The Bet

by Ty Langston

  “How bad was your flirting that night? It’s been a couple of years since I’ve seen you onstage. I have to admit that I even blushed the night I saw you in Philly that one time.” Adele smiled.

  “Oh that thing with the bras? Hell that was nothing,” he told her.

  Adele’s eyes perked up. She laughed as she began to remind him.

  “You wrapped a bra around your eyes and went into the fan pit where it was nearly a miracle that you didn’t get molested by a dozen of those crazy fans of yours.”

  Chris laughed. “That was fun.”

  “Does Gabrielle know that all of it is in fun? You know as well as I do that she had an abusive ex-boyfriend.”

  “We’ve been together for over a year, and before that, friends. How many times has she seen me onstage? I don’t think my flirting was the problem,” he told her.

  “Than what is?” asked Adele.

  “I think she wants a traditional boyfriend. One that can leave at eight in the morning and come home by 5 pm.”

  “Considering that she had that with the ex and it failed rather miserably, I sincerely doubt it. Give it some time; the two of you will work this out. I know when you and the guys first left on tour, she was up crying for half of the night.”

  Chris’ eyes softened with sadness. He had no clue about this until now.

  “Then we made that freakin ass bet. I shouldn’t have done it. I just had to one-up her. Then, to make matters worse, there was this girl in Vegas who took some hot photos of us. So what I did do? I proposed Gabby and the girl to have a threesome with me so that I could be with Gabby and watch Gabby with this woman.”

  “What the hell did you go and do that for?” Adele yelled

  “I know I’m such an asshole! I wanted to win the bet. And, to try something different,” he said putting his head down.

  “A bet? What bet did you two make?” Adele asked.

  “I bet her that I could seduce her in the same way I flirted with fans onstage. She bet that she could hold me off for as long as possible. If I win, she would have to go to every Giants home game. If she won, then she got me home after this tour-which is now. For awhile.”

  Adele laughed. “She’s winning! Now you’re scared. That is what’s wrong with you. She is beating you. Wow! Chris, that last move was desperate!” his surrogate mother said as she continued to let out a huge belly laugh.

  “She’s pissed and barely talking to me. What am I going to do? You know that band and I just are getting our feet wet. Writing-wise, Tate and I couldn’t be tighter.” Chris told her

  “She let all of you go through your stuff with your ex manager. And write and work for all those months until the wee hours of the morning and never said a word.”

  “Do you think she should have?” he asked.

  “Considering what an emotional whirlwind she’s been through? I sure as hell would have. But then again, because I know how hard you all work to allow us all to have what we have. I would have probably let you gone on, too. The music is a part of you. She wouldn’t have wanted to take that away”

  “But Del, I still don’t get why she was so angry to begin with. She’s been around this before. She knows there is only her. I love her. What do I have to do to prove it? Tattoo it on my forehead? Smoke letters. I have told her until I’ve been blue in the face.”

  “Maybe it’s not about the girls. What can you do besides music Chris? What have you done besides music in the last 11 or 12 years? You were in such a bad place before you met her. You’re a different Chris than what we were all are familiar with. I know as your friend, I am selfish, but I wouldn’t mind if you hung out and learned a new thing from Gabby’s brother or even hung out with her dad from time to time. You smile a lot more now than you did back then. It’s time to enjoy your success,” Adele told him

  “What about the music? The songs are just flowing. The CD is doing well. This tour is sold out. I think we should do more dates.”

  “Keep writing and do a couple of shows here and there. Create new material and experience life. The music will be there when you come back. It’s not everything. Gabrielle won’t tell you. Sam and Tate won’t, either. But I will. It’s time for Christian Knight to come out. Chris Knight, the rock star can watch on the sidelines and maybe learn a thing from us normal people. But Chris, you would not be grappling with all of this unless there was a part of you that wanted to stay home and learn about who you are and what you want your life with Gabrielle to be.”

  Chris looked up at her and smiled. He kissed her on the forehead.

