The Wager (The Bet #2)

“Are we divorcing?” Jake tried to sound lighthearted but he was a bit freaked out. What the hell could be in that envelope?

Travis rolled his eyes. “You should be so lucky to get away from me. No, it’s not anything like that. It’s just…” He swore. “This last year, Kacey finally read a few of the letters that her parents had left in their will. Apparently, they’d updated it the year before they died and had put a few keepsakes in with it, just in case.”

Jake bit his lip and looked away as tears threatened in his eyes. This was why he never talked about his feelings. Just talking about Kacey’s’ parents made his chest hurt. Damn, why did they have to go and die like that?

Why did it have to be that same night Jake had been caught doing another irresponsible thing? Why hadn’t Jake been given the chance to apologize to Kacey’s dad?

Travis handed the envelope to Jake. “This one was for you.”

“For me?” Jake took the envelope. “Why now? Why are you giving this to me now?”

Travis smirked. “Because my future wife is relentless…” He nudged Jake in the side. “And because there were strict instructions to only give it to you when something specific happened.”

“Oh yeah? What? Insanity?”

Travis licked his lips and looked away. “No, it was for when you fell in love.”

“I kind of feel like we’re having a moment here,” Jake joked.

“Shut up.” Travis laughed. “They wrote letters for family and friends. Apparently Kacey’s’ mom was really into taking notes; she has an entire notebook full of her thoughts and poems. At any rate, there were two letters left. One was for Kacey on her wedding day and one was for you…”

“What about you? Did you have a letter?” Jake asked.

Travis shook his head. “I have Kacey. Guess we’ll see what that letter says tomorrow when we say our vows. You still planning on walking her down with Dad?”

Jake fought the hammering of his heart and gave a jerky nod.

“Good.” Travis slapped him on the back. “I’m going to leave you to—” Travis waved at the letter. “See you at dinner.”

Jake clenched the letter in his hand and watched Travis walk back down the dock. With shaking fingers, Jake undid the seal of the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper. Its contents were short, to the point, in scratchy handwriting:


I knew it would happen. I told Rose just this morning that it was gonna happen and she up and laughed at me. I wonder if it’s Kacey who’s finally caught your eye. Ah, a father knows, the way you look at her is the way a man looks at his best friend. I can tell these things.


At any rate. We never talked about that night, Jake. You know which one I’m referring to. Hell, I doubt you’ll ever forget about digging holes in the backyard and having to apologize over and over again for getting caught with drugs and women you had no business being with. You always were a feisty one. In that moment, Jake, I knew, you’d probably grow up to be one of those big corporate guys. The ones with the fancy cars and fast women. You had that look about you, and I have to admit, it scared me a bit thinking about Kacey being with you.


I guess I’ll just have to trust that what was engrained in you when you were a boy stayed with you. It should, if that grandmother of yours has anything to say about it.