Bet Me Something (Something Series Book 3)
Read Bet Me Something (Something Series Book 3) Online
Authors: Aubrey Bondurant
Bet
Me Something
By
Aubrey Bondurant
This
is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and
incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a
fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual
events is purely coincidental.
This
book is for mature audiences only.
Cover
by: coversbykaren.com
Text
copyright © 2016 by Aubrey Bondurant
ONE
My mother was my
kryptonite. Literally draining my strength with her very presence and killing my
decision making powers.
“I really
dislike that we’re having this conversation while your very expensive graduation
party is happening outside these office doors, McKenzie.”
You mean the
party I didn’t ask for? Of course that internal retort wouldn’t dare make it
past my lips. I’d never managed more than a passive-aggressive attempt—emphasis
on the passive part—at rebuking my mother’s wishes. Instead I regressed to an eight
year old whenever she used her disappointed tone. I loathed this girl: the one
who couldn’t stand up as a twenty-two-year-old adult to voice her own opinions
without being afraid of her mother’s reaction.
Ensuring my
words were calm, I posed the question, “Could you please tell me why Mr.
Higgins seems to think I’m attending Georgetown University this fall?”
Agitation was evident
in her eyes. For a mom of three grown children, she could easily pass for ten
years younger than her sixty-two due to regimented daily workouts and a healthy
dose of Botox. Matter of fact, I was pretty sure she was frowning now, but her
face didn’t move a muscle as she aimed a glare towards my father.
I guessed being
golfing buddies with Mr. Higgins wasn’t earning him any favors at the moment.
My father’s lean build towered over my mother’s slight one, providing an ironic
image regarding who was actually in charge here.
She refocused on
me, but I had no doubt my dad would receive some choice words later. “It’s bad
enough that you told us you had an emergency to speak with us about, but this
topic is definitely not urgent. This can be discussed tomorrow.”
Unbelievable.
Considering I had every intention of staying on the West Coast and not going to
a college in DC, this was an emergency. I took a deep breath, knowing I would
need it and repeated the question. “Why would Mr. Higgins think I’m attending
Georgetown?”
“You realize
your party cost thousands of dollars, and there are over one hundred people
outside.”
I prayed for
patience. Actually I internally said a few choice four-letter words first. “I
appreciate the effort, truly, but what I don’t understand is why anyone would
think I’m going to school out here.” Although I might not be thrilled about
business school in general, I’d been accepted to UCLA where I wanted to go.
She sighed,
obviously running out of patience. “You wish to discuss it now. Fine. You’ve
had your fun out in Los Angeles long enough. Quite frankly, the only reason you
were allowed to go to UCLA undergraduate was because of your athletic
scholarship. Now that it has ended and you’ve exercised your independence, the
best place for you is back at home.”
“But—but—I’m
accepted to UCLA business school.” Panic was starting to build.
“Not anymore you
aren’t. You’re now enrolled at Georgetown.”
I loved my mother,
but there were times I had to remind myself that she returned the sentiment. “Why
didn’t you discuss this with me?”
My eyes flicked
towards my father, who moved to the desk and poured himself a scotch. If only I
could be so lucky as to have something to take the edge off this unfolding
nightmare. My mother did that to people: drove them to drink. But while she was
controlling, my father was the opposite: completely indifferent. The
combination was slightly south of functional, but for whatever reason, they
seemed to have stuck it out over the last twenty-three years.
“There’s nothing
to discuss. You’re completely dependent on us to pay, not only for your rent,
but also for school and living expenses. Therefore when we tell you to come
home, that’s what you’re going to do.”
Awareness hit me
that she wasn’t wrong. And it sucked. But as much as I was reeling with the very
idea of moving home, the more pressing issue was that I’d lined up a dream
internship for the summer in downtown LA, a job which started next week. Concluding
I might not be able to argue the school situation successfully at the moment, I
went for the short-term goal. “Can I at least stay for the summer?”
“I don’t see why
that would be necessary.”
“Well, I was
planning to tell you tomorrow. I have a great intern job—”
My father looked
as though he was going to speak, but she cut him off. “Please tell me it has
nothing to do with music. And is it even paid?”
Her words
definitely touched a nerve as music had always been my true passion. She’d
never been supportive of it, calling it a frivolous hobby ever since I’d
learned to play the guitar my late grandfather had given to me the Christmas I
turned ten. Then again, I’d not had the guts to do anything except play in my
own room and sing to the mirror. But I was hoping to change that this summer
with the chance of working for a top record producer in his studio. I’d be
exposed to dozens of artists, not to mention receive an inside view of the
business. It was the opportunity of a lifetime and, considering I’d beat out
over a thousand other candidates, there was no way I was giving it up. The
internship was unpaid, but luckily I had enough in savings to cover the
summer’s rent, which meant I wasn’t technically lying.
“I’d be able to pay
for my apartment.”
“What would you
be doing?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Thank God I was
saved from having to come up with another clever half-truth by a knock at the
door, which opened to reveal one of the caterers. “I’m so sorry to interrupt,
Mrs. Lane, but we have an issue with the oven.”
With a huff, my
mother glanced back and then hurried out the door, most likely to unleash her
displeasure on an unsuspecting caterer.
Alone with my
father, I turned towards him, hoping for an ally. “Dad. I want to stay in LA.”
He looked
resigned. “Honey, I fought your mother on sending you out there in the first
place, but I won’t win this one. At least not for now. Give it a few months,
and things may change.”
What in the hell
did he mean by that?
He put his hand
on my shoulder, looking sympathetic. “Is this summer internship that important
to you?”
“It really is.”
Not only was I hoping it would open the door to some sort of career involving
music, but now it also seemed critical in buying some time to figure out what
else I could do with regard to grad school. If only he would stick up for me
and what I wanted.
