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“Yes,” I agree. “I bet my entire life on it.”
“That’s some bet, Addison,” he concludes, glancing over at Mom. “I’m rarely wrong, but I hope this time I’m proven to be exactly that.”
An audible breath escapes me. “Billionaire entrepreneur Lex Edwards is challenging me to prove him wrong? I mean, sure, it’s not like I’m busy trying to make a life for myself.”
Dad lowers his head with a smirk playing on his lips. “And if I’m right?”
With a steady gait, I extend my hand to welcome a handshake.
I don’t want to say there’s no chance. My interest in men is lacking. It’s not like I’m swinging on the same side. It’s more like I choose me.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
No matter what anyone says.
Not even the great Lex Edwards.
Three
Addison
The music blares, making it impossible to hear anyone who stops by to say hello.
We walk around the Malibu mansion, aware there’s glass everywhere, and no doubt something will break tonight. This isn’t Jacob’s first party at his parents’ weekend house. The guy is notorious for his parties, plus his parents never care how trashed the place ends up because they’ll easily throw money at cleaning and repairing any damage.
I recall when I was younger, Ava whining about how we’d never be able to host parties because Dad is so strict. Not only that, she would complain about why it was a waste since we were billionaires and money shouldn’t be a problem.
Personally, I despise being labeled a billionaire. Sure, Dad worked hard, and so did Mom, but as for me, I’mnota billionaire. The label is pretentious and undeserving of someone who’s still trying to graduate with her master’s.
Millie is much like me, never bothered nor hung up on our family’s wealth. Yet through her marriage to Will, she couldn’t avoid being labeled again. Will is a self-made billionaire, another hard-working man who’s deserving of everything he has strived for.
As for Ava, she’s wealthy in her own right and isn’t shy in vocalizing how she’s worth every cent. Although, she wouldn’t have gotten there as quickly without Dad’s help. Something Millie points out every time they argue, leaving me caught in the middle.
“Jacob doesn’t disappoint,” Cruz mentions while handing me a drink. The stench is so strong my guess is the ratio of liquor is double what it should be.
The trick with parties is to nurse the drink for as long as possible without getting messy drunk. I’ve learned over the years to control my intake and not rush myself like everyone around me. Therefore, I’m able to control the effects of the alcohol and not do anything stupid, which I’ll surely regret.
“So, we didn’t get a chance to talk in the car since your dad called you.”
“The man is relentless,” Cruz complains while tipping back the drink and finishing it in one go. “It was a forty-five-minute lecture about how I can easily fuck up my life.”
I pat his shoulder, knowing his dad’s opinion is very important to him. Judging by the responses from Cruz, his dad wasn’t easy on him tonight.
“He does it because he wants the best for you.”
“I’m doing the best I can,” Cruz strains, the creases in his forehead appearing from stress. “Okay, so there were a few mistakes today, but we won.”
We walk toward the large balcony overlooking the ocean. It’s much quieter here, and the ocean breeze is refreshing on this warm night. It doesn’t take long for the familiar smell of weed to filter around us, which I suspect is coming from the crowd sitting on the balcony below us.
“I think, and I say this without being an expert in the game, your dad is trying to get you to get to the core of why you made those mistakes.”
A friend of Cruz offers him another drink which he takes without a second thought. I keep my opinion to myself for now, but if he drinks this as fast as the other—I won’t hold back my feelings on the matter.
“Yeah, I know why. I was anxious,” he admits in a low voice. “The fear of losing drove me to react too quickly.”
“Right, so circling back to this fear…”
Cruz’s lips curve upward into a smile. “Are we having a session right now, Dr. Edwards? I can lay down on the couch if that’ll help you analyze my fucked-up brain.”
