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“Remember what I told you about my uncle?” Walt chimed in. “He’d won thousands, and lost it all. Don’t be a sap—take the money and run.”
“What Walt said.” Paul frowned. “Quit while you’re ahead.”
Matt chuckled. “Don’t you guys know him by now? You tell Zeeb to do something, and it’s a surefire way of getting him to do the complete opposite.”
“I have to agree with Butch.” Sol gestured to Zeeb’s pile. “The odds of you keeping all that have to be astronomical. And no, Idon’tbelieve some higher power is looking out for you just because it’s your birthday, though thatisa nice theory.”
“If you won’t listen to all of us, listen tohim, why don’tcha?” Butch pleaded. He hated the thought of Zeeb’s birthday being ruined. “You can’t keep this up all night.”
Zeeb regarded him with a smile. “And what if I bet I can?”
Butch rolled his eyes. “You’d bet on that?”
“Sure, why not? This is my lucky night, right?” Zeeb grinned. “Okay then. If I get to the end of tonight and I’ve got less money than I started with, I’ll have lost, and I’ll pay you a forfeit.”
“Dude, you’ve got nothing I want.” Then he matched Zeeb’s grin. “Now wait a sec. Maybe I do have an idea after all.”
Sol laughed. “Zeeb, you see that gleam in his eyes? Be afraid. Beveryafraid.”
Zeeb folded his arms. “I can take whatever he dishes out. Let’s hear it.”
“If you lose, you have to find a guy willing to kiss you.” He gave the others a mock glare. “And none of you count, y’hear?”
Walt cackled. “You are evil.”
“Totally,” Paul agreed with a grin.
Zeeb shrugged. “Fine. I accept. But if I havemoremoney than I started with…” His eyes sparkled. “You owemea forfeit.”
Butch had a feeling Zeeb had already worked out what it was to be.
“I’m listening.”
“You know those photos Sol took of our boys? The ones for the website?”
“Sure.”
Zeeb smiled. “If you lose, you have to wear that black leather collar you wore in the photos for twenty-four hours.”
Butch glanced at Sol, who didn’t look happy about the idea.
Sol cleared his throat. “Zeeb, I’m sorry to spoil your fun, it being your birthday and all, but he won’t be doing that.”
“He wore it for the photo,” Zeeb remonstrated. “What’s the diff?”
“That was a photo shoot.” Sol paused for a sec. “Look, all I’m going to say is, for some guys who are into BDSM, putting a collar on a guy is the equivalent of putting a ring on his finger.” He stared at Zeeb. “Itmeanssomething, okay?”
“And you’d be such a guy?” Zeeb asked.
Sol nodded. “I’m old school, all right? A collar is important.”
Zeeb took a breath. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“It’s okay,” Sol assured him. “Just come up with something else.”
Zeeb stroked his beard, then suddenly he gave a broad smile. “I got it.” That twinkle was back. “Butch has to kiss you for a whole minute.”
“Then you’d better ask Butch how he feels about that,” Sol fired back.
