Page 106 of House of Deceit

Like the traitor she is, Courtney waves goodbye to me without another word and makes her way to the bar.

“The family wants to celebrate your win with you,” he says, steering me toward the group of season ten contestants.

Every molecule of my body wants to crawl into my bed and not talk to another human besides Courtney for a year, but I suck it up because this will be the last time we all stand in this place together.

“Red, I am so damn proud of you,” Keith says, his voice gruffer than normal. “The wife can’t wait to meet you.”

“I can’t wait either. I’ve missed you, Grandpa.”

He pats me on the back before letting me go, allowing Molly to step in. Her copper dress matches her hair perfectly.

“You’re definitely going to pay for the girls’ trip we will be planning once you’re settled in back home.”

“You’ve got it,” I say, the smile splitting my face. “Courtney’s over at the bar. Will you go make sure she’s okay?” I ask. Other than Parker or Alec, I wouldn’t trust my best friend with anyone else.

Molly scurries away as Jayden walks up to me.

“What was the answer?” he asks.

“Six hundred thirty-eight,” I tell him.

He looks at me quizzically. “Who else had a birthday before they left?”

I cock an eyebrow at him.

“I’m a little surprised you don’t know,” I tease. “Keith’s birthday was the day of the cookie decorating. He made me promise not to tell anyone under threat of sharing my most embarrassing story with everyone.”

“That deal definitely worked out in more ways than one,” he says. “Congratulations, no hard feelings.” He wraps me in a quick hug before starting to head back to the party. He pauses.

“What did you bet?” he asks, turning back around.

“Does it matter?”

He shrugs. “I just want to know if I would have won if I had gotten the answer correct.”

With a light heart, I tell him. “I bet it all.”

“Sounds like you had more faith than I thought you would. I had you pegged for the safe bet to beat Parker even if you guessed wrong.”

“I had nothing left to lose,” I say, waving and turning back to the group as he walks off.

An hour passes as we all hang out and talk. Each person makes their way over to me to offer congratulations except for Cain, who’s missing. Not that I care.

We all exchange numbers with anyone we wish to stay in contact with and eventually everyone makes their way to the bar and then the dance floor.

I turn to head toward Courtney, but a large hand stops me.

“Can we talk for a second?” Parker says.

He helps me stay steady on the uneven ground as we distance ourselves from the party raging on the side lawn.

“How are you doing?” he asks.

“I’m exhausted, honestly. I keep thinking about my bed and how much I just want to disappear.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“I know,” I say. “I’m feeling a lot of things. Alec is gone. He should be here. I’m only here because of him and it feels wrong he’s not here to celebrate with me,” I tell him, honestly. We are long past the point of holding anything back from each other.

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