Page 39 of Castle's Cards

Carter nods before smiling at me.

“What does Izzy want to go to school for? You’ve mentioned her going a few times but I don’t think we’ve ever actually talked about it.”

I smile, thinking about Izzy excitedly talking about college last year.

“It’s been a while since we last had a conversation about it, now that you’ve brought it up. But the last time we talked, she wanted to go into equine studies. Makes sense, right? She’s always loved horses. I can only imagine that with Dragon being hers, she’ll only want to study that more.”

At least I’d think so. But maybe she only wanted to do that because she thought it would be the only way for her to stay close to horses. Maybe now that she has Dragon she’ll want to do something else. Pursue different dreams.

“Maybe it’s about time for us to have the college talk again. She’s already taken her ACT but we haven’t talked about her college applications yet and it’s time to get started on them. Early admissions would be a good idea. The earlier she applies, the more likely she is to meet the scholarship deadlines. She’ll get plenty of grants through financial aid, since I don’t make a ton of money. But any little bit helps, especially if she wants to go somewhere far away for college. So, thanks for reminding me.”

I smile at Carter and raise my wine glass.

Carter looks relieved, even though I can’t for the life of me think of why that would be. But maybe I’m reading into things.

My phone beeps, and when I check it, I realize it’s getting close to the time that I need to pick Izzy up.

“I’ll have to get Izzy pretty soon. Do you want to come with me?”

“Can I have my driver pick her up and we can all meet at my house?”

“Your house?” I raise my brows. Izzy hasn’t been to his house yet. Not because I don’t want her to.

Truthfully, I don’t know what it is. Maybe there’s a part of me that’s worried Izzy will become unsatisfied with the lifestyle we live. Like she’ll see Carter’s mansion and wonder why we were dealt such an unfair hand in life.

I’m sure she’s already asked those questions, but I’ve not had to field them yet.

“Yeah. We can play party games or something.”

The way he smiles melts my heart and I can’t stop myself from smiling back.

“Okay. Your place, then.”

Chapter Thirteen

Carter

“Yeah,yeah,Idon’twant to hear your whining, little rich boy. Hand over the three hundred,” Izzy says, holding out her hand for the colorful money. I look down at the stacks of bills in front of me. That will leave me with two dollars to my name. Talk about shit luck.

“What about a trade? I’ll give you Vermont and fifty dollars?” I ask, holding up one of my properties. I don’t have a whole set yet, but I’m hoping I can convince Izzy to let me stay in the game.

“Do I look like a chump to you? Vermont’s only worth about a hundred dollars.”

“Yeah, but you already own Oriental. So all you’ll need is Connecticut.” My tone is more hopeful than I am.

“I don’t think so. How about… you give me Boardwalk and I’ll call the debt even.” Izzy leans back in the chair and smiles maliciously. My jaw drops and I look over at Addy, begging her to get Izzy to show me some mercy.

“Addy can’t save you,” Izzy quips. Addy looks at me and laughs.

“What do you expect me to do?” she asks.

“I don’t know! Talk some sense into the capitalist nightmare that you raised?”

Addy howls with laughter and Izzy grins before waving her hand in front of my face.

“Hello, the capitalist nightmare is over here. What will it be? Boardwalk or all your money?” Izzy raises a brow. I sigh and count out the bills before handing them to her. “Wow. You’re really saving Boardwalk like you’ll be able to buy Park Place if you land on it?”

“See? This is why I don’t play Monopoly with her. She gets mean,” Addy says, flipping another page in the magazine she picked up at the store. I chuckle and shake my head.

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