Really, I was less thinking and more counting. Calculating. I wanted to try Professor Tuttle’s gambit from Saturday night. I had an idea for a twist that was all my own, and it might be my only hope. The episode hadn’t aired yet. I might manage to catch George unprepared for this sort of move, but for it to succeed, I had to precisely weigh my odds of getting the cards I needed. Milo was always marveling about my big brain, but I needed every spare neuron as I built a mathematical model in my head. I also needed to not glance at Milo because his faith in me was more than a little intimidating.

I kept tensing up, wanting to make him proud. This would be so much easier if it were just him and me at the pizza place, me showing off about the game or stochastic processes.

Wait.

I was making this far too complex. I remembered how I’d explained things to Milo, making predicting seemingly random events like which cards were likely to show up in a given card draw easy to understand. I had it. Now to show off.

“Quick change,” I announced as I played the card. I’d added it at 2:00 a.m. I hadn’t been able to sleep after Milo left for another night at the professors’ house, and I had kept fiddling with my deck rather than confront how lonely my bed seemed without him in it. And how nervous I was about this match. But I couldn’t show my nerves. I’d let them get the better of me in round two. I wasn’t going to lose twice.

“What fresh hell is this?” George snatched the card up, as I’d known he would. It wasn’t an expensive card, but it also wasn’t common. Few players wanted to discard their entire hand and take the risk of all new cards. But I’d done the math. This was my best chance.

“Response?” I tried to sound bored, like I didn’t care if he countered the card. But everything hinged on him letting the card through. I also didn’t dare look at anyone. If Kellan or Professor Tuttle caught on to my move, their expression could give me away.

“Whatever.” George waved his hand dismissively. “Do your Hail Mary.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” I discarded the five cards I’d been holding, then drew a fresh five. I didn’t waste time reviewing them. In that moment, I was the Frog Wizard and my ability to deceive and mislead was more important than what I’d actually drawn. “Your turn.”

“This is getting pointless.” George took his turn and shaved another few points off my life total. Another turn and he’d have me.

Showtime. My turn. I slapped down a hasty warrior princess, schooling my expression.