The Gamble: A Novel

by Xavier Neal

  Did she get hotter? Is that even possible? I mean... come on. Look at her. Her tits were perfect before but now they're like extra perfect. Ass too. And those fucking eyes too. How'd they get even more beautiful?

  When we finally reach her car, I playfully state, “Guess we'll have to pick another topic to talk about for the next three weeks.”

  Alexxa leans against the driver's side door. “Guess so.”

  Silence starts to creep in and a gust of fall wind kicks up. Unsure of the best way to start, I go in head first, “I'm sorry about everything that happened.”

  “Everything?”

  “Well, all the bad shit that went down. I'm sorry for all that.”

  “How sorry?”

  “Really fucking sorry.”

  She folds her arms across her chest. “Sorry enough to beg on your knees?”

  Didn't see that coming.

  The question shifts my weight. “Is that what it's gonna take?”

  Her eyes stay in mine. “That's where it's gonna start.”

  “Then yeah, I'll beg, on my knees.”

  “Right here. Right now.”

  Seeing the challenge in her eyes running along with the desperation of needing me to be the man of my word she fears I'm not, I drop my gym bag to the side, and lower myself down to both my knees. Once I'm there, I repeat, “I'm so fucking sorry.”

  There's an immediate uproar of laughter from behind me and I turn around to see the players filing out of the building.

  Fuck.

  My instinct is to jump up, shake it off, pretend the shit never happened, but when I turn around to see Alexxa waiting for me to make my next play, most likely to do just that, I stay still.

  “How does it feel?” She softly questions. “How does it feel to have the person who loves you embarrass and dehumanize you?”

  I twist a smile. “You still love me?”

  Flustered, she tosses her hands in the air. “Of course I still love you ya big fucking asshole!”

  After a small laugh, I start again, “I'm really really fucking sorry, Alexxa. I know it doesn't matter if I say it every day for the rest of our lives, it'll still never be enough. You're a person not a conquest and it was my own fucked up self worth that made me treat you that way.”

  Her shoulders slump as she whispers, “You...you can get up now...”

  The minute I'm on my feet my mouth runs away again, “I love you, baby. I think part of me always has. I think the bet was just my stupid-”

  “Very stupid.”

  “Very stupid way of trying to have a scrimmage without risking losing an actual game, without having to risk losing you. You're my best friend. You're...my favorite teammate, and life isn't a sport worth competing in without you by my side. Sounds corny and ripped off from a bad B movie, but it's the God's honest truth. I don't even care if we have to start all over again. I don't care if we have to start as friends and it takes another three years to get back where we were as long as we get back where we were.”

  To my surprise she runs her hands down my chest. “I feel like you've been practicing that speech.”

  “Once or twice,” I casually lie.

  Some variation of it basically every night before I crash out in my half drunken state.

  “But I mean every fucking word of it.”

  She tugs at the bottom of my shirt. “You'll wait another three years to have sex with me?”

  I fight the desire to groan. “If...if I have to.”

  “What about four?”

  “Fine.”

  “Five?”

  “Are we on some sort of fucked up version of The Price is Right?”

  She starts to giggle and for the first time in what feels like forever, everything seems to be right in my world. Alexxa softly whispers, “I've missed you...”

  Carefully I slide my hands onto her hips. “I've missed the hell out of you...”

  I prepare to lower my mouth to hers when she snaps with a stern finger in my face. “But I swear if you ever and I do mean ever do something this level of fucked up again, I will cut off your balls and turn them into Dandy's chew toy.”

  A shudder runs through me at the thought.

  That would be a backfire for getting her a dog if there ever was one.

  “I'll do it myself.” The declaration has her melting back into my arms. Our eyes connect for a brief moment. “Can I kiss you now?”

  She smiles but shakes her head. “No.”

  “Well I'm gonna do it anyway.”

  “Then why'd you ask?”

  “To be polite?”

  “You sona-” is the only part to successfully make it out of her before my tongue is swirling around hers, pleading for absolution. Alexxa allows me to continue to dictate the details of it as I attempt to devour her harder, faster, equally terrified she might change her mind and starving for her affections.

  The kiss is interrupted by Kellar's voice. “Glad you made up.”