“Your mother may
not listen to me; however it might help if Brian weighed in, given that he’s
the best one to talk her into anything. Now go out and try to enjoy the rest of
your party.”
Hope flared for
the first time since this entire conversation had started, and I set off from
the home office with a purpose in mind. My dad was right in that my older
brother Brian was the one person who might have some influence over my mother.
Even though he
was technically my half-brother since we had different fathers, and he was
eleven years my senior, we were closer than a lot of other siblings might be,
and I loved him dearly. Brian always had an uncanny ability to read our mother
and figure out the best way to manage her. But after our mandatory family
pictures on the lawn earlier, he’d disappeared with his girlfriend, Sasha. I hadn’t
seen either of them since. Perhaps they were enjoying a moment of privacy. I
hated to interrupt, but desperate times called for frantic sisterly
interruptions such as this. Taking out my phone, I fired off a quick text:
“SOS, need to
talk about Mom.”
Wishing I was in
sneakers instead of these three-inch heels, I tried not to appear too panicked
in trying to locate Brian as I navigated through a house full of guests. It
wasn’t like him to leave without saying goodbye, so I hoped he’d come find me
soon or at least respond to my text. He would definitely know what to do; he
was a fixer who nothing ever seemed to rattle. Yep, if I could find my brother,
I might have a chance at working this all out by the time my head hit the
pillow tonight.
My eyes scanned
the lawn and when I saw Brian walking towards me, my relief was immediate. Then
I noted the distress on his face. “What’s wrong?”
He attempted a
half-hearted smile despite whatever was happening. “Nothing. Uh, Sasha had to
leave to take care of a work crisis.”
He was lying. Something
had happened and he obviously wasn’t going to tell me what. It wasn’t in his
character to do so, and with it being my party, there was no way I’d get it out
of him. Even though selfishly I could use his help with my predicament, I
didn’t hesitate to tell him what he needed to hear. “You should go help her
then.”
His face looked
hopeful, speaking volumes about his true feelings. Then he shook his head.
“This is your graduation party. Plus I got your text. What’s happening with Mom
that you need my help?”
Putting my hand
on his arm, I swallowed hard, willing myself not to say a word about my dilemma.
He may not want to confide the real issue, but I wasn’t going to make him
suffer along with me during the remainder of the party. “Nothing that’s a big
deal and I’m bailing to go out with my friends as soon as I can, so please
don’t feel like you need to stay a minute longer.”
Relief flooded
his features. “Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
He kissed my
forehead and then quickly flew out the front door towards his car.
I was screwed.
Without my father’s support or Brian’s, I had nothing except the stark reality
that I would have no choice but to succumb to my mother’s wishes. Even if I
went back to LA intent on getting a paying job, I wouldn’t be able to work full
time and also do the internship. Maybe I could moonlight as a waitress or
bartender on the weekends, though even then, things were expensive.
Plastering a
smile on my face, I wondered how I could pull off the last hour of my party and
headed to the bar for some liquid reserve. But, unfortunately, Rebecca, my
eldest brother Ben’s wife, had the keen ability of a predator to sense weakness
in a herd—even from across the room. She came over to me with a drink in hand.
I wasn’t often her target, but today evidently wasn’t done kicking my ass.
“When do you return
to LA, Kenzie?”
I quirked a brow
at her attempt at normal conversation but had no choice except to proceed in
order to remain polite. “On Monday.”
“Ah, I bet
you’re anxious to get packed up and moved back here.”
I sucked in a
breath, realizing she’d also been privy to my mother’s plan. Just how many
people had been told before I’d found out?
She sipped her
drink, looking smug. “I wonder why is it that you wish to stay in LA anyhow.
Could it be for the same person who had you moving out there in the first
place? You know it’ll probably be a nice reprieve for him not to have to
babysit you any longer.”
As often as I
had envisioned a scenario where I could be cool and have amazing comebacks to
her snide comments, it had yet to actually happen. Instead, I flushed at her
implication that my reason for moving and staying in Los Angeles was because my
long-time crush lived there.
“Why, hello,
Colby. Were your ears burning?” Rebecca’s grin was diabolical. She’d clearly
seen him come up behind me.
Shit. She’d
completely set me up. Turning around slowly, I saw the object of my thoughts
since age six, when I’d discovered how ‘dreamy’ the next-door neighbor boy was:
Colby Singer. I felt the flush deepen. We’d cultivated a great friendship over
the four years since I’d moved out to LA and for the most part, I was
comfortable around him, but I certainly didn’t want him witnessing this
exchange. Especially since it revolved around him.
His gaze narrowed,
and he immediately dismissed Rebecca, focusing on me instead. “Everything
okay?”
Standing over
six feet tall, with the toned body of an athlete under his suit and a
devastatingly handsome baby face, he definitely earned the appreciative looks
women gave him. Unfortunately his nearness didn’t do anything for my verbal
abilities however.
All it took was
my hesitation for Rebecca to jump right in. “I was posing the question as to
what or who in the world inspired her to move to LA, of all places, for
school…” She let the obvious implication hang out there.
If he hadn’t
heard her before, he definitely wasn’t going to miss her insinuation now. Was
it possible to want to run out of a room, burst into tears and envision
throat-punching someone all at the same time? Because all three scenarios were
churning in my mind. Now more than anything, I wished so badly to appear cool
and collected in front of Colby, but instead I proved myself zero for two when
it came to confrontation amongst my family. So I did what I seemed to do best
in their company: I completely shut down. Unfortunately, Colby was not only
there to see it, but he also reinforced Rebecca’s babysitter comment by
speaking up for me.
“She moved to LA
because she received a full athletic scholarship. As if that wasn’t enough, she
got the added bonus of being three thousand miles away from you, Rebecca.”