Page 24
Story: The Christmas Bet
“Well, you know that winning the bet depends on Allison falling in love with you, so you kinda need to find out.” My world slowly starts to go out of focus, my heart beating fast and my stomach dropping. A bet? What?
“Don’t forget the other half of the bet,” someone pipes in, but I don’t know which one it was.
“Yeah, you know you don’t want to miss out on that sweet prize. You’ve always dreamed of having that Mustang,” one of the guys taunts. He bet on me falling for him for a car? What the actual fuck?
“I mean, I’ve been with her a lot, I’m sure she feels something for me.” Oh, motherfucker, I feel something for you, all right. Anger, hatred, and pure fucking rage are what comes to mind. Conner goes on, “Look, I don’t want to—”
“Well, you need to find out! A bet’s a bet, Conner. Win or lose. You need to find out. You only have a couple more days to do it. Tick tock, man.”
I step around the corner, seething and seeing red. “So, I’m a bet? For what I understand is a car?”
“Well not just any car, it’s a —” My eye daggers keep Roland from even finishing that sentence.
I snap, “This whole thing has been a bet?” My vision begins to blur, but I can see their faces pale before me.
Yeah, motherfuckers, I heard it all.
Conner looks like a deer caught in headlights, his mouth dropping wide open.
“Is this seriously real, Conner? Did you bet on my heart for a fucking car?” My fists curl at my sides, my blood racing though me, my skin feeling like it’s on fire.
“Look, it’s not what you think. I—”
“Oh, it’s exactly what I think, Conner. I heard it with my own two fucking ears. I was a bet. What was the whole bet, Conner?”
I see his Adam’s apple bob as he looks at me. His face has completely paled; he looks almost sickly. “It doesn’t matter.” He shakes his head.
“The fuck it doesn’t, Conner. What wasthe bet?” I ask again through gritted teeth.
Conner looks down, stalling for a moment trying to find his words. “I had to make you fall in love with me by Christmas. I had to get you to want to marry me.” His voice wavers and grows hoarse.
My breath catches in my throat and my stomach drops. This has all been an act.
This was all a game.
I was a game.
“And you would win this car if I did?” I seethe.
“That’s not important.” He hold up a hand towards me, trying to reach for me.
“Yes, it is. Because that’s what this was worth to you. That’s what I was worth to you. A. Fucking. Car.” I take a step back, trying to keep the distance between us.
“No.” Conner shakes his head. “I mean, that was the bet, yes. But, Allie, it was a stupid bet. Please.”
“Well then I guess you won the bet. Because up until a few minutes ago, Conner, I was not only falling in love with you, but I saw a future with you. Congrats on the win.” Tears slide down my cheeks as I turn on my heels and run back the way I came.
I burst through the doors and sprint down the hall. I hear him calling my name, but I don’t turn back.
How could I have been so stupid? I thought we had something together.
I was wrong. He now has a fucking car, and I have a shattered heart.
Chapter 14
Conner
Ifucked up. I really fucked up. I called out to her and chased her until I was sure it would cause a scene. But I fucked up royally.
“Don’t forget the other half of the bet,” someone pipes in, but I don’t know which one it was.
“Yeah, you know you don’t want to miss out on that sweet prize. You’ve always dreamed of having that Mustang,” one of the guys taunts. He bet on me falling for him for a car? What the actual fuck?
“I mean, I’ve been with her a lot, I’m sure she feels something for me.” Oh, motherfucker, I feel something for you, all right. Anger, hatred, and pure fucking rage are what comes to mind. Conner goes on, “Look, I don’t want to—”
“Well, you need to find out! A bet’s a bet, Conner. Win or lose. You need to find out. You only have a couple more days to do it. Tick tock, man.”
I step around the corner, seething and seeing red. “So, I’m a bet? For what I understand is a car?”
“Well not just any car, it’s a —” My eye daggers keep Roland from even finishing that sentence.
I snap, “This whole thing has been a bet?” My vision begins to blur, but I can see their faces pale before me.
Yeah, motherfuckers, I heard it all.
Conner looks like a deer caught in headlights, his mouth dropping wide open.
“Is this seriously real, Conner? Did you bet on my heart for a fucking car?” My fists curl at my sides, my blood racing though me, my skin feeling like it’s on fire.
“Look, it’s not what you think. I—”
“Oh, it’s exactly what I think, Conner. I heard it with my own two fucking ears. I was a bet. What was the whole bet, Conner?”
I see his Adam’s apple bob as he looks at me. His face has completely paled; he looks almost sickly. “It doesn’t matter.” He shakes his head.
“The fuck it doesn’t, Conner. What wasthe bet?” I ask again through gritted teeth.
Conner looks down, stalling for a moment trying to find his words. “I had to make you fall in love with me by Christmas. I had to get you to want to marry me.” His voice wavers and grows hoarse.
My breath catches in my throat and my stomach drops. This has all been an act.
This was all a game.
I was a game.
“And you would win this car if I did?” I seethe.
“That’s not important.” He hold up a hand towards me, trying to reach for me.
“Yes, it is. Because that’s what this was worth to you. That’s what I was worth to you. A. Fucking. Car.” I take a step back, trying to keep the distance between us.
“No.” Conner shakes his head. “I mean, that was the bet, yes. But, Allie, it was a stupid bet. Please.”
“Well then I guess you won the bet. Because up until a few minutes ago, Conner, I was not only falling in love with you, but I saw a future with you. Congrats on the win.” Tears slide down my cheeks as I turn on my heels and run back the way I came.
I burst through the doors and sprint down the hall. I hear him calling my name, but I don’t turn back.
How could I have been so stupid? I thought we had something together.
I was wrong. He now has a fucking car, and I have a shattered heart.
Chapter 14
Conner
Ifucked up. I really fucked up. I called out to her and chased her until I was sure it would cause a scene. But I fucked up royally.