The Bet

by Rachel Van Dyken

  “So, where to?” Kacey asked.

  He still didn’t look. He knew if he looked at her, even glanced, his eyes would stray and he would be responsible for a twelve-car pileup.

  His nerves were already shot with the way her perfume was floating across the truck, tickling his noise, teasing his senses, and arousing him more than should be allowed.

  Taking a shuddering breath he responded, “It’s a surprise.”

  “Oh, I love surprises,” she said dryly.

  “Cut the crap, Kacey. Are you forgetting who you’re with? I know how much you love surprises. Crap, you cried when we threw you a sixteenth birthday party.”

  She crossed her arms.

  “Remember.” Travis fought the urge to nudge her out of her bad mood. “You were so happy because Mom and Dad paid for everyone to go to that Backstreet Boys concert. You went backstage and met Brian and announced you were going to marry him.”

  She let out a snort then a laugh. “Gosh, how I loved those Backstreet Boys.”

  “Every girl did. I, however, wanted to set fire to their trailer and watch them die very slow agonizing deaths.”

  “You and every other guy out there,” she teased.

  “So, admit it.” He turned down the side street. “You like surprises.”

  “Travis Titus, are you taking me to see the Backstreet Boys?”

  “No.” He shuddered. “Thank God. I’m taking you some place that will make you feel happy, not resort back to the high-pitched screams of sixteen.”

  “Happy?” She played with the radio. “Hmm, what would you know about making me happy? You threw rocks, taunted me, teased me, and chased me, and you think you know the one place in this town that’s going to make me happy?”

  In that moment he did look at her legs, her face, her eyes, her lips, and answered with confidence, “Yes, yes I am.”

  Kacey squinted in confusion then looked back out her window. It was for the best that they didn’t talk. He was getting more attached by the minute, and she was leaving in a matter of days. Two to be exact.

  His heart clenched. He’d get over it. Just like he’d gotten over her in high school? His memory reminded him that it wasn’t likely.

  Taking a deep breath, he turned onto the correct street. The entire drive was quiet, up until he saw the sign and pulled into the parking lot.

  “The zoo.” Kacey stated. “You’re taking me to the zoo?”

  “Don’t sound so impressed,” Travis teased. “Maybe we can find an ass that looks exactly like my brother! Perhaps I’m being too hopeful.” He sighed and parked into the first available spot and turned off the car.

  “What makes you think this is going to make me happy?” Kacey didn’t budge, her seatbelt was still fastened, her arms crossed.

  Travis unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over. “Get out of the car and find out.”

  Never one to back down from a challenge, Kacey glared at him as she unbuckled her seatbelt and threw open the door.

  Geez, the reunion must have been worse than he thought.

  They walked side by side to the entrance. Travis paid for the tickets and flinched when he noticed her walk ahead of him. He wanted to put his hand on her back, to touch the smooth skin peeking out from her dress. He hated his brother all over again for having the honor of touching something so sacred.

  “So, where to, oh happy-maker?” Kacey had her hands on her hip.

  “Are you going to be like this the whole time?”

  “Like what?” Her lip jutted out. Adorable. She was trying too hard to be angry and hold a grudge.

  “Look, I’m just trying to repair the damage done by my blood relation. You can participate or not. Your choice.”

  Kacey broke eye contact and sighed. “You can’t fix that damage. It’s already been done.”

  Honestly, he had no idea what kind of damage had already been done, he just knew they’d broken up and parted on bad terms, and to be frank, it wasn’t any of his business.

  “I mean, what he did today,” Travis clarified. “Flirting with anything in a tight skirt and making you sit next to lustful women.” He winked. “Not to mention springing a ridiculous reunion brunch on you, when we both know how much you hated high school.”

  “Key word is hate,” Kacey chimed in.

  “Ah, there’s my girl. Now how about a smile?”

  Her nostrils flared.

  “A tiny one?” he asked, getting closer.

  Her lips parted.