  Our lips part and I move my body to lean like hers.

  Cock blocked. Guess I deserve that for sucking for the first three quarters of the game.

  “Figured there was a reason you were playing like shit today.”

  I shrug. “Kinda fucked up...”

  “Kinda?” Alexxa croaks.

  “Royally.”

  To my surprise, Kellar smirks and adjusts his gym bag. “We've all been there. Trust me. It's not an accident my dad named this place after my mom.”

  “Your dad owns this place?” I question, slightly surprised he's never mentioned it previously.

  He nods, but Alexxa states, “Wow. How bad did he screw up to have to name a building after her?”

  “A franchise,” Kellar corrects on a chortle.

  “See,” I playfully nudge her. “I could've fucked up much worse.”

  She pins me with a glare.

  Wrong thing huh? Shit. Well, I'm not naming my company after her!

  Kellar lets out a loud laugh and pulls out his keys. “I'm gonna go before she murders you.”

  “Good call,” Alexxa agrees.

  “Good game, Kellar.”

  “You too, Larson,” he says. A couple steps away he turns back around. “Hey, Megan's been asking about the four of us hanging out again. You two up for that?”

  “Yeah,” my girl answers and leans into my touch. I drape my arm around her shoulder. “Maybe something next week?”

  Kellar nods. “I'll double check the calendar. I think she's got some bachelorette party to attend or some shit next weekend, but other than that we should be good.”

  “Just send Luca a text.”

  He gives a wave and finishes the path to his car.

  I cock a smile. “Double dating means, we're dating again. You do know that?”

  She lets out a defeated sigh. “You're such a pain in the ass.”

  “But you love me.”

  Alexxa's sparkling brown eyes peer up at me. “Because you love me.”

  “And I'll never fucking stop.”

  My lips softly descend onto hers, stealing a beautiful whimper.

  I'm a Larson. We always get the woman we love, even if we fuck up majorly in the process.

  Epilogue

  Alexxa

  “This is a set up,” I deny, refusing to get out of the car.

  “How is this a set up? I want you to meet my parents.”

  “Yeah.” My head snaps to him. “Hence, set up.”

  “What could I possibly be setting you up for?”

  “A break- up?”

  Luca tilts his head at me sarcastically. “You think I've worked this hard to rebuild things with you just to break up?”

  He really has. On one hand, he's still my favorite laid back, sports driven asshole who thinks it's funny to let the dog lick up his spilled beer, but on the other hand, he's been making a huge effort to do 'the boyfriend duties' as he calls them. Planning dates, single and double. Helping make dinner with me and walk the dog. He even attends her training cl
asses calling her 'ours' rather than mine. Trust isn't what it once was, but I think in time it'll be even better. The sex sure is, which is a fucking mind warp. I thought I love you sex took the cake, but it turns out 'I love you, I'm sorry sex' is infinitely better. 'I love you please don't make me do the dishes' sex is a close contender.

  “Besides it's Thanksgiving. Who breaks up with a chick on a holiday?”

  I roll my eyes.

  See. Same old Luca.

  “And who breaks up with a chick when they just got the final investor for his company and can't wait to celebrate?”

  Luca's father apparently set him up with some investors who were enthralled with the unique idea. Four of the six immediately said yes while the fifth took time to crunch more figures, giving Luca the final yes earlier this week. He hasn't told his parents because he wanted me by his side when he did. Yeah. It's pretty much like 'Hey mom and dad, who apparently rekindled their marriage, my biggest goal is being reached and oh yeah, here's the girl I'm currently fucking.' Okay so maybe not word for word...

  He lightly laughs and folds his fingers with mine. “Baby, you're just nervous.”

  “Ya think?”

  “Hey, I was nervous when I met your parents.”

  “You were only nervous because my dad hates your favorite football team and you were worried there was going to be a brawl over it.”

  It was just a random night of the week dinner. Nothing special. Nothing like a fucking holiday! Thank goodness for that too. All of my sisters, their husbands, and my nieces appear at my parents’ house for Thanksgiving. It immediately becomes suffocating. It's one reason I said yes to doing the holidays with Luca's family instead.

  “True. But there wasn't and your mother loves me.”

  “She'd love you less if she knew you were torturing her youngest daughter.”

