by Haley Nix
***
Catherine
I got a text from Colt just before 11 AM. They were apparently in Texas, grabbing a quick breakfast before heading out on the rest of their trip. It looked like they would make it to Vegas in time to spend some time out at the card tables that night. Though I wondered what the merits were of playing cards on so little sleep after a twenty-two hour trip. They were likely to be dead-tired, and it seemed to me that was a pretty good way to lose a lot of money real quick.
I kept that thought to myself though, not wanting to sound like some overly-concerned, nagging girlfriend. Besides, I knew Colt had good judgment (not sure if the same could be said for Tyson and Garrett.)
I texted Colt back to tell him I was studying, that I had finals later this week. The studying was going well so far, but it was fairly early in the process. Just because I hadn’t stumbled on anything unfamiliar yet didn’t mean that it wouldn’t happen. I also had my final two classes later that day. Hopefully my professors would have some good hints about what material to focus on as we prepared for finals.
The texting continued on throughout the day, a message here, a message there. It was kind of a nice rhythm actually. I’d study for about thirty minutes, get a text from Colt, answer, and repeat. It was a great way to break up the monotony of my attempt to commit the most obscure biology terms to memory. I’d made flashcards for precisely that purpose, over one hundred of them, and just going through the cycle once was really mind-numbing.
Around three o’clock I had to give up the process, since I needed to get ready and drive to class. I’d be so grateful for the coming winter break. It dawned on me that Colt would be around for Christmas, or in the U.S. at least. Was he going back to Texas to see family? He still hadn’t told me what was waiting for him back there. I guess time would tell.
As for right now, I had class, then a night full of studying. I’d be so damn happy once this week was over – for more reasons than one.
Chapter Six
Colton
We pulled into our hotel in Vegas after 10:00 PM. Everyone was tired, burnt out from the long day on the road, the countless stops at gas stations and fast food joints. Yet still, we were dead set on hitting the town that night.
We headed up to our room, a large suite with a bed for each. If we played our cards right, I mean literally played our cards right, we would win enough money to pay for the whole damn thing. That was the plan anyway; this trip was supposed to fund itself and send us home with a little extra coin.
We took turns hopping in the shower. Tyson got out a bottle of Jack, something to give us a bit of energy and loosen us up after the trip before we headed downstairs. After a shower and a couple shots, I actually did feel somewhat energized. Besides, there was something electrifying about being in this city with its bright lights and constant activity – even on a Monday night.
I didn’t want to go too hard tonight, we’d be here all week after all. The trick was to cut our losses short if we were having a bad night of it, and stay on the tables whenever we were making a run. Easier said than done – it’s hard to be rational when you’re gambling. Losing money can take a real toll on the psyche. Winning, on the other hand, can make you too cocksure and get you into risky situations.
I figured I’d take it easy tonight. I did the best I could to put Cat out of my mind as soon as I was at the poker table. I needed full concentration, absolutely no outside distractions whatsoever. There would be plenty of time to think about Cat as I drifted off to sleep later that night, anyway.
I didn’t stay at the table long that night. I started off with several bad hands and figured I’d get out of there before I lost too much money. I didn’t want to destroy my confidence for the remainder of the week. You need confidence to be a good card player.
I decided to walk around and find Garrett and Tyson. I was down about $200 so far; maybe they were having better luck. A little while later, I found them at a blackjack table and decided I’d join them. Blackjack isn’t really my game, but I figured what the hell, I’d give it a shot.
At first I wasn’t putting much money down. I don’t have a ton of experience with blackjack, and by that I mean I don’t know how to count cards or anything. So in a lot of ways I wasn’t really at an advantage. But I ended up winning a few rounds and soon I was laying down some serious money. I took a loss here and there, but on my final hand I ended up winning big and cashed out. I had turned my $200 loss into a $500 gain for the night.
I knew to take the money and run. I was lucky just to be back above even. Besides, it was past 2:00 AM and I knew I didn’t have the focus to keep playing a serious game.
“Guys, I’m gonna call it quits for the night,” I said, grabbing my chips so I could go cash out.
“Damn man, you serious? You’re up big, why not let it ride?” asked Garrett.
“Because I know when I’m winning on luck and when I’m winning on skill. Tonight is pure luck,” I said as I tapped my chips against the felt of the table. “And luck can run out real quick.”
“He’s got a point,” said Tyson. “I’m cashing out, too.”
“Damn, well I’m not sticking around here by myself,” said Garrett. “What do you say we move this party to a strip club, eh? Who’s with me?”
“I’m tired,” I said. “I’m heading to bed.”
“Aw c’mon, man. It’s Vegas.”
“It’s just not for me.”
“He’s thinking about that girl back home,” said Tyson giving me a nudge. “Cat, the bartender.”
“You can’t be serious. You’re letting a girl ruin out Vegas trip?” said Garrett. He seemed annoyed with me.
