Page 142 of The Faking Game

“Alex!”

He lifts me up and spins me around. “Little Montclair!”

“You’ve been drinking,” I say with a laugh, my hands braced against his shoulders.

“Yes,” he says. “It’s a lost weekend. It’s a rule.” He sets me down, still smiling widely. Under the bright sun, his auburn hair looks more reddish than brown, and his Scottish accent makes me smile.

I’ve always liked Alex.

“This is the first time we’ve had family members along on one of these trips,” he says, and hands me a glass. “Your view of Rafe is going to change drastically over the next few days. I can’t wait.”

“Don’t give her any ideas!” Rafe calls from inside the house.

I laugh and look from Alex over to where West is standing. He’s watching us, arms crossed over his chest. “I know I’m crashing your trip, but I’m excited.”

“Good.” He lets go of me and reaches for the bottle of whiskey he’s nursing. “We’re doing adventure poker this trip. I have it all set up.”

“Adventure poker?”

Rafe walks out behind me, holding a large bottle of water. “She’s not playing,” he says.

“That’s for Nora to decide, don’t you think?” West says.

I give my brother a triumphant expression.

He sighs. “You came here to be safe, not do whatever idiotic thing Alex has planned for us to risk our lives this time.”

“I’m right here,” Alex says. “And also, thank you. I aimed for spectacularly idiotic this time.”

West runs a hand along his jaw. “What are we playing for this time?”

“Rights to decide on the locations for next year’s trips.”

He whistles. “Damn. There’s no way James will agree to that.”

Alex waves a hand. “He never agrees to anything these days.”

“Well, with that as the prize, I want to win.” I look from Rafe to West with a smile. “Are you ready to go to Siberia four times in a row?”

“You’re not playing,” Rafe says again.

I narrow my eyes at him. My brother loves to flex his muscles, but over the years, it’s become almost second nature. When his tone doesn’t vary regardless of whether he’s talking to me or one of his employees. To our mom, younger siblings or to his assistant.

I jump off the edge of the table. “You’re that scared of losing?” I ask him.

It’s false bravado.

But Rafe turns to look at me, mild surprise in his eyes. “You don’t know what the game is.”

“I’m not sitting in the house the whole time we’re here,” I say. “I’ve had enough of doing that for a lifetime.” I look over at West and find him looking steadily at me.

There’s a burn of something in his eyes. A look I’ve come to crave.That’s my girl,I hear.

“What is adventure poker?” I ask.

“Something we came up with over a decade ago,” West says. “It’s ill-advised, reckless, and, at times, illegal. Over the course of the days, we have to do things to earn chips. On the final night, we play poker with the chips we’ve earned.”

“We’ve done some stupid shite,” Alex agrees. “Remember when you bungee-jumped naked, Rafe?”

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