Playing to Win

“Oh, really? Then I guess you’d rather do the other thing?” I was taking a chance and I knew it, but what other choice did I have?

Payton’s eyes narrowed. “What do you know about that?”

Ha! I didn’t know anything, but I was right. Working with me had been option number two, the lesser of two evils. Payton had been a bad boy indeed.

I shrugged. “Does it matter?” His eyes wavered with a flicker of doubt. “What’s it going to be, Payton?”

He still wanted to be the tough guy, the one with the upper hand. “Maybe I don’t care. Maybe I just did this because it sounded easier.” He looked me in the eye. “Performing in a talent show doesn’t sound easy.”

I’d have to sweeten the pot. An idea had occurred to me as we talked. Probably overkill, but I didn’t care. No skin off my nose either way.

“Okay, Payton. Fine. I’m willing to make you a deal because you’re my girlfriend’s little brother. Consider it a friends and family thing.”

Payton’s top lip curled. “I can’t believe you kiss my sister.”

“Believe it. And I love every second of it.” I held back a laugh while he pretended to throw up in his mouth.

“You ready to hear my offer,” I asked.

Payton hesitated, but only for a second, before nodding. Whatever the other option might be, it must suck.

“Okay, if you go through with this and you don’t give me any crap while we work to get you ready to perform a song in front of all your friends-” Was it my imagination, or did he turn a little green? “If you commit to this, right here, right now, there’s a ticket in it for you.”

“A ticket? For what?” I’d piqued his interest. Good. Now for the clincher.

“A ticket to see Carly Ryan in concert on November first.”

Payton’s mouth dropped open before he caught himself and laughed. “Yeah, right, man. Like you have a ticket to see Carly Ryan.”

“Not just one ticket, three. One for you. One for me. And one for Jordan.” Or I would as soon as I made a phone call. It would only be a matter of one ticket, however, because two would already be waiting for me at will call the night of the concert, just like they always were and had been since she hit it big when I was five. It didn’t matter where she was in the world, I’d get a text before every show letting me know she’d left two tickets with my name on them at will call. I’d taken her up on them a few times, and only since I got my driver’s license, but they were always there.

Payton scoffed. “How do you have three tickets to see Carly Ryan? Those tickets sold out weeks ago.”

The whole tour had sold out in under an hour.

“What’ll it be, Payton? This is the deal. Take it or leave it, but I’m only going to offer it once. I don’t have to sit here and torture myself everyday. I can do something else to get my hours.” I acted as though I didn’t care, but I did. Jordan would be heartbroken if this didn’t work out.

“You seriously have Carly Ryan tickets and you’ll give one to me if I do a stupid talent show?”

I nodded. “I seriously do and I will. But this isn’t a joke. You have to work hard and do a good job. You can’t just go up there and play Chopsticks, so to speak, and think we have a deal.”

Payton chewed his lip. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. “Carbine is opening for Carly Ryan. They’re my favorite band.”

And just like that, folks, I had him. “Dude, are you kidding? Because I can introduce you to them.”

“Holy sh- I mean, crap! Are you serious? But how?” Payton eyed me with suspicion. “You can get tickets to a sold out concert and introduce me to the opening act? How is that possible?”

Well, crap. I didn’t want to answer all that just yet. “I have my ways, don’t you worry. And Payton.” I paused, waiting for him to meet my gaze. “For now, this is between you and me. You can’t run around telling everyone. Not even Jordan.” I gave him a hard stare, hoping he’d realize I was serious. “That’s a deal breaker, kid. Got it?”

“Dude, if you can get me in to meet Carbine, I’ll do whatever you want.”