Not Betting on Forever, page 5
“I’m lucky. I had a variety of skills to choose from in my staff,” the Y coach said. “It’s going to be a great competition.”
The football coach nodded. “All the teachers were enthusiastic about competing. I had my pick too.”
“My whole shop is my team,” Melanie said wryly. “I’m still very confident.” She turned to look at Nick, because she couldn’t stop herself. “How about you? You have a small business too.”
“I’ll bet our team will give yours a run for your money.”
She grinned. “Wouldn’t be much fun if there’s not good competition.”
He shook his head, cocky amusement clear in his expression. “True. But we’re still going to beat your asses.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Are you saying that my Beauty Divas can’t beat your gym rats?”
He laughed. Apparently gym rats wasn’t the insult she thought it was. “Do you even have to ask?”
Melanie glanced around and saw that Ginny and the rest had disappeared. In fact, she and Nick were the only ones left in the room. She didn’t remember him moving, but he was suddenly close enough that she could reach out and punch his cocky face if she wanted to. Or grab a fistful of his T-shirt and pull him in for a kiss.
She got up on her toes—and in his face. She could be cocky too. “I bet we can beat you.”
Nick stumbled back, but she knew it was in surprise, not because she intimidated him. “Whoa. You talking about a certain event, or the whole damn BoB?”
She should have shut up, but she couldn’t back down now. “The whole damn thing, of course.”
The eager look on his face made her smile. “Are you looking for a side bet?”
Now his expression was intense, just as it had been when he’d told her he was attracted to her. Intensity was spreading inside her too. “I would be very interested in a side bet.”
“You’re on,” he said.
She swallowed. “Are we talking about actually winning, or one of our teams coming ahead of the other on points?”
Oh God, his expression got more intense every second. It was turning her on, dammit. “What’s the fun if you’re not betting to win?”
“What if neither one of our teams win?” She hated herself for hedging her bet.
“Don’t bet if you’re not positive you’re going to win.”
She didn’t want to admit that she wasn’t positive the team from her small business could win the whole damn BoB—just chatting with the other team leaders told her that—but she was itching to knock that cockiness out of him. “I’m willing to make a little side bet on the points we rack up on the first weekend.”
She hadn’t known Nick had so many different expressions. Now he looked thoughtful, strategic. “We don’t know which events those will be yet.”
“Exactly. That’s about as even a challenge as we can get.”
“Okay, so next Monday we’ll have the schedule.”
She crossed her arms. “But we’re placing the bet right now.”
“Of course. Let me think a minute.” His seeking gaze swept over her, but she knew that attraction was currently the last thing on his mind. Why wasn’t attraction currently the last thing on hers? “So, if my team beats yours in total points after the first weekend of the BoB, you give me a haircut.”
A haircut? Her gaze lingered on his hair, thick and wavy above his strong, handsome face. His dark-chocolate eyes held a challenge that sent shivers dancing along her skin. Her fingers tingled, just from the thought of running them through his strands. She swallowed. A haircut if they lost? That wasn’t so bad. She thought a moment. “And if my team beats yours, you mow the vacant lot.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I’ve been mowing it this year. Herb’s getting older, but don’t you dare say that to his face.”
“I wouldn’t think of it.”
“He hasn’t been keeping up the yard maintenance this year.”
Nick glanced around, as if Herb might be right around the corner. “Well, hell, I didn’t know that. No way. I’ll share the work with you. Until, you know, Herb sells me the land. Then I’ll take it over for good.”
“So gracious of you, but he’s not selling you that land. I’ll bet on that.”
“One bet at a time,” he said. “Right now we’re talking about most points for each team, the first weekend. You’ll cut my hair if I win…”
“You’ll mow my lawn when my team wins.” She didn’t have a huge yard, but mowing was one of her least favorite chores. And she’d love to see him hot and sweaty with grass-stained shoes. She held out her hand. “Bet?”
He hesitated for a moment, then engulfed her hand in his. It was warm and strong, and it sent more of those stupid damn shivers along her skin. “You’ve got a bet.”
“Good, you’re still here.” Herb approached them, and they jerked their hands apart. “Glad I caught you.”
Nick cleared his throat. “What’s up?”
“I want to talk to you both.”
