Page 43 of The Arrangement

Tate sits on the edge of Jason’s desk—just out of reach of Jason’s right hand.

“I’m about to be one hundred thousand dollars richer,” Tate says, needling Jason.

“Why?” I ask.

“Get out of here, Tate,” Jason says.

Tate grins like a cat that ate the canary.

“What’s going on?” I ask again, curiosity getting the best of me.

“I bet my brother that he won’t get married within three years and stay married for six consecutive months.”

What? I start to dismiss Tate’s words as a joke, but Jason’s reaction makes me think it’s not.

Tate looks at me over his shoulder. “It’s a sure bet if you want in on it.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, shaking the fog out of my head. “Say that again. You bet one hundred thousand dollars that Jason won’t get married within the next three years?”

“Yup.” Tate grins. “Easy bet, huh?”

“Tate,leave,” Jason says firmly.

“You’re just mad that you’re going to lose,” Tate says.

I wave a hand in the air. “Is this real? You really bet on Jason’s marital status?”

Tate stands looking pleased with himself. “We bet on a lot of ridiculous things and just give it to charity. We’d give it to charity anyway, so why not have some fun with it?”

Fair.

“Do I win the most?” Tate asks. “Yes. Are my brothers salty about it? Also, yes. But this might be the easiest money I’ve ever won.”

“I bet my brother that he won’t get married within three years and stay married for six consecutive months.”

My brain starts to spin. Each second that passes by increases the speed ten-fold. The pace makes me dizzy, and I grab the back of a chair to steady myself.

Tate’s words echo through my brain like a recording that won’t stop playing.He bet his brother and is donating the money …

An idea—a dangerous, wild idea, pops up in my mind. It’s risky and silly, but it might just work.

I flip my gaze to Jason and find him watching me.

He did ask if he could help …

“So you’re going to pay the money one way or the other, right?” I ask, gripping the chair. “One of you is paying the other.”

“Right,” Tate says.

I don’t look away from Jason. “And what defines a charity?”

“I don’t know. A charity is a charity.”

My eyes flutter closed briefly as I try to talk myself out of this. I need to stop talking, go back to my office, and get ahold of myself. But as my eyes open again, I’m reminded of finding Mimi this morning on the bathroom floor in tears …

“What if you win, Tate, and decide you want Jason to donate his winnings to someone you meet on the street?” I ask carefully. “Would Jason have to give them the money?”

Tate shrugs. “If that person needed it, I don’t see why not. The idea is to help others.”