Angelo woke up in a cold sweat. “Only a nightmare,” he told himself a few times. Maybe he’d actually believe that after the hundredth time. He slowly got out of bed. His legs were wobbly at first, but he managed to regain his balance. Deciding he needed a drink, he headed downstairs.

He’d just reached the doorway of the kitchen when someone said, “Your turn.”

Angelo paused and turned around. Ev, Jubilee, Paige, and Gaia were playing a game of poker.

“Full house!” Jubilee exclaimed.

Everyone else groaned and threw their cards on the table.

“She’s cheating. I know she’s cheating!” Ev muttered.

Angelo shook his head and walked into the kitchen. Finding nothing to quench his thirst, he decided on an apple. Satisfied with his choice, he walked back into the living room and chose a seat beside Paige.

“You in, Ange?” Jubilee asked.

Instead of risking a lecture on how rude it was to talk with your mouth full from Paige, he only nodded.

Ev dealt the cards and said, “Okay. Questions?”

Gaia spoke up. “What’s it mean when you’ve got four aces?”

Ev, Jubilee, and Paige threw down their cards.

“Beginner’s luck. There’s no other way,” Jubilee growled.

“So I win?” Gaia asked anxiously.

“Not quite, chica,” Angelo replied, spreading his flush across the table. “I do.”

“Somebody’s cheating,” Paige said, looking straight at him.

“Hey, Ev dealt the cards. I’m just passing through.” He took a large bite of his apple, smiled at her, and headed back upstairs.

“At least we’re not playing for money,” Paige sighed.

“Says who?” Jubilee asked. “According to my notes, you each owe me twenty big ones!”

Chuckling as he returned to his room, Angelo wondered who would win that argument. He’d just closed the door when he realized he wasn’t alone. Swallowing his apple, he asked hoarsely, “Who’s there?”

Silence.

Shaking his head, he wondered if he was going crazy. Or maybe it was something he’d eaten. At this point, he looked at the apple in his hand. After a quick inspection, he tossed it in the trash and got back into bed.

He’d almost drifted into a peaceful sleep when an arm fell across his chest. At least, it felt like an arm, anyway. Suppressing the urge to scream, he slowly turned over, only to stare into the face of Monet St. Croix. Normally, this would’ve been the end of some fantastic dream, but somehow, Angelo knew he was already awake.

“Calm down, man,” he whispered to himself. “There might be a perfectly logical reason why she’s asleep in your bed.”

As if on cue, Monet opened her eyes.

Angelo stared at her.

She smiled and gently kissed his nose. “You were wonderful,” she whispered. Then she closed her eyes.

Angelo was just about to ask what she was talking about when he heard her light snores next to him. He sighed and stared at the ceiling. Things would make sense in the morning. Maybe.