Page 16 of Play to Win

LACEY

“I wish I could do that,”I say wistfully, gazing at people partying in the pool.

“Why not?You just got fired.You can’t go home.You know you can’t fix your brother.You don’t have control over him.”

“I know.”I give a soft snort and shift to face him.“I can’t evenfindhim.”

“He’s going to show up.He’s going to be looking for money.”

“You’re probably right.But I can go back to working as a budtender.”

“A what?Bartender?”

“Budtender.At one of the cannabis dispensaries.I did that for a while.”

“Seriously?Selling marijuana?”

“Yeah.I also worked as a camp counselor at a doggie daycare, and I’ve done face painting for kids.I actually loved that job.”I pause.“Also, I do freelance makeup for some showgirls here, when I can.”

“Uh ...okay.I mean, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble getting another job, but that’s not the point.You need to cut him loose.You can’t keep enabling him.”

My bottom lip quivers.“Iknow.”

“So come with me.”

My chin drops nearly to my chest.“Are you serious?”I’d been sure he was making a drunken joke.

“Yeah.You might think this is spontaneous, but?—”

“You can’t tell me you’ve been planning all night to ask me to come with you.”

“Well, no, but I have thought through the pros and cons.Listen, this could be a win-win situation for both of us.You can’t go home.You don’t have a job.Your brother needs to deal with his problems himself.You can stay with me as long as you want.His bookies won’t find you there.Hewon’t find you there.”

“All true,” I say slowly.“But what’s in it foryou?”

“I told you about my brother and Emma.”

“Your girlfriend.”

“Ex.”

“Right.”

“If I go home with a gorgeous new girlfriend, I won’t feel like such a pathetic loser.”

Gorgeous.My belly heats.“But I’m not your girlfriend.”

“We’ll tell them you are.”

I throw back my head and laugh.“Oh my God!Are we acting out a romance novel?Nobody does that in real life.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s crazy, that’s why.”

“You seem like you don’t mind a bit of adventure.”

I purse my lips and regard him.He’s right.And I’m just drunk enough to think that disappearing for a while with this man is afantasticidea.

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