Page 22 of Between Secrets and Obsession

I watch him, wondering where this conversation is going. I’m wary of his intentions but want to know what’s on his mind. “Well, I don’t know about that, but thanks.”

“Honest question. If you had more money to play with, do you think you could win more?”

A chuckle escapes me. “Well, that depends. Nothing’s guaranteed, and betting more doesn’t always mean winning more, but hypothetically, I think so. I could make larger bets orplay in bigger tournaments but the entry fees are ridiculous and usually out of my price range.”

“Right, so you could join higher stakes games. Say you could afford fifty grand buy-ins. Winnings close to half a million. Would you do it?”

At first, I think he’s joking, but when I blink and study his serious expression, I realize he’s not. “I don’t have that kind of money. Even if I did, it’s a huge risk.”

“But would you take it if you had a partner to help pay the upfront expense?”

His question lingers as I finish my beer and set the empty glass down on the bar, realizing what he’s implying. “I don’t know. That’s a lot of money to gamble.”

“Well, think about it. I have the cash, and you’ve got the skills. I think we could do a deal where we’d both profit and walk away happy.” He grabs the bartender’s attention and orders more drinks. I think about his proposition, then tell him I need more time to mull it over. We shoot the shit as we continue to drink, then exchange numbers to stay in touch.

“Let me know. You could win a lot of money,” he says before turning and walking away.

Feeling buzzed, I go up to my room, fall on my bed, and try to get some sleep since I plan on doing it all over again tomorrow. Winning twenty thousand dollars this weekend is feasible since I’m already halfway there. But having the opportunity to win hundreds of thousands isn’t something I could ever afford. Meanwhile, JJ is handing me a golden ticket, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play with the big dogs and walk away with cash that’d take me years to make. Though it’s a risk, I fall asleep thinking how stupid it’d be not to take this opportunity.

CHAPTER FOUR

MADDIE

Tomorrow,I officially turn twenty-one, and it’s about time. But when the clock strikes midnight, nothing will really change. I’ll always be the youngest in my family, so it’s not like everyone will magically treat me like an adult.

After rehearsal, Sophie picks me up, and we go home where she cooks dinner. Once we eat, I start studying because I have a few tests next week, and I’m trying not to cram so much this semester. The thought makes me laugh because I know it won’t last long.

It’s past seven, and I’m busy with my nose in my geology book learning about the different compositions of rocks when Liam walks through the front door, laughing on his phone and being rowdy. I try to ignore him, but it’s nearly impossible when he’s dressed so nicely in a sleek black polo shirt and dark washed jeans. He shoves his phone into his pocket, plops on the couch next to me, and flicks on the TV.

“Rude!” I scold, the noise distracting me. “I’m trying to study here.”

“Then go to your room. This is the community living space where we watch TV and hang out,” he explains as if I’m stupid, and I swear he’s just trying to get me worked up.

I just need to get through this last chapter without my eyes rolling in the back of my head from boredom, but it will be nearly impossible with him being so close. Combine that with the loud volume, and I’m doomed. I slam my book shut and glare at him before packing up my shit. “Fine.”

As I make my way down the hallway, I hear Liam yell from the sofa.

“I’m kidding,” he says. “Come back. I’ll turn it off.”

I smirk, before turning around and going back to the living room where his feet are propped up on the coffee table.

“Are you excited about your party?” he asks as I sit back down.

Lennon and Sophie planned a birthday bash tomorrow night for me. “Yeah, but I don’t think I want to wait until then to start celebrating, considering I technically turn twenty-one in four and a half hours.”

Liam glances at me and shakes his head. “I’m not giving you booze now, so don’t even ask.”

“Oh, I don’t need you, Hulk. I can Uber to the bar and order it myself at midnight.” I shrug as if I don’t care either way. I somehow finish the chapter about Earth’s geological subsystems and close my book as he plays on his phone. “Guess I better get dressed.”

“Absolutely not,” he snaps.

“We’ll see,” I tell him, pulling my phone from my pocket and checking the time before packing all my books into my backpack.

“You have school tomorrow,” he says as if that’ll make me change my mind.

“And I’ll skip.” I shrug and stand, but he doesn’t even crack a smile. “Oh come on, don’t tell me you’ve never missed class because you’d be lying. I know better.”

There’s nothing he can say, and he knows it. “I’ll tell your sisters.”