“Alice,” Emma, Beth, and Adler say at the same time.
“I got close,” Marissa says. “But I thought it’d take him a bit longer to come around.”
“Well, I didn’t have much faith,” Miles says. “Thisone is a nightmare when it comes to forgiving. I’m still getting heat for that time when I pinched at the blue line and left him alone on a two-on-one.”
“Oh, come on,” Baptiste groans as everyone else chuckles.
“It’s true.” Miles shrugs, a smile escaping.
“You guys have a serious gambling problem, you know that?” Baptiste continues. “You should get help.”
A chorus of protests erupts.
“Come on! It’s just a fun way to pass the time,” Adler says. “It’s innocent. And wedon’thave a problem.”
“Um, what about the bet you made with Beaumont his rookie year?” Baptiste adds. “I wasn’t there, but I’ve heard stories.”
“It helped him win over hiswife!” Miles shoots back. “Trust me, he’s grateful for that wager.”
Adler nods. “He owes it all to us, really.”
“Didn’t you bet on Marissa and Miles too?” Baptiste asks. “That they were secretly in love? Or how long it’d take them to realize they were more than friends?”
“Both, actually,” Auston chimes in.
“Which I won,” Emma adds, tilting her chin up proudly.
“Results are debatable,” Beth says. “I knew well before they finally got together, but I wasn’t aware there was a bet.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Marissa says, eyebrows drawn together in thought. “Maybe wedohave a betting problem. There was the polar plunge too.”
Beth nods. “And the charity auction.”
They keep listing the various bets they’ve made over the years, and I have to bite my cheek to keep from laughing. Light teasing and warmth fill the air, and I bask in the normalcy of it all—and if I’m being honest, I’m kind of looking forward to partaking in my first team wager someday. Don’t tell Grandma.
A knock sounds at the door.
At first, I think it’s a nurse or a doctor coming to check on me, but the mood shifts when two police officers in uniform enter the room.
“Good morning,” the taller one says. “I’m Detective Harris, and this is Officer Reynolds. We were hoping we could talk to you.”
“Oh. Sure,” I say, sitting up straighter and swallowing hard.
“We’ll give you the room,” Marissa mutters politely before standing and heading for the door. The others follow, but I catch Baptiste’s hand before he can leave.
“Stay, please?”
Turning to the officers, I add, “This is my boyfriend, Baptiste, and my grandmother, Glenda. I’d like them to stay, if that’s okay.”
They nod.
“The fire department identified the source of the fire,” Detective Harris begins. “It came from the corridor in front of your apartment. Someone poured gasoline on the floor and on your door, then lit it on fire.”
My stomach drops.
“My goodness,” Grandma whispers, squeezing my leg above the covers.
“Was it Victor?” I ask. “You know I have a restraining order against him, right? Victor Pike.”
