"Pfft!"
Joy and Selina burst into laughter, with Joy slapping her thigh in amusement. "Leanne, now I get why you're always biting the dust."
Engrossed in her cards, Leanne had missed the play dynamics and sheepishly touched her nose, quietly retracting the nine of spades and throwing out the eight instead.
But then, everyone was onto her, knowing she was banking on the nine of spades.
Joy teasingly waved her nine spades in the air. "Hey, I don't need this one. Maybe if you beg, I'll let you win with it?"
Ever so proud, Leanne retorted, "A true player doesn't feast on charity."
"Oh!" Joy covered her mouth in mock surprise. "Oops, looks like I drew another one."
Leanne was speechless.
Arms crossed, Devin displayed a look of utter disgust at Joy's theatrics. "Really?"
Still in character, Joy fluttered her eyelashes. "Mind your own business."
Selina joined in the teasing, flipping a card teasingly at Leanne. "Guess if this is the nine of spades?"
Annoyed, Leanne shot Curtis a glare. "This is your fault for giving it away. You're not allowed to speak anymore."
Curtis, the target of her annoyance, smiled indulgently. "Okay, I won't say a word."
When it was Devin's turn, he casually threw a card. "Nine of spades."
Leanne's eyes lit up. And she quickly shouted, "I've got it!"
Joy and Selina immediately shot dagger looks at Devin.
Devin said with a defiant snarl, "What? Never seen a nine of spades before?"
Silent as agreed, Curtis just watched Leanne make her bold plays without warning from him.
Though lucky in draws, her skills were only a notch above a beginner, making her an easy target for the other seasoned players.
Her frustration showed, and Curtis gently smoothed her furrowed brow, smiling. "Why the frown? We can afford a little loss." Leanne protested, "It's not about the money. It's about not losing all the time."
"So, what's the plan?" Curtis joked, "Skimp on the cat's treats? Or maybe stop your friend from snagging another purse to cover the losses?" "Hey, cut it out!" Ever the opportunist, Joy cleared her throat. "You'll win the next game. Just whisper it to me, and I'll help you out."
Leanne chuckled. "No need for your help. I can win on my own."
Next game, unsure of her move, she turned to Curtis. "What should I do?"
Lounging back, Curtis teased, "Need my help?"
Leanne nodded, and he casually sat up, leaning slightly toward her and pointing at a card.
"This one."
As she followed his advice, she curiously asked, "Why?"
Curtis beckoned her closer, pretending to share a secret.
"Just don't like it," he whispered.
Leanne was at a loss for words.
She nudged him with her elbow, and Curtis' eyes sparkled with joy as he quietly explained the strategy behind his choice.
With a quick grasp, Leanne understood his logic after just a few words.
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