting?”

She huffs and nods to the pile of chips in the center of the table. “I’m already betting all I’ve got.”

“There’s always more to bet.”

She scoffs out a humorless laugh. “You’re that confident?”

“Oh yeah.”

Lucca leans my way, attempting to peek at my cards. But I keep them well covered.

“Fine. I’m game,” Rosalie says. The girl never backs down from a fight. It’s one thing I love about her.

Stella pushes herself up from the table. “I have to pee,” she whines, hand on her belly. Unlike me, Rose doesn’t hide her cards from her friends—they must be decent.

“We’ll wait for you,” Fran whispers to Stella—though we all hear her.

“No waiting!” Maggie and Lucca bark in unison.