  “Now meeting my parents is torture?”

  “Yes!” Quickly I try again, “No! I don't know! I've never met a boyfriend's parents before.”

  “And I had never met a girlfriend's parents before!” Luca lets out a deep sigh, “Look, we're both still new to most of this shit, right? The important thing is we do it together. Like teammates.”

  I tease, “Does everything have to be a sports reference? Can we get a food reference every once in a while?”

  “My mom's making her famous enchiladas,” he tempts. “You know you can't say no to those.”

  “Ooo, you do know your opponent.”

  “Teammate,” he reiterates. “We go in like a team.”

  “What if they hate me?”

  With an unlock of the car doors he says, “They probably wanna give you a medal for taking me back after the stunt I pulled.”

  I do deserve a medal.

  “Come on.” He lets go of my hand and we get out of the car. The two of us link back up the minute we have a chance. “There's no reason to be this nervous. Nothing in the world could take me away from you.”

  Fighting the urge to coo over his sweet words, I state, “You have to stop watching She's All That. You're starting to sound a little too Freddie Prinze Jr. for my taste.”

  He chuckles and tugs me in closer. “Oh, you like when I'm an asshole?”

  “No.” I give him a wink. “I love it...”

  Which is crazy I know, but that's the thing about Luca. Yeah, he made a mistake when he turned me into some sort of sick game to win, but he never stopped being who he was. He didn't suddenly pretend to love opera or Oprah because he thought it's what I wanted. He's always just been himself even when he was busy trying to win me over. I guess when you think about it, both of us took a gamble letting our guard down for the one another. In a way I like to think we both won something with the bet. He won the girl and I won the chance to see the part of him he was too afraid to show without a reason. Any way you look at it, love is a gamble. The real question is, are you willing to place a bet?

  Did you enjoy Luca and Alexxa? If you have time, I would love for you to leave a review!

  Thank Yous!

  Crazy Lady- You better be resting!

  Her Husband- Hope you're watching T.V.

  Sissy B- Thank you for working for food, hahahaha. (At least for now)

  The Lumberjack- I promise I'll probably always sound words out as I spell, lol

  The Law Student- Thanks for the vote of confidence.

  Katniss- Can you believe how far we've come?

  Throwback- You rock so hard...

  The Real Life Erin- Hoping we have more time together soon and that you fell for Luca as hard as I hoped you would.

  Dallas Angie- Love our lunches!

  Boss Lady- Here we are...still kicking ass and taking name. Love you.

  Genie- What in the world would I do without you?

  The Editor- Soooooo love when you start working on a new project with me! Gives me the happiest giggles.

  The PAs- Left and Right brain, buckle up because it's about to get crazzzyyyyy!

  Marketing Guru- I see you over there....reading this....lol xoxo always.

  Dream Team- You ladies hold it down big time!

  Jamie R.- You woman are fantastic and I'm so glad to have you around.

  Kerry S.- You lady, my across the pond beauty, have a piece of my heart. Hope you know that. Give digger kisses and send the boys my love.

  Randy S- For the awesome photo and more importantly for the AWESOME friendship. You are amazing, your work is amazing, and your spirit is amazing. Never forget you've got a fan in this girl.

  Bob G. - You look damn hot on the cover, hahaha. But in all seriousness, thank you for this moment in your career and I sincerely wish you huge success and happiness.

  When I Grow Up- To all the authors out there who I follow, who help me, who have supported me from a share, to advice, I cannot possibly thank you enough, but damn sure will never stop trying.

  Bloggers- You are the heroes and I'll never forget that or take it for granted. Thank you for everything you do for me.

  Readers- You are the reason I get to wake up in the morning and do what I love most in the world. Every time you read something from me, you take a piece of my soul, and I hope you know how much I appreciate you and love you.

  Until next time....

  Curious about Dean and Megan? They have their own standalone story too!

  Mollify (A Senses Series Novel)

  Dean "Mr. O" Kellar has been following closely in the footsteps of his famous adopted father for years, but when Megan Davis pops back into his life suddenly he starts following him in a new light. She was the girl who saved Dean when they were children and the girl he needs to save now. Will the two of them be torn apart once more or will their hearts be allowed a chance to finally mollify?

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