  As the two of them continued talking, neither one realized that Gabrielle had been listening the whole time. She tried to fight back the sobs as she leaned against the wall. Her mind filled with regret. She didn’t realize how much he was struggling with this bet. She couldn’t have him give his career up temporarily. Besides her, it was the one thing that mattered most to him.

  Chapter Six

  Gabrielle decided at the last minute to invite Tyler and Sam over for dinner. Being alone with Chris and having a potential argument was something she wanted to avoid. Her older brother was, a recently retired NFL quarterback with blonde hair and blue eyes. He sat at the dinner table filling in his sister and Chris on all the latest news they had missed since being gone.

  “How did your tryout with ESPN go?” Gabrielle asked her brother while she played with her food.

  Adele had put on a feast. Meat loaf, mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, corn on the cob. In between bites of food, Tyler replied. “Good. I’ll know tomorrow.”

  Chris piled a forkful of potatoes on his fork before he placed it in his mouth; he noticed that Gabrielle hadn’t touched her food. In an attempt to be polite, he looked over at Tyler and said, “Good luck, man. You know you’ve got this.”

  Tyler smiled at his friend and replied, “Thanks, Chris. I’ll call you guys the minute I hear some news.”

  Gabrielle continued to play with her food. Noticing the uncomfortable silence that lasted for several minutes, Chris attempted to continue small talk with his guests and compliment Adele on cooking a great meal.

  “Adele, this meal is fantastic. I can’t believe how much I missed your cooking. Thank you, hon,” Chris told her as Adele took his now empty plate from him and placed a piece of pie in front of him.

  “You’re welcome Chris. So happy that you and Gabby are home. The house is so empty when the two of you aren’t here.”

  “We missed you, too, Adele,” Gabrielle said as she took a long swig of her wine.

  Chris held up his hands in protest as he looked at the pie. “Pie? Oh, I can’t. Not now.”

  “C’mon, you know you want it, Chris.” Adele told him.

  “Yeah, you know you want it, bro,” Tyler chimed in.

  Chris leaned back and smiled. He patted his stomach proudly. “Honestly, I am full. I can’t. I’ve had two helpings of everything. I don’t even have enough room right now for wine.”

  Gabrielle emptied her glass as quickly as she grabbed his drink. “Well, I’ll have some for you if you don’t want yours.”

  Despite the silence, Gabrielle had been drinking heavily throughout the night, drinking the wine on the table as if it were water. Concerned, he gently touched her arm underneath the table and whispered, “You okay baby?”

  Gabrielle toasted him. She nodded yes and took a long sip of wine. “Aaah,” she said as she continued to savor the taste. “That’s good wine. Adele, what kind is this again?”

  “Pinot Grigo. It’s your boyfriend’s favorite.”

  Gabrielle tipped her glass to Chris and hiccupped. A little embarrassed, she put her hand over her mouth. “Oops. Excuse me, Chris, this is some good shit,” she said with a snicker.

  Chris was stunned. As were Tyler and Sam.

  Gabrielle nearly polished off the whole bottle of wine by herself. She looked over at Adele who picked up the bottle from the table. When she attempted to take Gabrielle’s wine goblet, Gabrielle slapped her ha
nd away.

  “Oh no, Adele. You can put my glass and the bottle back. It’s fine.”

  Adele nodded. She tried to take the glass again. Gabrielle stopped her once again.

  Adele looked at Chris. He discreetly put his hand up.

  “Del, I’m fine. Don’t pay any attention to him.”

  Placing the bottle back on the table, Adele stood, looking straight at Tyler and Sam.

  “Sis, I’m going to bring Sam home. Chris, I’ll stop by tomorrow?” Tyler told them.

  “See you tomorrow,” Chris told both men as they exited.

  Finishing her remaining glass, Gabrielle reached over to the bottle and poured the last of the wine into the goblet.

  Chris glared at her. For Gabrielle to do this was out of character. She also had never spoken to Adele that way before either.

  “What’s with you all of a sudden?” she asked him.