“You guys can go. It’s not my thing. Even if I wasn’t with Cat, I didn’t come here for that type of debauchery. I came to win money. Now, I’ve won some money tonight. I’m calling it quits before I lose it.”
“Oh, so you’re with her now? When did this happen?” asked Garret accusingly.
“I misspoke. I don’t know if we’re together. I guess we sort of are. Anyway, what’s it to you? It’s not stopping you from going to a strip club. Here,” I said, handing him a $100 bill. “Have a lap dance on me.”
“Alright, alright. I’m done hassling you, buddy. Keep your money. I get it, man. She seems great. I’d probably do the same in your position,” said Garrett.
“We are still going to a strip club, right?” asked Tyson.
“Of course we are.”
“Alright, then. Enjoy it, boys. Don’t waste all your money. It’s always better playing on the winnings of the night before,” I said as we shook hands.
I left them there, walking out of the casino and into the lobby where I took the elevator up to our room. I figured I’d watch a little TV as I fell asleep. I never cashed out my chips, realizing I could just use them tomorrow. I truly hoped that the guys would have fun tonight, but for me that just wasn’t the life.
I didn’t know whether or not Cat and I were actually together or what the future had in store for us, but I was willing to give it a chance. As I lay there in bed I reached over for my phone on the nightstand to text her. It was just something simple: Hope your day went well. Goodnight. Just something to let her know I was still there.
Chapter Seven
Catherine
I woke up Tuesday to a text from Colt, just him saying goodnight and that he hopes I had a good day. The timestamp was past 2:30 AM. Of course, I’d fallen asleep long before them, completely wiped out from my day of class and studying.
My last classes had been low key. The professors had reviewed material and given us some good hints about what to expect for the exam. They also gave us study guides that made my life supremely easier over the days that followed. It’s not that it made the material simpler to grasp or remember, but at least it allowed me to focus my efforts in the right places.
The next few days were a whirlwind. Nearly every hour outside of work was spent studying for exams. The only time I relaxed
was when I allowed myself a solitary glass of wine each night, which I drank while watching a bit of TV to unwind. Exhausted as I was, I found myself falling asleep on the couch, TV on and glass of wine still half full. Whenever this happened, I’d get up, move to the bed, and crash for the rest of the night. Then I’d wake up and do it all over again.
Before I knew it, it was Friday, Exam day. This was what I head been dreading all week, two finals and then the busiest night of the week at work. I hadn’t heard much from Colt over the past few days. He seemed more distant, preoccupied. I suppose that was natural enough, being in Vegas as he was.
I tried not to dwell on it or let it distract me in any way. I wasn’t sure where things stood with Colt, but that didn’t change any of my plans regarding my own life. I was still focused on getting into Vet school, and acing these exams was my top priority.
When I showed up for the first exam, I was completely calm and prepared. I knew I’d put in the required time studying, now it was just time to execute. It’s strange, I’ve never felt so confident about things before. As I sat down at my desk and began the test, my mind was in exactly the right place.
The hours went by quickly. When I was doing that first exam, it was like I was in my own little world. Time seemed to stand still for me, the answers to each question coming almost effortlessly. I finished the last question and handed the exam in fifteen minutes early. This gave me time to spare, time to get to my next exam, Biology, which was in a different building all the way across campus.
The mid-December air was cold against the skin of my face, but I hardly noticed. I was running on adrenaline, feeling even more confident than before as I strode across the frigid campus. Chemistry had gone well, I just knew it. But that was also my better subject. I knew Bio would be a more difficult test.
A few days earlier, I might have been content with just a passing grade in Biology. But now I was more optimistic. I wanted to hold myself to a higher standard. I reminded myself on the walk over to remain calm. I’d studied hard, probably harder than most of the students in my class. It was time to put my newly acquired knowledge to good use.
Then I received a text:
Good luck, Cat. You’re gonna ace it. I just know it.
That made me smile to myself. I put my phone back into my purse, shutting it off beforehand, knowing the professor’s policy about no phones during tests. I’d text Colt back after the exam to let him know how it went.
***
Colton
I looked down at my watch as the dealer cut the deck and continued shuffling the cards. Cat had her exams today. I wondered how they were going. I wanted to call, ask her about them. Offer her a final wish of good luck. But I thought that might be a distraction. Besides, I didn’t know if maybe she was already in an exam and would get in trouble for answering her phone. So I decided to send her a text.
I couldn’t wait to see Cat, especially given how this week had gone. We hadn’t talked much lately. She was busy with her life, and I with mine. It’s not that we didn’t want to, it just didn’t seem necessary. Talking on the phone was a poor substitute for being together in person. Besides, right now we had our own things to concentrate on. Chemistry and Biology for her, and poker for me.
I’d been winning all night, all week, actually. Sure, I lost a hand now and again, folded countless times. But I always seemed to stay in when the big money was around. I met so many different people that week, some real stellar players, others quite amateur. Lots of interesting people from all over the country came to this place in the desert, this place of lax laws and the potential for big winnings.