Melanie’s stomach twisted uneasily. Had he heard them making the bet? “I know it’s probably not proper for us to be betting on our events.” Was that one of the rules? Herb didn’t mention it tonight.
“Is that what you were doing?” Herb’s chuckle sounded like dry leaves rustling over the sidewalk. He lowered himself into the black chair with the high back he’d sat in earlier. “Have a seat, you two. I’ve come to a decision.”
Melanie glanced at Nick, and he shrugged. He clearly had no idea what Herb was getting at, either. They took folding chairs on the other side of the long table.
“What’s up?” Nick asked. “You need help with something?”
Herb glared at him. “I don’t need any damned help. Pay attention for a minute.” He paused and gave them each a steady stare before a slow smile stretched over his weathered face. “Now I can’t deny I have enjoyed those bribes of baked goods and beer that I’ve been getting, but I want to make it clear that I’m not going to sell that plot of land to either one of you.”
“But, Herb…” Melanie cried.
“Come on, Herb,” Nick complained at the same time.
Herb raised his hand, the long fingers thin and gnarled. “I’m going to pass it on the same way it has changed hands for the past fifty years.”
“I don’t understand,” Melanie said.
Nick shrugged. “What are you talking about?”
Herb studied them. “Your parents never told you?”
“Told us what?” Melanie asked.
He shook his head and let out another one of those raspy chuckles. “What do you think we were betting on all those years when we’d get together?”
Melanie had almost forgotten that Herb and his wife, Louise, had been there along with Nick’s parents when her mom and dad had hosted game nights. “Pennies. You each brought a huge jar of pennies every time you came over.”
“Most of the time we did,” Herb said. “But once a year we had a party for our families. A cookout, drinks, desserts, games for you kids, before we played cards. You two must remember that.”
“Sure. We set up tables and chairs…” Melanie’s words trailed off as she remembered. “We had a party on the empty lot.”
“Yes, ma’am, and we had a damn good time.” He nailed Nick, then Melanie, with his gaze. “Your parents never said anything to you about betting on the land?”
Melanie bit back a gasp as Nick let out a laugh. “You were betting on the land?” she repeated.
“Exactly, and in that long tradition, that’s the only way that bit of land is going to change hands now.”
Nick leaned forward in his chair. “What do you have in mind?”
Was that a bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes? Did she have the same look?
“If it were only the two of you competing, I’d hand the deed over to the winner of the BoB, simple as shit. But since it’s entirely possible that one of the two dozen other teams could win the whole shebang, I’m going strictly by points. I’ll turn over the deed to whichever of you, along with your team, of course, earns the highest number of points at the end of the battle.”
“Um, wow,” Melanie mumbled. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Nothing for either one of you to say. I hold the deed. I can do whatever the hell I want with the land.”
Melanie shook her head. “I still can’t get over the fact that our three families have been betting on one piece of land for decades.”
Herb shrugged. “It made things more fun. Nobody really needed it.”
“No one wanted to sell it and make some money?” Nick asked.
“What would be the fun in that? We kept playing for it every year when the next party day came along.”
She wanted the land. She needed that space for Ava. For the pool she begged for every year. Melanie wanted to be able to give her daughter something her father couldn’t. “I had no idea.” She was calling her mom for more details as soon as she got home.
“Your parents were our great friends. Joe and Angie, and Phil and Shirley.” His gaze moved from Melanie to Nick. “We kept it up until Louise had her stroke, about the same time as your marriage to Shelby didn’t work out.” Sadness washed over his face. “I hated to see how it broke up your families, too.”
Melanie and Nick shared a look. She saw the shadow of guilt on his face and sent him a small smile in silent acknowledgment. They knew better than anyone the hurt that had destroyed their families for almost twenty years.
“And you had the deed at the time,” Nick guessed, not responding to Herb’s comment.
“Yep. And one more thing.” Herb pointed a finger at each other them, his expression stern. “It was never anyone else’s business when we played cards for it. It’s no one else’s business now. Understand?”
“Not a word, Herb,” Nick said.
“Of course. It stays between the three of us,” Melanie agreed.
“Good.” Herb pushed himself to his feet then, the chair squealing as it scraped across the floor. “Gonna make this Battle of the Businesses a whole lot more interesting.” He laughed again, still sounding like those leaves skittering over the concrete. “Yes, sir. A whole lot more interesting.”
