The Bet (The Bet 1)

Kacey shook her head. Maybe she should be the shoe. And then when she passed Travis on the game board she could step on his game piece.

“Sean Halverson?”

Kacey rolled her eyes. “Please, that boy was at the bottom of the list and I think you know why.”

“Wandering hands that one.” Jake shook his head. “I’ve got it!” He snapped his fingers. “Cooper Reynolds! It has to be him. Girls used to cry when he broke up with them as if someone was dying or something. I guarantee you it’s him. Did you know that he’s single now and—”

Travis slammed his fist on the table, silencing the conversation. “Sorry, thought I saw a bug.”

Kacey looked at him then and raised her eyebrow. “Really? I didn’t see anything.”

“It was there.” He pointed, teeth clenched.

“You sure you’re not imagining things?” she said tightly. “After all, we both know how much you like imaginary things. Take for example, your little bunny. Do you still sleep with it?”

Travis smiled tightly. “I don’t know, Kace, do you still suck your thumb?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Oo, mature Travis. Tell me, do you have to plan conversations in your head so you don’t stutter, or are you beyond that now?”

She knew she’d hit a nerve. He murmured a curse word. “Can we just play the damn game?”

Grandma laughed. “Oh kids, you’ve always been such teasers. Yes, let’s play. Now Kacey, remember not to cheat.”

“I don’t cheat.” Kacey crossed her heart. “I’m not the cheating kind.”

Jake’s eyes flickered to her before he looked down and cleared his throat.

Kacey was glad nobody noticed the exchange, but then looked to her right. Travis was staring at the two of them, his head looking back and forth. She forced a smile and shrugged.

“Kace, you want some tea or something? You know, to calm you down.”

“I’m calm.” She was by no stretch of the imagination calm, just sitting next to Travis and his perceptive eyes made her want to scream. On top of that, his cologne decided to float off of him very near her nose, making her mouth go dry and her tongue feel thick in her mouth.

“I’ll be right back, regardless of how much we despise each other. I still need you to be a good partner so I can beat Jake.”

“In your dreams.” Jake laughed, then looked at his money. “Okay, guys, it’s time. Let’s roll to see who goes first!”

Travis left the room but quickly returned with tea and handed it to Kacey. “Is it poisoned?”

“No. You should be proud. I didn’t even put any Bendaryl in there.”

“Pity,” Grandma said from the other side of the table.

“Let’s do this.” Wescott pumped his fist in the air.

All in all, the Titus family was way too excited for family game night.

She had forgotten how intense it usually was.

She soon remembered when Grandma began screaming that Wescott was embezzling money from the bank.

“Um…” Kacey raised her hand. “How does one embezzle in Monopoly?”

Wescott shrugged.

Grandma glared.

Bets laughed and patted her husband on the knee. Kacey watched the exchange, then noticed that yes, money had been left on his leg.