“Mmm,” Tyler sighed a minute later. “We could just sit here for the next couple of hours, and you could keep showing me your appreciation.”
“We could,” Liliana agreed. “We would definitely be safer in the car instead of wandering around out there.”
“Then again, staying safe is never fun. We could meander inside to pass the time. Who knows the next time you’ll get to come to Vegas.”
“I thought you wanted to lay low until your brother shows up.”
“I’m sure we’ll be fine inside. We’ll just get lost in the crowds. You watch auras. I’ll listen to thoughts. We’ll stay aware of our surroundings and be fine.”
“That sounds like a bit of a gamble, don’t you think?”
Tyler laughed. “Was that meant to be a joke? Get it? Gamble. Vegas.”
“I’m glad one of us is amused by this whole situation.”
“Look. How about we roshambo it?”
“Huh? Ro Sham who it? Come again?”
“It’s another term for rock-paper-scissors. Best two out of three. You win—we sit nice and tight until Toby and Rebecka show up. I win—we meander inside and check out the action.”
“You’re serious?”
“Absolutely. After all, we are in Vegas. Remember? Are you up for a little gamble?”
She chewed on her lower lip and sighed. “Fine. Best two out of three?”
“Yep.”
“No cheating.”
“You can’t cheat at this game.”
“Sure you can.”
“Okay. Maybe. I won’t cheat…I promise.” He held a hand out to her, palm up. His other hand formed a fist and hovered over his open palm. “Ready?”
She sighed again and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Let’s go.” She mirrored his hand motions, and on the third fist pound onto her palm, she opened her fist flat to indicate paper.
Tyler grinned when his own hand opened in the paper hand symbol as well. “Again.”
“All right. Go.”
After the fourth attempt at the game, which resulted in a fourth tie, Liliana giggled. “You’re cheating.”
“Seriously? I could say the same about you. You’re reading my mind.”
She giggled again. “Maybe. But you’re reading mine, too.”
“So we’re never going to win this game. It’s like playing tic-tac-toe. We could go round and round all day. There’s no way to win.”
“Sure there is. We just both have to agree not to read each other’s mind.”
“Is that possible?”
Liliana attempted to look serious. “Sure. See, I’m blocking my thoughts from you now. Try to read my mind.”
Tyler was silent for a moment as he stared at her. “Oh, you’re good. You’re right. I can’t read your thoughts. Okay, one more time. One try. Whoever gets it is the winner.”
“Deal.”
They held their palms up once more, and on the third fist pound, Tyler held his fist in the rock symbol while Liliana held hers like scissors.
He pounded his rock on top of her scissors. “I win.”
“No! That’s not fair,” she whined. “I knew you were going to do rock, but I couldn’t think fast enough to think what beats rock.”
“Why, whatever do you mean, dear sweet Liliana? Do you mean you were trying to read my mind and…cheat?”
“You forgot to block your thoughts. It’s not my fault.”
“Well, my little cheating vixen. I win. You lose. Let’s go inside.”
“Do you want to rethink this?”
Tyler smirked and with a wink said, “Nope. We’ll leave our stuff in the car. Let’s go.”
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Jacinda Buchmann 