Page 58 of No One Wants That (Blitzen Bay)

“A hundred each?” Alex says.

“How about ten?” I say, rolling my eyes. “We don’t all have your money, Mr. Baseball.”

“That’s fine,” Alex says, laughing. “I’m not going to collect if I win, anyway.”

“Oh, sweetie. You’re not going to win.” Raine lays her head on his shoulder. “But it’s so cute that you think you are.”

“Ten a chip. Everyone ready?” Butch says, looking around slowly until his eyes finally stop on Millie.

“Bring it,” she says, glaring at him.

“Never have I ever,” Butch says, taking a dramatic pause, “called a Navy admiral a little bitch to his face.”

“Mason!” Millie jumps off his lap and spins around to face him.

Mason throws up his hands. “I didn’t say a thing to him. I swear to God.”

“Wait,” Nash says as he turns to Millie. “You said that to an admiral’s face?”

“No!” Millie’s still staring at Mason, her mouth hanging wide open. She spins back around to Butch and points at him. “Who told you? Dad and Chase are the only other people who know and there’s no way—”

“I have a buddy who works in the admiral’s office,” Butch says, holding up his hand. “I’ve known since the day it happened. And although I’ve never been prouder of you, I believe you owe me your two chips.”

“You’re a dick,” she says, throwing her chips at him. “And your Mo privileges have been revoked for at least a month.”

“Try to keep him from me,” Butch says, waving his hand over his chips. “Four to zero, Mills. And you’re out of the game. Sit your ass back down.”

“I hate you,” she snarls at him and then turns to me. “So I’m really out of the game now?”

“Yup, but can you tell us a little more about the admiral before we continue? Were you court-martialed or anything?”

“I’ve never been a member of the military. I can’t be court-martialed.”

“But why did you call him that?” Elle says, her eyes wide. “It’s amazing, but why?”

“Long story,” Millie says as she sits back down on Mason’s lap. “He said something kind of hateful to my dad.”

“Damn,” Nash says. “Remind me not to say anything bad to your dad when I meet him.”

“Believe me,” Alex says, tapping Nash’s arm, “you wouldn’t anyway. Scariest motherfucker I’ve ever met.”

Millie flips her head around to Alex. He pulls Raine in front of him for protection.

“Millie, you’re out,” Elle says, “but you get to choose who goes next.”

“Throw it to me,” I say, scooting my chair away from Butch’s as he tries to put his arm around me again. “I’ll take Butch out for you.”

“Hey,” he says, shoving my leg. “What the fuck? You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“Says who? Millie, do you pass to me?”

“Fine,” she says. “I pass to you. Take him down.”

I turn to him. “Never have I ever hit on and been rejected by a lesbian.”

He throws his hands up and stares at me. “Why are you sharing my humiliation? I thought we were friends.”

“Better think again,” I say, reaching my hand out to him. “All of your chips. Now.”

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