Melanie and Nick rose and watched the old man shuffle back toward the office. He waved to them over his shoulder. “Good night, kids.”
…
Melanie stared at Nick. She was obviously as surprised as he was by Herb’s decision. And by his story. Nick had never imagined that all those card games had been anything more than penny-ante evenings with friends.
“Who do you think owned the land in the first place?” Melanie asked. “You know, the first ones who gambled away ownership of the land?
Nick hadn’t even thought about that. “I don’t know. Maybe they don’t even remember.”
“I bet they remember.”
“I’m not taking that bet.” He turned to look at the door Herb had disappeared through. “Guess there’s more than bragging rights at stake now.”
Melanie let out a shaky breath. “Yeah.”
“Of course, first there’s a haircut or a lawn-mowing at stake.”
“You still want to…”
He crossed his arms. “Hell, yeah. Nothing wrong with a side bet.”
She raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m not going to back away from the bet. Just wanted to make sure you didn’t.”
Nick scowled. “Since when have I ever backed away from a bet?”
“I have no clue, Nick.”
“Somehow I forget we haven’t hung out since we were kids.”
She blinked those pretty blue eyes. “We’ve never really known each other at all.”
He took a step closer, because he couldn’t stop his feet from moving. “And we still don’t know each other now, do we?” Even though it felt as if he knew her. As if she knew him. They might have seen each other a few times over the years when he visited his parents, but he doubted they’d said more than hello.
“We’ve only had a few conversations since you got back,” she agreed, not backing away, not looking away. Her pink tongue darted out to wet her lips. “And one dance.”
“Oh, yeah. The dance.” He couldn’t forget holding her in his arms, though he wished he could forget how right she’d felt there. He didn’t need that distraction.
“And now the bet.” Her tone was teasing and a little too tempting when she added, “Which you say you’d never back out on.”
He frowned, channeling the unwanted tension simmering through his body into annoyance. “I never have. I never will.”
Now her tone was soothing. “I didn’t think you would.”
As Herb said, it made life a lot more fun.
“Are you headed home now?” he asked her.
She blinked and looked at him. He’d obviously interrupted her train of thought. “Yeah. Headed my way?”
“I want to make a quick stop at the gym. Want to take the long way home?” It wasn’t that far out of the way.
She studied him for a moment, then shrugged. “Sure. I’m still trying to get all this straight in my head.”
“Yeah.” He followed her out the door.
“At least we don’t win or lose on the roll of the dice,” she said, after they’d headed down the sidewalk. They waved to a few residents as they walked down the street.
“But we have to depend on a lot of people besides ourselves. I think I’d rather play one hand of poker with you, all or nothing.”
She sent him a sidelong glance. “I trust my team. Don’t you trust yours?”
“It’s not a lack of trust so much as a lack of control.”
“I get that. Well, not much we can do about it now. I’m going to cheer on my Divas and do my best when it’s my turn.”
“Too bad our best will be better than yours.” He’d always loved joking around with her when they were kids.
She jabbed him with her elbow. “Don’t get cocky. I’m looking forward to seeing what events are scheduled for the first weekend.”
Confident didn’t have to mean cocky. “Me too.” They’d reached the gym. Melanie’s shop across the street was closed up tight. “Come on in. I’ll only be a minute.”
“It’s a nice evening. I’ll wait out here.” She headed for the carved wooden bench that sat outside her salon. It was painted white with flowers and fairies or something. “I can’t guarantee I’ll wait for you if you take too long, though.”
…
Melanie watched Nick disappear into the wide door of Campagna’s Gym. She hoped he wouldn’t take too long. After Daniel had kept her waiting time after time, Melanie had promised herself she’d never wait for a man again. No matter what Dan’s excuse had been, all it had felt like was that she was never the most important thing in his life.
Work had usually been his excuse. Attorneys were so busy, he said. He was so, so important, he said. The work had to take precedence if he wanted to rise in the firm. And then to become a partner. And then to become a partner with the biggest book of business. After almost a dozen years of that—and at least one affair—Melanie had had enough. She’d left with Ava to move in with her folks and start her salon, and she hadn’t looked back. And Daniel, still in Rochester, came to see Ava as often as he could, though it seemed to Melanie that his job was still number one.
