The Bet (The Bet 1)

“Well, honey, I’m sorry it just looks like—” She pointed then blushed. “—and then I know how you were when you were little.” Oh no.

“How exactly was he?” Kacey asked, suddenly intrigued.

“Oh, he used to have little accidents and nightmares, nothing serious.”

Kacey beamed. “Really? Well I’m sure the bunny he slept with was a huge comfort during those difficult times.”

“Bunny?” Jake and his dad said in unison.

The only people that knew about the stupid bunny were Kacey and his mother. It had been a gift from his grandpa before he died, but he had named it after Kacey, not that he’d ever told her that.

After one careless night of sleeping with the damn thing in junior high, Kacey had wandered into his room and found it.

It was the only time they had been civil.

Now, all bets were off. “Really, Kacey, I doubt it’s any worse than that stupid lamb you used to sleep with. You know, the one you refused to let anyone wash?”

“It wasn’t dirty!” she argued.

“It was gray.”

“So?”

“Its original color was white.”

Kacey’s mouth went into a firm line, and she raised her hand.

Travis’s mom clapped. “Children, really. Goodness. Everyone go wash up and be down here in the next hour. We’re going to have an early supper and go over wedding plans, and then have family game night, a normal family game night.”

“Fine,” they all snapped and walked in different directions.

Chapter Twenty

Jake had tried to appear unaffected by Kacey’s little speech, but after going to his room and feeling sorry for himself, he’d realized he needed to give her a real apology.

He’d gotten to thinking. What if? What if he could change? What if he could be the man Kacey needed? What would life really be like with her? Would he be bored out of his mind? Or did he owe it to both of them to at least try?

Confused, he had run downstairs only to see his older brother straddling Kacey and attempting to spit on her face.

Their immaturity knew no bounds, but at least now he knew there was absolutely nothing romantic going on between the two.

Travis was twenty-three, and at that age, if he used violence to still attract girls, well, then no wonder he was still single. And a girl like Kacey wouldn’t fall prostrate for a guy who still resorted to childhood pranks in order to win her favor.

Geez, if Jake were a nicer guy he’d actually give some tips to his brother. He desperately needed them.

Maybe everyone would be safer if he just kept Kacey and Travis away from one another. It seemed they brought out the worst in each other.

By the time they had all returned to the dining room, his mother had actually put name cards on the table.

Classy.

Kacey was sitting between him and Grandma. Good choice.

Travis was sitting on the opposite end of the table with— Wait! Why was there another place setting?

“Company tonight?” Really? Did his mother think that safe after the escapade in the kitchen? Not to mention his brother punching him in the face for no reason.

Okay, so he punched him because he was upset with Jake for not paying attention to Kacey. It’s possible he kind of deserved it, but only slightly.