Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Ch 64 (jake) - Yes Anna, I'd Love To Play

Jake woke from his nap feeling groggy and just a little sore from his fall on the mountain the night before. He was so happy to be in Las Vegas that his body filled with energy and he jumped up to quickly shower. He had only slept for a few hours for it was only eleven thirty at night but it was still early for he knew from experience life was in full swing by midnight.

It was routine to stop at the casinos over the years when he came home from his parents and he usually stayed at a different casino each time to only gamble at that hotel respectfully. It was almost a superstition for him. The drinks were free for those gambling at the tables and by the time he headed back to his room he was always happy. He wouldn't call himself lucky, but so far the worst he had ever done was leave with a hundred dollars more than he showed up with. He won often and the most he won was a little over five thousand dollars. He had used it to pay for classes to help his dad with his school loan and bought clothes, books, a laptop before putting some away for groceries. He loved going to the casinos before the beginning of each quarter so he had won at least a little bit to loosen up his budget during the term so he could concentrate more on his studies. Plus the trips were just often enough for his mother not to worry so she didn't end up showing up on the doorstep of his apartment that wasn't always clean.

Ready and feeling lucky after his shower, Jake knew he smelled and looked good. He wasn't here to impress anyone as much as he just wanted to look expensive because that is how he wanted to be treated. He headed down the long hallways passing all sorts of people. His buddy Bryce said he could always tell who the hookers were. Jake never could because in Vegas most of the girls wore close to nothing and it had nothing to do with Vegas being built in the middle of the desert.

He reminded himself as he went down the elevator to the main floor that if even if he lost everything, it would be a great excuse to go back up to his room and fall asleep watching TV so he could be refreshed when he drove to Brittany's house in Utah.

Jake passed through several scents of perfume lighter than mists that floated off women as they walked. Some of those scents were disarming, sometimes in a good way. He found a table with two players about twenty years older than he was so Jake settled in between them. Both of the men were welcoming and funny to talk with. The dealer was personable and obviously good at his job. Jake had a feeling the two men lived in the State and wasn't a flow-through like himself. Within half an hour he had won two thousand dollars starting from a hundred dollar chip. Black Jack was his specialty. He lost a few hands but nothing that hurt because his family had played cards since he was little so he knew how to play well. It's what they did at their family gatherings.

By midnight roars of laughter rose from groups of drunken rollers moving along different sections of the floor to different tables and games. Security had increased and drinks were getting spilt. Jake was feeling good himself as he was nursing his drink from the floating waitresses that brought drinks to the gambling tables so you didn't have to move.

Winning two hundred dollars more, Jake was laughing and joking with his tablemates, feeling pretty good when he looked up and saw Anna stumbling in with her arm around another girl a few inches taller. They each had a drink in their hand and seemed to be laughing at something Anna just said.

Jake's heart stopped, sped up and sank all at the same time. He wasn't sure what to make of this or if Anna had even seen him. He put his bet out and looked to be concentrating on the task as she walked ten feet by his table with her friend to talk to a guy at another table. He had seen out of the corner of his eye that she didn't even glance his way. Strangely he didn't want to get up and walk away. In spite of his strange feelings, he felt comfortable with the thought of sharing his happiness with someone he knew. He wasn't going to attract her attention however, but if she happened to see him and came over he wouldn't be too unhappy about it.