Page 79 of Win Big

“Fickle bitch,” Lacey says, and we all laugh.

“I’ll deal with it, whatever happens.” I shrug.I hope.

“Was it worth it?” Taylor eyes me over her glass.

“Oh, hell yeah.”

They both reach across the table to high-five me.

We gorge ourselves on too many appies—truffled parmesan fries, wings, mozza sticks, and roasted Brussel sprouts.

“What’s happening with Byron?” I ask Taylor.

Byron is her dog. When her parents split up last year, they didn’t know what to do with him, which was heartbreaking for Taylor, because she loves that dog. She had to move to an apartment that didn’t allow pets. JP, her boyfriend now but at the time he wasn’t, offered to take Byron. Hey, they may have to make Byron the best man at their wedding to thank him for bringing them together. Assuming they get married. Anyway, Taylor’s dad recently bought a new house and is supposed to take Byron.

“Oh! Good news.” Taylor beams. “I talked to Dad and he was fine with letting Byron stay at JP’s.”

“Oh, that’s great! You’ll see him a lot more there.” She has to help look after him because JP travels a lot, obviously, with the Golden Eagles.

“Yes! Although Dad was hesitant. He didn’t get a very good impression of JP, since the first time he met him was when Byron ate chocolate and he was so sick. He thought JP wasn’t doing a very good job looking after him.”

“Ugh.” I grimace. “JP felt terrible about what happened.”

“I know. And Dad’s getting to know him better and he can see that JP really loves Byron.”

“So you’re probably spending even more time at JP’s place now.”

“Yep.” She smiles, contentment and love softening her features.

Love. How sweet.

Okay, okay, it is.

“How’s your dad doing?” I ask.

“Fine, I guess.”

“Not seeing anyone?”

“Not that I know of. Honestly, I think he’s still in love with my mom.” Taylor swipes at condensation on the outside of her beer glass, her lips drooping.

“Aw. That’s sad.”

“It is.” Taylor sighs. “And it makes it really hard to be happy for my mom. I don’t want to take sides, but... I feel so bad for him.”

Lacey, sitting beside Taylor, bumps her shoulder into Taylor’s in sympathy.

“I was feeling bad formymom today,” I tell them.

“Why?” They regard me curiously.

I told Wyatt about my fears for my dad before I told my best friends. That’s really weird. But having talked about it once, it feels easier now. So I tell them the things I’ve noticed, my worries, and the fact that my mom shares them.

“It’s weird when you’re at an age where you worry about your parents, isn’t it?” Taylor says sympathetically. “Our whole lives, they looked after us.”

“I looked after my mom when she was dying,” Lacey says. “It’s really hard. But we have each other. I’m here for you guys, whatever you need.”

My throat aches. “Thank you. And same goes for me. Hey, Lace, have you been able to talk to Aline?”

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