  And suddenly a smile was the last thing on his mind. Crap, he needed to stop doing this to them. Slowly he backed off and grabbed her hand. “Follow me.”

  With reluctance, Kacey trudged behind him, but he knew her better sometimes than she knew herself, a thought that often scared him, and again he was back to stalker status.

  He cleared his throat when they reached their destination.

  Kacey slowly approached the small glass container then looked up at him with confusion.

  “Just watch,” he said, then looked around to make sure nobody was looking and gently tapped the glass.

  Kacey cursed, a small child began to cry, and a mom gave them a dirty glare. All in all, it was the perfect surprise.

  “You son of a—”

  “Kace,” he interrupted. “Tell me you’re not smiling.”

  She burst out laughing. “You creepy, weird man! Why the hell would you take me to the tarantula exhibit!”

  “Because you hate spiders.”

  She threw her head back and laughed. “How is that supposed to cheer me up?”

  “It’s working.” He pulled her into a hug, purely instinctual, but she hugged him back. “Isn’t it?”

  “Yes, you idiot. It’s working only because I’m too shocked and upset to do anything but laugh.”

  “Ah, and she gets to the bottom of it.”

  “Huh?”

  Travis released her and looked back at the spider. “Sometimes, when life gets hard, and people make you angry or even when you’re scared, the best response is laughter. Laugh in the face of fear, in the face of what scares you the most. It’s the only way to get you through the things that bring you to tears.”

  Kacey was silent and then said, “You’ve been drinking Grandma Nadine’s Kool-aid, haven’t you?”

  “I do love grape,” he joked.

  Kacey looked back at the spider and made a face. “Thanks. Oddly enough, this did work. I’m more worried about that stupid spider breaking out of its container than my horrible morning. By the way, when was I institutionalized?

  “Oh, that was after the pregnancy.”

  “Which was before?

  “The cheating,” he confirmed.

  “That explains it. I’m such a hussy.”

  Travis nodded. “So, ready to go look for the asses?”

  “You didn’t tell me Jake was here!” She slapped him playfully.

  “Oh, there’s a whole cage of them. Just follow me!”

  Travis took her hand and led her to the monkeys. The minute they stopped in front of the exhibit, one of them began pooping by the tree, another scratched its butt, and the other began licking a body part that shouldn’t be mentioned.

  Travis sighed. “It’s like watching little Jakey grow up all over again.” He put a hand over his heart and sighed longingly.

  Kacey covered her mouth in laughter. “Poor guy.”

  “Don’t feel sorry for the child prodigy. He brings everything on himself and then some.”

  “You guys still talk?”

  Travis looked away. “Me and Jake? That would be a resounding no. This weekend is the first time we’ve spent more than a day together in years.”

  “Why?”

  Because of you.

  Because I love you.

  Because he’s an ass.

  “Let’s just say we had a falling out. I didn’t exactly agree with the path he took in his life, and he thought I was too uptight. End of story.” Travis held out his hand. Kacey took it.
<
br />   He led her to the next exhibit.

  “Do you miss him?” Kacey asked.

  “I miss who he was. I miss who he could be.” He laughed bitterly. “Is that terrible? To wish someone was different just because you don’t agree with the person they are?”

  Tears welled in Kacey’s eyes. “No, I don’t think that’s terrible. If it makes you feel better, I miss him too.”

  “You live in Seattle.”

  “I miss who he was. Besides, the first time I talked to Jake in two years was last week.”

  Travis wasn’t sure if he was relieved or upset that his brother had been proven a liar yet again. So he hadn’t kept tabs on Kacey like he’d told everyone? Interesting. Though his heart still had trouble with the thought that she had any sort of tender feelings towards Jake, regardless of if it was for her old version of him or the new one. “Well, you guys were best friends. So I understand.”

  “He never held my hand. ”Kacey laughed. “Isn’t that ridiculous? We never held hands.”

