The Bet (Book 1 in The Deception Series)

Chapter 16: Mom's and strangers

Garrett

~~~~~~~

"Cry"- Cigarettes After Sex

I smile at her. She was falling. It was obvious, I saw that smile when she saw my dimple. Thank god, I was back on the road with this bet. Let's fucking go.

"Who's she?" Carson asks as he notices me looking at Taylor.

"Taylor Perez." I tell him as I take a sip of my soda.

"You hooking up with her?" He asks.

"Not yet, I have to be in a relationship with her by the end of winter break." I tell him.

He frowns.

"Do I wanna know?" He asks.

"Me and Brennen made a bet. I have to sleep and get in a relationship with her by the end of the break." I explain.

He chuckles.

"Seriously?" He asks.

I nod. I knew I shouldn't be proud of what I was doing. She was catching real feelings, feelings that would break her in the end. But she couldn't actually like a guy like me. If she knew half of the shit in my life, she'd run before even finding out about the bet.

"What happens if you fall for her?" He asks.

"I won't. I know how this is going to end, so I just need to stick to the plan." I tell him.

He looks at me.

"But you like her." He points out.

I scoff, "Nah, man."

He smiles, "Yeah, you do. You're just denying it because you're scared.

I stare at him. I have known Carson since highschool, he stops by every now and then to see his girlfriend and he meets up with me when he comes. This guy knew me like the back of his hand, he could read me like a book.

I shrug.

"I don't like her." I say.

"Why are you scared?" He asks.

I sigh because there was no point in hiding shit from him, "Because she'll leave in the end. Even if it's not about the bet, she'll leave because of my fucked up life."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do, Carson. You know what I went through as a teenager. You saw it with your own eyes. It scared you. I was lucky enough to have a friend like you who stuck by my side." I explain, dreading the memories of my teenage years, "Once Taylor finds out about it, she'll freak out. She doesn't want anything to do with all my complications and trauma." I go on as I look back at her. She was laughing and talking with her mom. She was happy, happy without me.

"But she likes you, if she's worth it, she'll stay. But you shouldn't be using her either. She has feelings, she's human. Just like you. Don't hurt her because you're scared of your own feelings." He explains to me.

I sigh because I knew he was right. I shouldn't hurt her like this but I couldn't let her go either.

~~~~~~~

We won our game and I managed not to piss Coach off this time. After showering and changing in the locker rooms, I walked out with Jake.

"Dude, that was the best game yet." He smiles.

"I know. We did pretty good." I reply, excitement buzzing throughout my body.

I look ahead of us and see Taylor and her mom talking. They looked a lot alike, the same brown hair, and identical smiles. I could tell they were close, Taylor was glowing around her mother. It made me miss mine. I hoped she was okay back at home. I always hated seeing her stuck in that house as a kid.