�Shut up,� Valondra said. �You�re cheating like you always do.�
�Whatever,� Antoinette rebutted. �You�re just a sore loser.�
�Whatever,� Valondra rebutted herself. �You never play fair in poker.�
�That�s because you don�t know how to play,� Antoinette said. �Especially when it�s playing for money.� Valondra rolled her eyes. �Loni prefers strip poker.�
�Why didn�t ya say so?� Alexander asked. �We could�ve played that instead.�
�You would�ve lost,� Valondra replied. �I didn�t want to embarrass ya�s.�
�Her and Fox always play strip poker,� Antoinette pointed out.
�He always loses too,� Valondra added. �Strips right down to his birthday suit.� She smiled and Nickolas looked at her, as Alexander raised an eyebrow. �Yes I�m still a virgin.�
�I wasn�t going to say anything,� Alexander said.
�You didn�t have to, because it�s written all over your face,� Brian pointed out.
�Whatever,� Alexander said.
�Whatever,� they all mocked, as there was a knock at the door.
�I�ll get it,� Brian said getting up and walking to the door.
�So do you really play strip poker?� Nickolas asked.
�All the time,� Valondra said. �Me and Fox; well not so much now as before.�
�Right,� Nickolas said.
�He�s the one that taught me how to play,� Valondra said. �He taught me a lot of stuff.� Nickolas smiled.
�Except for sexual education,� Alexander said.
�Is that all you think about?� Antoinette asked.
�No,� Alexander said.
�Yeah right,� Antoinette said. �That�s not the vibe you�re giving us. You seem like some sex crazed guy.�
�I�m not,� Alexander stated. �If a woman�s not into I don�t force her into it.�
�That�s great to hear,� Valondra said.
�Hey, guys,� Rachel said and they all looked. �Loni, may we talk?� Valondra just looked at her. �Please?�
Valondra sighed and said, �Fine�talk.�
�Can we go somewhere else?� Rachel asked.
�Fine,� Valondra said getting up and leading Rachel to the one bedroom. She closed the door behind them and asked, �What do you want to talk about?�
�I was thinking about what happened earlier,� Rachel began, �and I wanted to say how stupid it was and that I�m sorry for what I said and did.�
�Why should I believe you?� Valondra asked. �You said some mean things.�
�I know that and I�m sorry. I don�t want to ruin our friendship.� Valondra just continued looking at her. �Apology accepted?�
�I don�t know, Rach. I mean you never acted this way before.�
�I know and I feel so stupid.�
�I�m glad you do.�
�Do you forgive me?�
Valondra looked at her a second then said, �Yeah.�
�Thank you.� The two girls hugged. �Let�s not ever fight again.�
�Sounds good.�
�Good.�
�Come on.� They walked from the room and rejoined the others.
�So is everything cool?� Antoinette asked.
�Yeah,� Valondra replied.
�Good,� Antoinette said. �You in for another game?�
�Uh�nah,� Valondra said. �I�ll sit this one out.�
�Ok,� Alexander said. �Rach? You in?�
�I guess so,� Hannah said, as Valondra sat on the sofa next to Nickolas.
�You�re not playing this hand?� Valondra asked.
�Nah,� Nickolas said. �I�m taking a break.�
�Cool,� Valondra said. �So how long are you in town for?�
�We leave Monday.�
�Oh.�
�Disappointed?�
�Kind of.� He smiled. �I was hoping to get to know ya a little better.�
�I think we can work something out.�
�I hope so.� They smiled at each other. �When�s your next show?�
�Tuesday; in Miami.� She nodded. �We were going to leave last night, but then Kev and D got those dates and I was hoping to get to know you and yeah...�
�Yeah.� They looked at the group playing cards. �So when do you want to get together?� He looked at her. �I�m free tomorrow night.�
�What a coincidence, so am I.� She smiled.
�Will you two quit making a date and join us in the game,� Alexander said. �It�s better with more players.�
�We�re taking a break,� Valondra said.
�You�re just a sore loser,� Antoinette said.
�Whatever,� Valondra said rolling her eyes. �We�re not making a date.�
��I�m free tomorrow night�,� Brian mocked and they all laughed.
�Jealous?� Valondra asked.
�Why would I be?� Brian asked.
�Because I�m into Nick and not you,� Valondra replied smiling.
�I could care less,� Brian said.
�Whatever,� Valondra said. �We all know you want me.� She smiled and they all laughed. �You can�t resist me.�
�Get over yourself,� Rachel said.
�Jealous?� Valondra asked her friend.
�Ha, yeah right,� Rachel said. �What�s to be jealous about? Spoiled little rich girl with no love of her life and no loving family to comfort you in time of needs.� Valondra glared at her.
�Don�t even start with me,� Valondra warned. �I�m not in the mood.�
�Fox not give ya anything?� Rachel asked.
�You�re funny ya slut,� Valondra said.
�Ladies, if there�s going to be a catfight wait until I get my camera,� Alexander stated. �I want to be able to watch it over and over.�
The girls just gave him a strange look and Nickolas said, �I wouldn�t mind seeing it either.� Valondra looked at him and he winked.
�There�s not going to be any catfight between anyone,� Valondra said and then whispered, �I�m sure other fights can be arranged.� Nickolas looked at her and she winked at him this time.
�Are you two in this hand or not?� Brian asked.
�Not me,� Valondra replied looking at her watch. �I have to call Fox actually.�
�What for?� Antoinette asked.
�He�s on a date and he told me to give it an hour and then call him to see how it�s going,� Valondra answered. �If it�s not going good then I have to give him an emergency to get out of it.�
�Maybe you two should go back out,� Rachel suggested.
�What for?� Valondra wanted to know. �If we did everyone would know about it and it wouldn�t be any fun.� She smiled and Nickolas looked at her. �Why do think we never said anything those two years we were dating? Everyone would be in our business.�
�Whatever,� Rachel said.
�Let�s just drop this,� Valondra suggested this time. �I have to make a phone call.� She got up and walked out of the room.
�Are you in, Nick?� Antoinette asked.
�Yeah sure,� Nickolas said sitting on the floor with them. �I got this game in the bag.� He smiled confidently and the others shook their heads.
CHAPTER 10
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