Page 12 of Hacker Heart

“What are you so afraid of?”

I swallow the ice cream. “You’re asking what if he returns these hypothetical feelings. But what if he doesn’t? Hmm, what then dad? Why ruin our friendship for nothing.”

With a heavy sigh, he sits forward, elbows on his knees again. He levels me with a serious stare. “You girls are always betting on this and that, so now it’s my turn. I bet you Valentine Foster is madly in love with you. If I’m wrong—which I’m not, because I never am, as you well know—I’ll give you a hundred dollars.”

I snort. “My best friend is worth more than a measly hundred.”

“Fine, a grand.”

“Pass,” I tell him then shove another spoonful of ice cream in my mouth.

His shoulders slump. “All right then, you name the terms. Whatever you want.”

An evil grin curves my lips as a diabolical idea pops into my head. There’s no way he’ll go for it. “You’re on. When you lose—which you most definitely will—you have to go on a date. A real one. With a woman of my choosing.”

His jaw tenses as he glares at me. But after a beat, he relaxes and shrugs his broad shoulders. “You have a deal.”

Well, shit. That didn’t go to plan…

ChapterFive

Belle hasn’t beenherself all week, and she’s been weird around me since our argument on Monday. I want to fix things, but I have no idea how to do that without giving up my secret guilty pleasure. I’m strumming my fingers against my desk, wracking my brain for an answer when Kida strolls in, with a big white bakery box in her arms.

She smiling as she approaches me, Bosco hot on her heels. “Hey Val! Want to sample my goodies?”

I choke back a laugh at the unexpected question. I need to get my mind out of the gutter. “Umm, sure,” I say when she opens the box and offers it to me.

“I’ve only been at it for a week, but Miss Gertie says I’m a natural,” Kida tells me, pride radiating from her as she flicks one of her long blonde braids over her shoulder.

She’s got the sweetest tooth of the girls, so I’m not at all surprised she’s nailing it already. “That’s awesome Keeds, I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks Val,” she murmurs, smiling so hard a dimple pops in her cheek.

Examining her offerings, I pick out a chocolate iced cupcake then glance up at her as I take a huge bite. The icing melts on my tongue and I grin as I chew. “Oh, my god Keeds, Miss Gertie wasn’t wrong. This is delicious.”

Her eyes shine with delight, her excitement contagious as she does a victorious fist pump. “You-wanna-know-something-cool? I’m going to tell you anyway. Cake legit makes you happy. There are studies out now that prove cake increases your happy hormones!”

“Whoremoans,” Kline sniggers as he walks passed.

I eye him. He’s so fucking weird.

Kida snorts out a laugh and closes hergoodie box. “I’m going to see who else wants to eat my treats.”

“Okay, I’ll catch you later.” I reach down and give Bosco a scratch behind the ears, and he leans into my hand. I’ve missed the big lug hanging around here every day. He settles at my feet but keeps his eyes on Kida as she makes her way around to everyone in the pit. I rub his back with my foot until he gets up to follow her when she steps out of his line of sight into Miller’s office.

The rest of the afternoon drags and I’m about to just get up and ask Belle outright if we’re good when my cell chimes with a text. My eyes widen when my ex-girlfriend Maggie’s name flashes across the screen. We haven’t spoken since she tried to make me choose between my relationship with her and my friendship with Belle. That was over five months ago, I didn’t expect to hear from her again.

MAGGIE: Hey Val, can we meet up for a coffee? I feel really bad about the way things ended between us and I need to apologize.

I stare at the text. She wants to apologize? That’s, that’s…wow.

After comingto terms with the bet I stupidly made with Dad the other day I’ve been trying to work out how to approach Val. I could let him in on the stakes of the bet without telling him what the actual bet is…

No. I scrap that idea before it even fully forms. Hunters don’t cheat.

I need to win this bet. Dad hasn’t been on a date in forever. He’s tried a couple of times over the years, a date here and there, but nothings ever come of it. We all hate seeing him alone. I’m not naive enough to think he doesn’t have sex, but he deserves to have someone to share his life with.

If I lost though… That would mean I’d have Val. Like, really have him. He’d be mine. My pulse picks up at the notion of Val being more than my best friend.

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