But now, somehow, Dan had the time to take Ava on a two-month long trip across the U.S. by train. Even though they’d never had the time to take a vacation as a family. Ever.
She pulled her phone out of her bag and tapped her mother’s number. When she answered, Melanie didn’t bother with niceties. “Why didn’t you ever mention that you and Dad used to play poker for the land deed?”
Her mom didn’t answer her right away. Instead, Melanie heard her addressing someone else in the room. “Guess what? Herb must have told Melly about our poker parties.”
Melanie could hear her dad call out, “Finally.” And she recognized two other voices in the background, even though she couldn’t make out what they were saying. Angie and Joe Campagna were there. It made her happy to hear them all together again. “Here, I’m putting her on speaker,” her mom said. A chorus of hellos rang out. After returning them, she got back to business.
“Why was it such a big secret?”
Her mother sniffed. “It was no one’s business but ours.”
“And ours. Once Nick and I bought the properties, you should have said something then, if not before.”
“What does it matter anymore?” her father asked.
“Because when I asked you why we didn’t own the land anymore, you acted like I’d imagined the whole thing.”
“Well now you know, so everything’s okay.”
“No, it’s not okay.”
Her mother was silent for a moment. Melanie could imagine her narrowing her eyes, clearly showing she wasn’t happy with her youngest daughter. “We all agreed at the time that it was for the best. There’s no point in getting so upset about it now.”
“And remember, family loyalty trumps all. It’s nobody else’s business,” her father called out. “Don’t go blabbing it to the whole world.”
She’d heard that more than once. “I won’t.”
She heard the gym door open, and Nick stepped out. She waved to him and stood. “I’ve got to go, but I’m mad at you guys.”
“You’ll get over it,” her mother said cheerfully. “Bye, sweetheart.”
Nick met her on the sidewalk. He said nothing as she walked toward him.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. No problem. Ready to head home?”
The way he said home shouldn’t have made her smile.
“Just talked to my mom,” she said as they started down the walk. “She doesn’t see any reason why they should have told us about our families betting on the land. It’s all in the past, as far as they’re concerned. Oh, by the way, your parents were over there when I called.”
The football coach nodded. “All the teachers were enthusiastic about competing. I had my pick too.”
“My whole shop is my team,” Melanie said wryly. “I’m still very confident.” She turned to look at Nick, because she couldn’t stop herself. “How about you? You have a small business too.”
“I’ll bet our team will give yours a run for your money.”
She grinned. “Wouldn’t be much fun if there’s not good competition.”
He shook his head, cocky amusement clear in his expression. “True. But we’re still going to beat your asses.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Are you saying that my Beauty Divas can’t beat your gym rats?”
He laughed. Apparently gym rats wasn’t the insult she thought it was. “Do you even have to ask?”
Melanie glanced around and saw that Ginny and the rest had disappeared. In fact, she and Nick were the only ones left in the room. She didn’t remember him moving, but he was suddenly close enough that she could reach out and punch his cocky face if she wanted to. Or grab a fistful of his T-shirt and pull him in for a kiss.
She got up on her toes—and in his face. She could be cocky too. “I bet we can beat you.”
Nick stumbled back, but she knew it was in surprise, not because she intimidated him. “Whoa. You talking about a certain event, or the whole damn BoB?”
She should have shut up, but she couldn’t back down now. “The whole damn thing, of course.”
The eager look on his face made her smile. “Are you looking for a side bet?”
Now his expression was intense, just as it had been when he’d told her he was attracted to her. Intensity was spreading inside her too. “I would be very interested in a side bet.”
“You’re on,” he said.
She swallowed. “Are we talking about actually winning, or one of our teams coming ahead of the other on points?”
Oh God, his expression got more intense every second. It was turning her on, dammit. “What’s the fun if you’re not betting to win?”
“What if neither one of our teams win?” She hated herself for hedging her bet.
“Don’t bet if you’re not positive you’re going to win.”
She didn’t want to admit that she wasn’t positive the team from her small business could win the whole damn BoB—just chatting with the other team leaders told her that—but she was itching to knock that cockiness out of him. “I’m willing to make a little side bet on the points we rack up on the first weekend.”