But the truth was that most of them went home with less money than they came there with. The house always wins, or so they say. I was beating the odds, one of the few people taking the casinos for what they were worth. After a while, the dealers at one casino wouldn’t deal to me, so I’d uproot and head to another. Each time I put on an act, as if I was just some lucky fool from the Midwest, but it didn’t take them long to realize I was ruthless as a card player.
I went to casino after casino, my winnings multiplying all along the way. I had a big hand right now. It was my final night in Vegas. It was then that I realized that sometimes it makes sense to take big risks in a card game, just as it made sense to take big risks in life. I was going for it all.
“All in,” I said.
It went around table, each player folding in turn. This was the biggest pot I’d won all week. It wasn’t just luck, it was skill. I’d spent the whole night earning my reputation at the poker table, and now I was coming away with the spoils. But I was smart, I knew when to quit. This would be my last game of the entire trip.
“Thank you, gentlemen. Enjoy the evening.”
I flipped a few chips to the dealer – what amounted to $300 worth. Not a bad tip, not bad at all. That was chump change right now. I didn’t know exactly how much I’d won until I cashed out. Seeing those numbers on the receipt sent my heart racing. Was this a mistake?
I brought it back to the window and asked the attendant if there had been some sort of error, if he’d accidentally given me someone else’s receipt.
“No, sir that’s yours. You’ve had a good night, don’t question it,” said the man with a wry smile.
He gave off the impression that he didn’t often get to say that to most of the patrons at the casino.
“Sound advice,” I said.
Garrett and Tyson were in another casino a few blocks down and I headed out to meet up with them. I was anxious to get home. I wanted to see Cat, to have her share my happiness with me, the happiness borne out of the incredible events of this week. I was going to see if Garrett and Tyson would be interested in heading back one day early. It was only around 8:00 PM. If we drove through the night, on those empty desert highways, we might be able to make it back sometime tomorrow afternoon.
***
Catherine
Dammit. This test was impossible, absolutely impossible. At first it had seemed like a breeze, but the last few questions appeared to cover material that hadn’t even been on the study guide. They might as well have been written in Greek or Latin for all I knew.
Still, I did my best to power through. I read and re-read them, searching for some sort of meaning or understanding that would allow me to answer them correctly. The only thing I really had going for me was that they were multiple choice. I could at least rule out the answers that seemed obviously wrong. If I could get it down to the choice between two answers, at least I’d have a 50-50 shot.
I’d finished the rest of the test quickly, so I had time to ponder these last several questions awhile. I searched my memory, trying to find some hint, some recognition from the past that would point me in the right direction. Ultimately, I had nothing.
It was nearing the end of the test and coming up on the time when I would have to leave for work. I jotted down my last few answers, making an educated guess of things. There was no point in sticking around and going over my answers again and again. If I didn’t know them now, I wouldn’t know them five minutes from now, or ten minutes from now, etc.
I walked to the front of the classroom and handed in my test. The professor took it directly from me and gave it a cursory look, flipping between the pages to look at my answers. He looked up at me, a small smile crossing his face. He seemed satisfied. I decided to take that as a positive sign.
As I walked out to my car, I felt my mood start to change for the better. Sure, I had several hours of work ahead, but I was also about to start my winter break. No more school for the next month. With the crazy schedule I’d been running the past several months, I could certainly handle one where I only had my job at the bar. Hell, I might even pick up an extra shift or two to earn a little more cash. I had the energy. And I certainly needed the money.
Chapter Eight
Colton
I found Tyson and Garrett at a blackjack table at the MGM Grand. From the looks of things, it didn’t look like t
onight was their night. Tyson was wearing a pensive look, as if he was questioning the very idea of gambling. Garrett just looked plain pissed off.
“How’s your luck?” I said, taking a seat next to Tyson.
“Not so good, not so good,” he said.
“Non-existent,” said Garrett.
“You up or down on the night?”
“Down $100,” said Tyson.
“Down four times that,” said Garrett.
“What about for the week overall?” I asked.
“I’m up $700 total,” said Tyson. “I’m not complaining.”
“What about you?” I asked, turning to look at Garrett directly.
“I’m up $900. But dammit, I wanted four digits.”
“Would you boys be opposed to leaving one day early?” I asked tentatively. I felt as if I already knew the answer to some degree.
“What do you mean? Tonight’s our last night,” said Garrett. He wasn’t looking at me, as he was concentrating on the cards in front of him.
“Yeah, I was thinking about heading out tonight. Right now. Drive through the night, home tomorrow afternoon.”
“No way! Are you crazy? Why the hell would you want to leave early?” asked Garrett.
He turned to look at me, deciding to turn his eyes away from the game, as if he had to look at me to believe the reality of the absurd idea I’d just proposed.
“Let’s face it, we’re all a bit tired. Isn’t it smarter to walk away with some money instead of lose it all on the last night? That happens more often than you’d think,” I said.