Page 29 of Play to Win

“Yes.”She nods.“I met lots of people in the business through my mom, and they knew I was good at doing makeup, so they hired me.It’s not bad money, except it would be better if it was a steady paycheck and not just here and there.I’ve done some fashion shows too, and once I helped out with a movie being filmed in Vegas.That was cool.I learned a lot.”

“I’m impressed.”

“It’s just makeup.”

I’m getting the feeling that life hasn’t been easy for Lacey, despite her air of cheery optimism.“A job is never ‘just’ anything,” I say.“Especially if you love it.”

“True enough.Even being a budtender.I know you think I’m a stoner now.”

I choke on a laugh.“No, I don’t!”

She laughs too.“Kidding.Okay, you better tell me about your family.First your brother.What’s his name?Or should I just call him Ben?”

“Ben?”

“Short for Benedict Arnold.”

“Ha.Good one.His name is Jean Paul, but we call him JP.”I sense her staring at me, and I glance sideways at her.“What?”

“Are you French?”

“Yeah.I mean, my mom’s French.”

“Like French Canadian?”

“Yes.”A smile lifts my lips.

“Oh my God!You speak French?”

“Oui.”

“That is so hot!”

I laugh again.“Okay.”

“So, JP and ...Emma?They’re still together?”

“As far as I know.I haven’t been in touch with them much since that all went down.”

“Ugh.Don’t blame you.What does JP do?”

Bitterness squeezed my throat.“He plays for the Golden Eagles.”

“The team your dad owns?”Her voice rises.

“Yep.”My hands tighten on the steering wheel.

“Wow.”

“JP played for them before Dad bought the team.”

“So ...let me get this straight.Your dad bought the team to piss off your grandpa because he owns a rival team.Your brother plays for your dad’s team and you ...‘play’ for your grandpa’s team.”

“That’s it in a nutshell.”There was actually more to it than that—a lot more—but that was enough family feuding for now.

“Plus you and your brother are on the outs because of a woman.”

“Right.”

---