  “Why don’t you put the glass down Gabrielle, and eat something?” Chris said.

  “Not very hungry. Got a lot on my mind tonight,” she said in sharp tone as Adele began to clear the table. As Chris began to help the housekeeper, Adele stopped him. “Talk to her, something’s troubling her, son,” the housekeeper whispered to him.

  “Damn right Del!” Gabrielle yelled as she overheard the two talking.

  Standing up, Gabrielle braced her hands on the table.

  “You know. I’m his girlfriend! And for some reason he’s telling you more shit than he could EVER tells me. I thought you and I were best friends, Chris. Guess I’m not one of the trusted ones after all,” she cried.

  With the help of another maid, Adele finished clearing the table and walked into the kitchen. Chris walked over to his girlfriend. He took the glass from her and hurled it across the room.

  “What the fuck!” Gabrielle yelled.

  “Don’t you ever treat Adele, like you just did! What the hell are you thinking acting like that in front of your brother and Sam? Whatever problem you have with me, you take it up with me!” Chris yelled.

  “Well, well. Now that I’ve got your attention!” she yelled.

  “You’ve always had it Gabby. What is going on with you?” he asked

  “You and me…maybe we should just end this. It’s obvious that you don’t want to this anymore.”

  “You mean this bet?” Chris asked.

  Gabrielle began to cry. “No. All of it! You know it’s been hard watching you these past few months. Saying nothing because I know how much the music means to you. I know people have hurt you. I stood by your side when you fired your manager before this tour and then dealt with all of my baggage. What you did for me is something that I’ll be forever grateful for. I love you so much that I couldn’t tell you to not work on a new CD or go on tour for a little bit. I didn’t know what to say…”

  Chris realized that Adele was right. He walked over to her to grab her hand. Gabrielle pushed him away. “And this bet? What bullshit! You were the one to say that if you lost you’d stay home and not do anything.”

  “I know I did,” he told her.

  “Are you going to be able to it? You’re freaking out over staying home is making me wonder and the lengths you went to try to win? Is our love not enough for you?”

  “Of course it was. It was a stupid, stupid thing to do. She was pretty and I thought it’d be something different for us to share and experience. I am so sorry. I never have done just nothing. I don’t know how to sit at home. I don’t know what hit shows are on TV or what movie won the best picture Oscar. My mind is always busy. I always need to be doing something whether it’s writing or playing music. I haven’t been just home or had nothing to do for a long time. What if the fans forget who I am when I’m gone? What am I going to do? I don’t know what I’d do if they forgot me.”

  Gabrielle wiped the tears from her face. “You’re writing and creating music is what makes you. That is something, Chris, that I would never want to take away from you. I’d never forgive myself for that,” she told him.

  “You shouldn’t. These are fears that I have to face. I didn’t want to, but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to take a break,” he told her still appearing unsure. “I’ve had four back to back hit CDs. Maybe it’s good for me to walk away for a bit and enjoy myself. I’m so much better since we got together. Maybe a little living and spending time with you and your family would add something to my writing and give me some much-needed time to get to know you and myself better. All of you need me more now than my fans need me.”

  Gabrielle ran into his arms. He pulled her away and wiped her tears. She covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry Chris,” she told him softly as she kissed his forehead.

  “Gabrielle, I love you. Only you. Those fans mean nothing to me. Not in that way. You know if you ever want to spend time with me, all you have to do is ask.”

  “I’m asking you now. I’d like a vacation with my boyfriend and hopefully future husband. I miss Christian Knight. I saw glimpses of him in Vegas and I realized just how I missed him.”

  Chris smiled. “I just didn’t know how to lose at anything either. Losing isn’t something that happens naturally to me,” he said.

  “You’ll learn and find things to do like us normal people,” she quipped before continuing. “It’ll be different, but it’ll be great to see you go to games with my father and brother. I want to be that friend that you can still confide in. Like you did with Del. I’m here for you, good and bad Chris. Richer for poorer….sickness and in health. I would like to be everything to you if you let me.