  “What?” Travis’s head snapped up. “But you guys dated, and you were together all the time. I mean…” He nudged her a bit. “…You held hands at sixth grade skate night. That has to count.”

  Kacey laughed and shook her head. “Yes, let’s bring up skate night, because that’s not totally forced! I swear they encourage it! Playing Savage Garden while telling the girls to pick a cute boy. That’s probably how Jake’s gold diggers first learned how to hit on men.”

  “Skate night,” they said in unison.

  “Doesn’t count though,” Kacey interjected. “Like I said, it was forced. I mean he kissed me when we dated…”

  Travis hoped his cringe wasn’t too obvious.

  “I remember the one time I reached for his hand in high school when we were dating. He pulled it away and shook his head. Later he told me he didn’t want to appear like we were too exclusive.”

  “What an ass.”

  “Yes, I think that was the beginning of the end.” Kacey sighed. “Look! The bear’s out!”

  “Crap, are you serious?” Travis grabbed her and pushed her into the brick wall lining the far side of the exhibit. Adrenaline coursed through him.

  “Um…” Kacey shook his flexed arms. “What are you doing?”

  “You said…” Travis’s breathing was ragged from fear. “You said the bear was out.”

  Kacey bit her lip then burst into laughter. Her head rested against his chest as her shoulders shook. “I meant that he wasn’t sleeping behind the little alcove. Maybe I should have yelled that he was visible? Then you wouldn’t have had a heart attack.” Kacey leaned in and gave him a mocking smile. “Well, at least I know you’re still afraid of bears.”

  He hated damn bears. Even the gummy ones. “I was just trying to protect you.”

  “And yourself.” Kacey nudged him then grabbed his hand. “Admit it, your heart was beating like crazy. You were sweating.”

  “I hate bears.” Travis felt like he was ten all over again. Kacey had asked him why he was crying, and he’d told her it was because Care Bears were on TV again.

  That Christmas she’d bought him a Care Bear.

  He’d cried.

  Again.

  He blamed his parents for taking him camping too often as a child. When he was three, a bear wandered into their campground and he never got over it. His mom said he’d cried for the entire day when he found out the bear ate his graham crackers.

  “Look.” Kacey pointed at the large menacing bear. “He’s just playing.”

  What she probably saw was the bear happily playing with a piece of wood. What Travis saw was a bear ripping things apart with its ten-inch claws.

  “Do you still have Mr. Happy?”

  “I hate you just a little bit right now. How did this go from me cheering you up to discussing my phobias?”

  “Do you?” she teased.

  “No, Mr. Happy, my Care Bear, suffered a very tragic accident the same year you got him for me. Something about the bonfire and no firewood.”

  “See if I ever get you a present again.”

  He’d probably accept a damn bear from her at this point if she just kept holding his hand.

  Travis looked at his watch. “Well, as much as I loved our quick one-hour trip, we’ve got to head back. Grandma really did say something about wedding plans, but I’m pretty sure that was code for Go rescue Kacey so I don’t have to drive without a license.”

  “Really?” Kacey squinted her eyes in disbelief.

  “Yes, she does believe you’re getting married, and my parents are literally planning the ceremony as we speak. You better hope Grandma reigns them in. Otherwise you’re getting married Sunday.”

  “Very funny.” Kacey shivered. She knew Grandma was just pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes, but it was still irritating that his parents didn’t know. “And we are not getting married. It was an arrangement, though…” she trailed off.

  “What?” His heart dropped to his stomach. “Though what?”

  Was she having second thoughts? Did she really want to marry him?

  “Though, it seems weird that all of a sudden Grandma’s doing great, don’t you think?” She hoped the hint would be enough.

  “I guess.” Travis scratched his head. “I haven’t really been by the house much. It was weird, because one day she seemed totally fine, and the next it was as if she was taking her last breath or something. She was putting in all sorts of weird orders. Arranging her funeral, figuring out where the shares in the company went, wanting to marry all of us off.”

