I stood and offered him my hand.
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His eyes moved to it.
A dozen phones were probably recording the moment.
For a brief second I wondered whether pride would make the decision for him.
Then Ethan reached up.
I pulled him to his feet.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“That was annoying.”
I laughed.
“Good.”
“You baited that escape.”
“Yes.”
“I knew you baited it.”
“No, you didn’t.”
He considered that.
“No. I really didn’t.”
Carlos laughed.
The crowd applauded again, but this time the mood had changed.
Less like people had witnessed a defeat.
More like they had seen two people unexpectedly discover something about each other.
Ethan looked toward the envelope on the table.
Then at me.
“A deal’s a deal.”
Richard stepped forward.
“Ethan, we can discuss this privately.”
Ethan’s expression tightened again.
“There’s nothing to discuss.”
“Ten thousand dollars is not something you hand over because of an impulsive challenge.”
“You were standing there when I offered it.”
“That doesn’t make it sensible.”
Ethan walked to the table.
Richard followed.
“Ethan.”
Everyone could hear them.
Ethan stopped.
For the first time that evening, he seemed embarrassed.
Not because he had lost.