  Chris began to smile. “I’m sorry. I never knew how much all of this has been bothering you or bothering me. I’m sorry I ruined Valentine’s Day,” he told her.

  “There needs to be a balance. When we’re here, you’re Christian. Out there, Chris Knight.”

  Chris nodded, “Okay.”

  “Because I didn’t tell you that, a lot of this was bothering me. I am sorry. I shouldn't have let you go on thinking everything was okay. If something is bothering me from now on, I’ll just come out and tell you so that we can work through it. I’ll apologize to Del, Sam and my brother tomorrow,” Gabrielle added.

  “I guess now I gotta go find a hobby. Maybe buy an engagement ring,” Chris quipped.

  “You? I had better start learning football fundamentals. Wait; did you just say an engagement ring?” Gabrielle asked.

  Chris looked stunned. “Yep. Gabrielle, will you marry me after this tour is over? Show me what’s it's like to be a part of civilization again and away from the TMZ’s of the world?”

  Gabby nodded through tears. “Yes! Yes, of course I will. Only if you show me football 101.”

  Chris laughed. “I promise that I will. You know, I can rebuild cars, maybe I’ll restore that old Camaro junker Sam has at his house collecting dust.”

  “You’ll be amazing. You should do that for Sam.”

  “I can also have Del show me around the kitchen.”

  “Ahhh…no.” Gabrielle shook her head.

  “No? Didn’t you like my omelets?”

  “Not if it nearly burns down this house and half the street,” Gabrielle told him. The two of them held hands and walked up the stairs.

  Still a little drunk, Gabrielle stumbled as she went up the stairs, startling Adele. The housekeeper opened up the door a crack and peered out to make sure that all was well before she closed the door.

  Still on the steps, Chris and Gabrielle leaned against the wall. Chris tried unsuccessfully to pick her up, but their passion could no longer contain itself.

  Chris bent over and brushed his lips gently over his girlfriend’s. Gabrielle’s mouth responded in kind. She missed the warm taste of his mouth, the feel of his skin. She kissed the tip of his chin.

  Chris arched his neck as her kisses went slowly down his chest. One by one, the buttons went rolling down the stairs as she unbuttoned his shirt. His swollen member brushed against her thigh. Unfazed, she unzipped his pants and pulled them down. The only th
ing they saw was each other, his touch sent waves of desire through her. His hungered gaze locked into her as he unbuttoned and pulled down her jeans. Lifting her up to reach him, her body pleaded for his to enter her. “Please” she begged as her legs wrapped themselves around his waist. His tip throbbed at her swollen entrance. “Fuck me, fuck me now.” She begged through sobs. He had never given up so much control before. He was hers completely. In one swift move, he lifted her up and glided every inch of himself inside her. “Oh my God, Gabby!” he moaned. The two moved together as one. Overcome by The Bet.

  The End

  Other Stories in The Red Hot Valentine’s Day Collection

  Quarterback Sneak by Desiree Holt

  Stacy Halligan has spent her adult life focusing on her career, choosing men with far less care than she does her professional path. That’s probably the reason all of her relationships end in disaster. Now she’s senior editor of the magazine where she works and she was so sure this latest hunk would be the one. When he dumps her, just before Valentine’s Day, who does she complain to, as always, but her next door neighbor and friend, backup quarterback Max Sullivan. She sees Max as her best friend. Comfortable. Easy to be with.

  Max doesn’t mind hanging out with Stacy but in the three years they’ve lived next door to each other he’s hoped for a lot more. Now he sees his opening. When he offers to put on a blitz leading up to Valentine’s Day to make the guy jealous, he has an ulterior motive. He wants to show her he’s the one she should pick, because he wants Stacy for himself. His campaign includes, chocolate, flowers, little gifts and hopefully, really hot sex. Because he’d been dying forever to get her into his bed and keep her there.

  Will this work? He only has until Valentine’s Day to find out.

  http://www.desireeholt.com/

  ***

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