  He stopped and looked up. “You don’t think Grandma’s faking her illness, do you?”

  “Now, why would she have any reason to do that? Maybe she’s just trying to act healthy since I’m around?” Kacey broke eye contact and began playing with her purse.

  “Right.” Travis waited for her to say something else, but she quickly changed the subject.

  “So, wedding plans. I hope this means I get to look at more scrapbooks.” She nudged him.

  “Yes, remind me to burn those later. I want no paper trail leading to my role as a dog.”

  “You were a cute dog.”

  “I had no tail.”

  Kacey closed her eyes and laughed. “But you did have a really cute patch right here.” She touched his stomach, her hand lingered, then pressed against his abs. His breath hitched, and he looked at her lips. The pull was incredible.

  Kacey’s tongue peeked out to wet her lips as she stretched on her toes and whispered in his ear, her lips nipping at the edges. “For the record, I like the dog better than the ass.”

  “Was that a compliment, Kacey Jacobs?”

  “Why, yes, yes, it was, Travis Titus.”

  They laughed and fell into easy conversation the entire way to the truck. If only that moment could last forever.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kacey was sweating.

  Stupid Travis and his stupid ideas about cheering her up, and his damn smile with his ridiculous dimples. She sighed. His tight ass and ridiculous jokes about Jake didn’t help matters.

  So many words screamed through her head, most of them curse words. They brought out the worst in her, those boys.

  Whatever was going on between her and Travis, she had to fight it. First of all, his parents still blissfully thought that she and Jake were engaged.

  Grandma had other plans, though Kacey was still waiting to hear why Grandma was trying to pull one over on the family.

  And Travis, well, Travis thought it was all a hoax and was still worried that his Grandma would keel over at any minute.

  As if she didn’t have enough stress in her life, when they arrived home Jake pulled up and hopped out of his car, looking far too pleased to be coming away from such a boring brunch.

  “Hey, baby.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her across the mouth.

  Immediately she slapped him. “You kiss your whores with that mouth!”

  Seriously, she ha
dn’t meant to say it out loud.

  Travis gave a low whistle behind her.

  “What the hell, Kacey? Is that the kind of greeting you want to give your fiancé?” He gave her an innocent smile.

  “You bastard!” She raised her hand again, but Travis pulled her away before she could do any damage to his face.

  “What the hell kind of lines has he been feeding you?” Jake lunged towards Travis, but Kacey stood between them.

  “Nothing, he said nothing. You, however, have said everything that needs to be said without opening your sorry mouth.”

  “I’m confused.” Jake held up his hands in defeat.

  “You reek of skank. Geez, you promised, Jake. You said this was for Grandma, that you could do anything for a weekend. Really? What are your parents going to say when you march into that house smelling like cheap Dolce and Gabana knockoff? Hmm?”

  “It was D&G. I would know,” he corrected, pulling off his jacket and swinging it over his shoulder. Kacey lunged again.

  Travis grabbed her. She turned around and gave him a glare that said Just let me kill him!

  Jake stopped in his tracks. “I don’t see what the big deal is anyway. I have my fun, you two have your fun. Everyone wins. My parents think we’re getting married, Grandma finally has you home, though it’s ridiculous that you’d be that important. I mean it’s been years and now she wants to see you? Look, all that matters is that by all appearances, I’m grown up, you’re reunited, and we’ll be engaged in marital bliss soon.” He shrugged and walked off.

  “Selfish bastard,” Travis mumbled under his breath.

  “I want to scratch his eyes out.” Kacey felt herself flush with anger.

  “Yeah, you and every girl he’s ever slept with.”

  Kacey felt herself tense and then blush, the heat spreading across her face and down her neck until finally she couldn’t take it anymore. Her lip trembled just slightly, and she began walking purposefully toward the house, but Travis pulled her arm back and pushed her through the doorway nearest the garage.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m fine.” Kacey’s legs suddenly felt weak.