She hadn’t known Nick had so many different expressions. Now he looked thoughtful, strategic. “We don’t know which events those will be yet.”
“Exactly. That’s about as even a challenge as we can get.”
“Okay, so next Monday we’ll have the schedule.”
She crossed her arms. “But we’re placing the bet right now.”
“Of course. Let me think a minute.” His seeking gaze swept over her, but she knew that attraction was currently the last thing on his mind. Why wasn’t attraction currently the last thing on hers? “So, if my team beats yours in total points after the first weekend of the BoB, you give me a haircut.”
A haircut? Her gaze lingered on his hair, thick and wavy above his strong, handsome face. His dark-chocolate eyes held a challenge that sent shivers dancing along her skin. Her fingers tingled, just from the thought of running them through his strands. She swallowed. A haircut if they lost? That wasn’t so bad. She thought a moment. “And if my team beats yours, you mow the vacant lot.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I’ve been mowing it this year. Herb’s getting older, but don’t you dare say that to his face.”
“I wouldn’t think of it.”
“He hasn’t been keeping up the yard maintenance this year.”
Nick glanced around, as if Herb might be right around the corner. “Well, hell, I didn’t know that. No way. I’ll share the work with you. Until, you know, Herb sells me the land. Then I’ll take it over for good.”
“So gracious of you, but he’s not selling you that land. I’ll bet on that.”
“One bet at a time,” he said. “Right now we’re talking about most points for each team, the first weekend. You’ll cut my hair if I win…”
“You’ll mow my lawn when my team wins.” She didn’t have a huge yard, but mowing was one of her least favorite chores. And she’d love to see him hot and sweaty with grass-stained shoes. She held out her hand. “Bet?”
He hesitated for a moment, then engulfed her hand in his. It was warm and strong, and it sent more of those stupid damn shivers along her skin. “You’ve got a bet.”
“Good, you’re still here.” Herb approached them, and they jerked their hands apart. “Glad I caught you.”
Nick cleared his throat. “What’s up?”
“I want to talk to you both.”
Melanie’s stomach twisted uneasily. Had he heard them making the bet? “I know it’s probably not proper for us to be betting on our events.” Was that one of the rules? Herb didn’t mention it tonight.
“Is that what you were doing?” Herb’s chuckle sounded like dry leaves rustling over the sidewalk. He lowered himself into the black chair with the high back he’d sat in earlier. “Have a seat, you two. I’ve come to a decision.”
Melanie glanced at Nick, and he shrugged. He clearly had no idea what Herb was getting at, either. They took folding chairs on the other side of the long table.
“What’s up?” Nick asked. “You need help with something?”
Herb glared at him. “I don’t need any damned help. Pay attention for a minute.” He paused and gave them each a steady stare before a slow smile stretched over his weathered face. “Now I can’t deny I have enjoyed those bribes of baked goods and beer that I’ve been getting, but I want to make it clear that I’m not going to sell that plot of land to either one of you.”
“But, Herb…” Melanie cried.
“Come on, Herb,” Nick complained at the same time.
Herb raised his hand, the long fingers thin and gnarled. “I’m going to pass it on the same way it has changed hands for the past fifty years.”
“I don’t understand,” Melanie said.
Nick shrugged. “What are you talking about?”
Herb studied them. “Your parents never told you?”
“Told us what?” Melanie asked.
He shook his head and let out another one of those raspy chuckles. “What do you think we were betting on all those years when we’d get together?”
Melanie had almost forgotten that Herb and his wife, Louise, had been there along with Nick’s parents when her mom and dad had hosted game nights. “Pennies. You each brought a huge jar of pennies every time you came over.”
“Most of the time we did,” Herb said. “But once a year we had a party for our families. A cookout, drinks, desserts, games for you kids, before we played cards. You two must remember that.”
“Sure. We set up tables and chairs…” Melanie’s words trailed off as she remembered. “We had a party on the empty lot.”
“Yes, ma’am, and we had a damn good time.” He nailed Nick, then Melanie, with his gaze. “Your parents never said anything to you about betting on the land?”
Melanie bit back a gasp as Nick let out a laugh. “You were betting on the land?” she repeated.
“Exactly, and in that long tradition, that’s the only way that bit of land is going to change hands now.”
