The Wager

Jake raised his hand. “Grandma, you do realize she only called you that because you were on the table —”

“Ssh!” Grandma waved him away. “She’s a prude and she only wears white.”

Char frowned. “Why only white?”

Jake groaned next to her but she ignored him.

Grandma threw the match into the bonfire and shook her head. “She says red’s the color of the devil.”

“And black?”

“The color of hell.”

“Blue?” Char had to ask.

“Sadness.”

“Well, that’s silly.”

“It is,” Grandma agreed. “What she needs is to get a man, but she’s so terrified of them that she’s stayed single. All those years.” She shook her head and tsked.

“All those cats,” Kacey sang from behind Grandma.

“Your future,” Travis nodded, “if you don’t take our advice and go out with Jace.”

“Jace?” Grandma whipped around. “You invited him to the wedding?”

“Fair is fair,” Kacey nodded. “I mean, we want to even out the odds with all the couples, right?”

Grandma glared and then began wringing her hands together.

Char scooted closer to Jake. “I think we’re missing something.”

“Don’t look at me! I’m as clueless as you.”

At that, Grandma snorted. “Yes, he is. Tell me, did you get any wedding preparation done today?”

Jake coughed and looked away.

“Two days!” Grandma held up two fingers. “And Char, don’t forget to request those extra days off with your boss. We don’t want you getting fired.” She winked at Jake.

“Very funny,” he grumbled.

“I think we’re ready!” Travis announced from a few feet behind them.

“Me first!” Grandma charged toward him with her one match and lit it. After a few seconds the firework shot into the sky and cracked.

Fireworks, and they were all for her.

Char giggled and tried to get comfortable in the sand. She felt fingertips graze her shoulder and then Jake was pulling her into his arms. She leaned back against him and sighed as he whispered in her hair. “Happy Birthday, Cinderella.”

“Thanks, Charming.”

“Can I take off your shoes now?”

“Not a chance.”

He tensed behind her.

“But you can hold my hand.”

“Even better.” His hands engulfed hers from behind as he held them in the safety of his embrace.

It was the perfect moment.

Until they heard sirens.

“Uh, Grandma?” Travis scratched his head. “You did get a license from the fire department to set off fireworks on the beach, right?”

Grandma’s silence was answer enough.

Everyone jumped to their feet and made a run for it. All the while Grandma yelled, “I’m not going back to the slammer!”

Luckily they made it safely into the house just as the fire truck and cops showed up on the beach. They turned off all the lights and locked the door.

“On that note,” Grandma sighed happily, “Shall we all go to bed?”

“Yes.” Travis growled, pulling Kacey against him.

Kacey pulled away. “Not until the wedding, hot shot… enjoy the couch.” She slapped his stomach and winked, but Travis wasn’t having any of it. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly, pushing her against the wall.

“Close your eyes,” Jake whispered in Char’s ear. “Last time I kept them open too long I saw tongue—haven’t been the same ever since.”

He let out a grunt when Char smacked him on the stomach and made her way to the bedroom.

“Oh, and Char? You and Jake can take the loft.” Grandma waved good night and walked off.

“But…” Char called to her. “Aren’t there more rooms?”

“Nope,” Jake murmured under his breath. “Looks like you’re stuck with me. Look on the bright side. It’s still your birthday; maybe you’ll get lucky.”

He moved away before Char could hit him. “And maybe you’ll survive the night without getting castrated.”

“Not what you said last time.”

Char glared. “You really want to bring up last time when I’m this close to knives and matches?”

Jake nodded and backed away. “I’ll just go take a shower and see if I can’t find you something to wear to bed.” 

Chapter Nineteen

He was fine.

Fine, fine, fine.

Way too many fines in that sentence. Sure, Jake was doing a stellar job of convincing himself that being in the same room with Char wasn’t going to kill him. It was like junior high camp all over again. Except this time, he knew exactly what he was missing out on while the girl slept far, far, away from him.

He ran his fingers through his hair and tried to focus on the task at hand: finding Char some clothes. Then again, no clothes were always an option. He smirked, then remembered her threat and continued his search.

Opening up the top dresser door, he found some boxers and a t-shirt he used to wear in high school. Those would work.

By the time he had climbed the stairs to the loft he had almost convinced himself that it wasn’t a big deal. “Almost” being the key word.

Char was already lying on the bed, her legs crossed and her arms behind her head, causing her breasts to push against her dress in such a dizzying way that Jake had to close his eyes for a brief second. Take that back— not like junior high camp, not at all.

“I found you clothes.” He threw them toward her face. Okay, so maybe kind of like junior high camp after all, since he was still bullying the girls he liked. Where had his game gone? Out the window, that’s where.

“Thanks,” Char muttered, pulling the clothes off her face. “Hey, I remember this shirt.” She laughed and held it up to her chest. “Man of the Year, huh?”

Jake scratched his head and looked away. “Yeah, well, that was a long time ago.” He had been voted Man of the Year in high school, which basically to a hormonal teenage guy meant he was some sort of sexual god sent down to give attention to all girls within his vicinity. They’d loved that shirt. Every time he wore it—well, let’s just say every time he wore it, he was tardy to class.

“I hated this shirt.” Char put it on the bed and sighed.

“You hated it?” Jake took a seat next to her and grabbed the shirt. Had he really been that small? Hell, back in the day he’d thought he was a cut, muscled god. Pathetic, really. The shirt wouldn’t even fit him now.

“Hated it.” Char leaned back on her arms. “I thought it was stupid that people voted on something so silly and that girls took it so seriously. Like, oh my gosh! Did you see Jake Titus today? He’s so hot and he’s wearing the shirt. You know what that means!”

“Shit, how’d you know?”