Chapter 2: Building Tension
The game was supposed to be innocent, a friendly night in with the boys. Just the way it used to be before he met Emily. But tonight, the stakes were higher, and the tension in the room was thicker than the smoke from John's cigar.
John took a swig of his scotch, the amber liquid burning a trail down his throat. He glanced around the room at his friends - Super, Skylar, and Dave. They were all here, waiting, anticipating something more than just the turn of a card.