Nick leaned forward in his chair. “What do you have in mind?”
Was that a bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes? Did she have the same look?
“If it were only the two of you competing, I’d hand the deed over to the winner of the BoB, simple as shit. But since it’s entirely possible that one of the two dozen other teams could win the whole shebang, I’m going strictly by points. I’ll turn over the deed to whichever of you, along with your team, of course, earns the highest number of points at the end of the battle.”
“Um, wow,” Melanie mumbled. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Nothing for either one of you to say. I hold the deed. I can do whatever the hell I want with the land.”
Melanie shook her head. “I still can’t get over the fact that our three families have been betting on one piece of land for decades.”
Herb shrugged. “It made things more fun. Nobody really needed it.”
“No one wanted to sell it and make some money?” Nick asked.
“What would be the fun in that? We kept playing for it every year when the next party day came along.”
She wanted the land. She needed that space for Ava. For the pool she begged for every year. Melanie wanted to be able to give her daughter something her father couldn’t. “I had no idea.” She was calling her mom for more details as soon as she got home.
“Your parents were our great friends. Joe and Angie, and Phil and Shirley.” His gaze moved from Melanie to Nick. “We kept it up until Louise had her stroke, about the same time as your marriage to Shelby didn’t work out.” Sadness washed over his face. “I hated to see how it broke up your families, too.”
Melanie and Nick shared a look. She saw the shadow of guilt on his face and sent him a small smile in silent acknowledgment. They knew better than anyone the hurt that had destroyed their families for almost twenty years.
“And you had the deed at the time,” Nick guessed, not responding to Herb’s comment.
“Yep. And one more thing.” Herb pointed a finger at each other them, his expression stern. “It was never anyone else’s business when we played cards for it. It’s no one else’s business now. Understand?”
“Not a word, Herb,” Nick said.
“Of course. It stays between the three of us,” Melanie agreed.
“Good.” Herb pushed himself to his feet then, the chair squealing as it scraped across the floor. “Gonna make this Battle of the Businesses a whole lot more interesting.” He laughed again, still sounding like those leaves skittering over the concrete. “Yes, sir. A whole lot more interesting.”
Melanie and Nick rose and watched the old man shuffle back toward the office. He waved to them over his shoulder. “Good night, kids.”
…
Melanie stared at Nick. She was obviously as surprised as he was by Herb’s decision. And by his story. Nick had never imagined that all those card games had been anything more than penny-ante evenings with friends.
“Who do you think owned the land in the first place?” Melanie asked. “You know, the first ones who gambled away ownership of the land?
Nick hadn’t even thought about that. “I don’t know. Maybe they don’t even remember.”
“I bet they remember.”
“I’m not taking that bet.” He turned to look at the door Herb had disappeared through. “Guess there’s more than bragging rights at stake now.”
Melanie let out a shaky breath. “Yeah.”
“Of course, first there’s a haircut or a lawn-mowing at stake.”
“You still want to…”
He crossed his arms. “Hell, yeah. Nothing wrong with a side bet.”
She raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m not going to back away from the bet. Just wanted to make sure you didn’t.”
Nick scowled. “Since when have I ever backed away from a bet?”
“I have no clue, Nick.”
“Somehow I forget we haven’t hung out since we were kids.”
She blinked those pretty blue eyes. “We’ve never really known each other at all.”
He took a step closer, because he couldn’t stop his feet from moving. “And we still don’t know each other now, do we?” Even though it felt as if he knew her. As if she knew him. They might have seen each other a few times over the years when he visited his parents, but he doubted they’d said more than hello.
“We’ve only had a few conversations since you got back,” she agreed, not backing away, not looking away. Her pink tongue darted out to wet her lips. “And one dance.”
“Oh, yeah. The dance.” He couldn’t forget holding her in his arms, though he wished he could forget how right she’d felt there. He didn’t need that distraction.
“And now the bet.” Her tone was teasing and a little too tempting when she added, “Which you say you’d never back out on.”
He frowned, channeling the unwanted tension simmering through his body into annoyance. “I never have. I never will.”
Now her tone was soothing. “I didn’t think you would.”
As Herb said, it made life a lot more fun.
“Are you headed home now?” he asked her.
She blinked and looked at him. He’d obviously interrupted her train of thought. “Yeah. Headed my way?”
