{Cinder}
“Got any threes?”
“Go fish.”
Andrew drew another card. He flipped tails, which predicted Lamassau would say that. But he was down to one card until now.
Lam fanned himself with his cards. “Any jacks? And how long are we letting them ‘nap?’”
“Go fish.” Coin flip. It landed on heads. So close to victory. “Until they grace us with their presence once more. Hopefully, after a shower. Lilies and cedar. It smelled like a spa in here.”
Lamassau drew a card and excitedly laid down a pair of jacks.
Both of them eyed the last slice of homemade cheesecake Colton brought over from the desert fortress. The train conductor, crawler pilot, and pastry god even drizzled some strawberry glaze over top. A divine prize.
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After a messy swig of lemonade, Lam offered, “The scent is always stronger when emotions are involved. Story Taker’s in love.”
Andrew hid a wince. He prayed to Elden that Silence’s memory walk produced forgivable and informative evidence of Silence’s time as an Imminent agent. If not, Kyle’s feelings would certainly complicate the aftermath. “Thanks for the biology lesson. Now hand over that three.”
“Hah! Go fish, Conscience. Nobody has your three.” Lam looked out over the lake at Rayne as if she whispered to him.
Andrew frowned, certain he read the Probability correctly. There was only one alternative explanation. “You’re cheating.”
The other man snapped around and scowled. “I’m not the cheater. You’re the one with the coin trick—”
At Andrew’s suggestion, Lamassau laid out his entire hand. Including the elusive three.
The green Tritan gaped, speechless.
With his luck improving, Andrew gloated with a smirk. “Technically, I won before that last draw. That means you’re mine.” He drew the plate over from the table’s center with eyes only for the cake. Until he glanced over.
Lamassau watched the dessert move further away from him and, with no lips, pouted. “I miss Bones. He’d share.”
“Not after he finds out that you’re a cheater.”
The Tritan crossed his arms and sulked.
“Cheer up. Be grateful things are so boring around here that you can pout over a piece of cheesecake.” Andrew moaned with the first silky bite.
Victory was indeed sweet.