Unlikely Hearts - Logan Huntzberger

Chapter Seven

The evening air was crisp as Alouette and Madeline made their way across campus, laughter bubbling between them. They were headed to a poker night hosted by a couple of junior guys who had a reputation for throwing wild parties. The closer they got, the more Alouette felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension. After everything that had transpired on her birthday, the last thing she wanted was to run into Logan.

"Are you ready to clean up at poker?" Madeline asked, nudging Alouette with her elbow. "I've heard these guys can't play for crap."

"Please," Alouette scoffed, a confident smirk spreading across her face. "They might have money, but they don't have skill. Just watch me take their cash."

As they reached the apartment door, Alouette noticed a familiar group gathered outside. Her brother, Atlas, was there, laughing with Colin and a few other friends. The moment they saw her, they waved her over.

"Alouette! Madeline!" Atlas called, his voice booming over the chatter. "You two are just in time to lose all your money!"

"Yeah, right! I'll show you how it's done," Alouette shot back, the competitive fire igniting within her.

Once inside, the atmosphere was charged. The room was dimly lit, filled with the scent of pizza and the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses. A table in the center was set up for the poker game, surrounded by a crowd of eager spectators. She quickly spotted Logan across the room, surrounded by a group of guys, his trademark smirk firmly in place. Their eyes met briefly, and the tension crackled in the air like static electricity.

Madeline grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the table. "Come on! Let's play!"

Alouette took her seat, a mix of excitement and annoyance swirling in her chest. She was good at poker—very good. It was a game of strategy, and she loved the challenge. The other players were all rich kids, overly confident in their abilities, and she relished the thought of taking their money.

Logan sauntered over, casually tossing a chip in front of her. "I didn't realize we had a professional in the house. How much do you think you can lose tonight, Davenport?"

"Not as much as you will, Huntzberger," she shot back, her tone sharper than she intended. "Maybe you should check the size of your ego before you sit down."

He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Is that all you've got? I expected better from you after your little birthday party."

Alouette clenched her jaw, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. "What, did you think I was going to sit around reminiscing about how you ruined my night? Sorry to disappoint."

"Honestly, it was hard to tell. You seemed awfully focused on where Alex was," Logan taunted, leaning back with a casual air. "Or was it just an act?"

"Better than being with someone who thinks playing with daddy's money makes him a man," she shot back, irritation spilling over. "At least Alex isn't a pathetic loser who can't take a hint."

The other players around the table snickered, exchanging glances, but no one dared to step in. They were all too entertained by the escalating feud between Logan and Alouette, both too stubborn to back down.

"Touché," Logan said, his smirk widening. "But don't think I'm going to let you win just because you've got a chip on your shoulder. You'll have to work a little harder than that."

As the game progressed, chips flew back and forth, and the banter grew increasingly intense. Every time Alouette won a hand, she couldn't resist shooting a comment at Logan, and he always had a snide comeback ready.

"You're playing like a scared little kid, Alouette," Logan teased, leaning forward. "Didn't you say you were a pro?"

"Better than you," she replied coolly, her eyes narrowing as she carefully considered her next move. "At least I don't need to rely on my family's name to win."

"Wow, Davenport, are you seriously that insecure?" Logan retorted, feigning concern. "It must be exhausting having to constantly prove yourself. I guess I can't blame you for jumping into bed with Alex."

The other players winced at the jab, and whispers began circulating among Atlas, Colin, and the rest of the group. They couldn't help but watch the verbal sparring match unfold, the stakes becoming increasingly personal. Meanwhile, Alouette and Logan continued to spar, both too consumed by their own frustrations to notice the bets being placed on their relationship.

"Let's raise the stakes," Alouette declared, sliding a stack of chips into the center of the table. "Who's in?"

Logan smirked, leaning back in his chair. "What's the matter? Afraid of losing everything?"

"Not at all," she replied coolly. "But you might want to think about what it's like to lose when you're used to winning."

The final hand was intense, cards flying down as tension mounted. Alouette's heart raced as she revealed her hand—four of a kind. Cheers erupted around her as she collected the chips, feeling a rush of victory. She had done it.

Logan leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "Congratulations, you got lucky tonight. But don't think this is over," he said, a hint of challenge in his voice.

"Bring it on, Huntzberger," she retorted, a confident grin on her face. "I'm ready for whatever you throw at me."

As the night continued with laughter and camaraderie, the whispers among their friends swirled around them, but neither Alouette nor Logan was aware of the stakes rising beyond the poker table. The unresolved tension simmered beneath the surface, fueling their rivalry while also igniting an undercurrent of something neither of them was ready to confront.