“I want to make a quick stop at the gym. Want to take the long way home?” It wasn’t that far out of the way.
She studied him for a moment, then shrugged. “Sure. I’m still trying to get all this straight in my head.”
“Yeah.” He followed her out the door.
“At least we don’t win or lose on the roll of the dice,” she said, after they’d headed down the sidewalk. They waved to a few residents as they walked down the street.
“But we have to depend on a lot of people besides ourselves. I think I’d rather play one hand of poker with you, all or nothing.”
She sent him a sidelong glance. “I trust my team. Don’t you trust yours?”
“It’s not a lack of trust so much as a lack of control.”
“I get that. Well, not much we can do about it now. I’m going to cheer on my Divas and do my best when it’s my turn.”
“Too bad our best will be better than yours.” He’d always loved joking around with her when they were kids.
She jabbed him with her elbow. “Don’t get cocky. I’m looking forward to seeing what events are scheduled for the first weekend.”
Confident didn’t have to mean cocky. “Me too.” They’d reached the gym. Melanie’s shop across the street was closed up tight. “Come on in. I’ll only be a minute.”
“It’s a nice evening. I’ll wait out here.” She headed for the carved wooden bench that sat outside her salon. It was painted white with flowers and fairies or something. “I can’t guarantee I’ll wait for you if you take too long, though.”
…
Melanie watched Nick disappear into the wide door of Campagna’s Gym. She hoped he wouldn’t take too long. After Daniel had kept her waiting time after time, Melanie had promised herself she’d never wait for a man again. No matter what Dan’s excuse had been, all it had felt like was that she was never the most important thing in his life.
Work had usually been his excuse. Attorneys were so busy, he said. He was so, so important, he said. The work had to take precedence if he wanted to rise in the firm. And then to become a partner. And then to become a partner with the biggest book of business. After almost a dozen years of that—and at least one affair—Melanie had had enough. She’d left with Ava to move in with her folks and start her salon, and she hadn’t looked back. And Daniel, still in Rochester, came to see Ava as often as he could, though it seemed to Melanie that his job was still number one.
But now, somehow, Dan had the time to take Ava on a two-month long trip across the U.S. by train. Even though they’d never had the time to take a vacation as a family. Ever.
She pulled her phone out of her bag and tapped her mother’s number. When she answered, Melanie didn’t bother with niceties. “Why didn’t you ever mention that you and Dad used to play poker for the land deed?”
Her mom didn’t answer her right away. Instead, Melanie heard her addressing someone else in the room. “Guess what? Herb must have told Melly about our poker parties.”
Melanie could hear her dad call out, “Finally.” And she recognized two other voices in the background, even though she couldn’t make out what they were saying. Angie and Joe Campagna were there. It made her happy to hear them all together again. “Here, I’m putting her on speaker,” her mom said. A chorus of hellos rang out. After returning them, she got back to business.
“Why was it such a big secret?”
Her mother sniffed. “It was no one’s business but ours.”
“And ours. Once Nick and I bought the properties, you should have said something then, if not before.”
“What does it matter anymore?” her father asked.
“Because when I asked you why we didn’t own the land anymore, you acted like I’d imagined the whole thing.”
“Well now you know, so everything’s okay.”
“No, it’s not okay.”
Her mother was silent for a moment. Melanie could imagine her narrowing her eyes, clearly showing she wasn’t happy with her youngest daughter. “We all agreed at the time that it was for the best. There’s no point in getting so upset about it now.”
“And remember, family loyalty trumps all. It’s nobody else’s business,” her father called out. “Don’t go blabbing it to the whole world.”
She’d heard that more than once. “I won’t.”
She heard the gym door open, and Nick stepped out. She waved to him and stood. “I’ve got to go, but I’m mad at you guys.”
“You’ll get over it,” her mother said cheerfully. “Bye, sweetheart.”
Nick met her on the sidewalk. He said nothing as she walked toward him.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. No problem. Ready to head home?”
The way he said home shouldn’t have made her smile.
“Just talked to my mom,” she said as they started down the walk. “She doesn’t see any reason why they should have told us about our families betting on the land. It’s all in the past, as far as they’re concerned. Oh, by the way, your parents were over there when I called.”
