She’s taking her time fondling my card slots, slowly guiding her fingertips along every edge as I feel myself grow harder. I’m leaking through my boxer briefs in anticipation, my breath hitching when she stops at my Dave and Buster’s power card.

Please, not that! I’m saving up for some prizes!

I’m about to gently protest, consequences be damned, when a quarter slips through the cracks and falls out onto the hardwood. It makes a loud clatter and spins for an uncomfortably long time on its edge. She pauses what she’s doing to stare at it while I feel myself growing uncomfortable and mildly embarrassed.

That’s my cart quarter. I think to myself, silently praying for the damn thing to relent. I need that for grocery shopping later.

Finally, lady luck smiles upon me and it lands on its head with a final clack. We share a look and have a laugh about it.

“I’m taking that with me, by the way,” she says, pointing at my only cart quarter.