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me a call. Thanks. Love you.”
    â€œYou can stay here, no strings. I meant it. The futon’s yours.”
    â€œI appreciate the offer, strange as it is, but I’m not your problem. I can’t believe you offered in the first place. Do you have a habit of picking up strays?”
    â€œWe were having fun at the bar and it looked like you could use some help. You should call your credit cards in before someone jacks them up.”
    â€œI know. I’m on it now.” She took her phone into the bedroom and started dialing.
    Phin turned on the TV. Nothing grabbed his interest, so he relaxed and let the tones of Layla’s quiet voice coast over him from the other room. He felt bad that she was going to miss most of her spring break, but he liked the thought of spending a few days with her.
    One thing Layla hadn’t thought about when she envisioned his fun life was the loneliness that accompanied him. He couldn’t wait for the tournament in Vegas. The purse on that one would give him enough money to live off of for a while. He’d look for the right place to start his new life. One where he’d have roots, friends, neighbors, a place to call home. Maybe he’d even find a nice girl to settle down with and have a family. Then he’d fill that void that had been swallowing him for the past five years.

Chapter 4
    L ayla hung up after talking to the fourth company and filing a report. Each one offered to ship a new card overnight, for a fee. She chose one and asked Phin for his address. Unfortunately, with it being Saturday night, the earliest she’d get the card would be Tuesday. At least she’d be able to pay for her car when it was ready. What a complete pain in the ass.
    She should’ve waited until after the calls to have sex, because every ounce of relaxation she’d earned had vanished. Back in the living room, Phin remained sprawled on the couch. The hard, lumpy, uncomfortable couch. The beer she’d swiped from him still sat on the table. She took another swig and sat down. He flipped through channels on the TV. Not much of a selection, but he probably wouldn’t invest in satellite since he didn’t plan to stay in town long.
    He tossed the remote in her lap. “You can pick something. I don’t watch much TV.”
    She scrolled through the channels. Nothing grabbed her either. “You got any cards?”
    He just looked at her.
    â€œI thought we could play a game or something.”
    Phin sighed and got off the couch. Then he looked back at her. “Strip poker?”
    The man was standing in a pair of boxers and wanted to play strip poker. “That wasn’t my plan, but I can do that. The game wouldn’t take long since neither of us is wearing much. How about gin rummy instead? I’ve still got twenty bucks in my pocket.”
    He stopped rummaging through a drawer in the kitchen. “Hey, babe, when you’re looking to scam someone, you let him think the game was his idea. You’re too eager, so I know you think you can kick my ass and take my money.”
    Busted. “I wasn’t thinking any such thing,” she said, hoping to convey an air of innocence, but he wasn’t buying.
    â€œI told you I grew up with gypsies. I was scamming people before you were even out of diapers.”
    â€œLook at you talking like a grizzled old con artist. You’re not much older than I am. I think we were in diapers at the same time. I potty-trained early.”
    â€œOverachiever?”
    â€œIs there any other way to be?”
    He finally found a deck of cards and returned to her side on the couch. Tossing the cards on the table, he said, “Rummy, huh? I haven’t played in a long time. My grandma liked to play.”
    â€œIt’ll come back to you. We can play a couple of hands for practice. I’m not totally heartless.” She shuffled the deck. As quickly as he’d beat her at pool, she felt the