Bet Me

Chapter 10

James POV

Standing outside of my moms house was something I hardly ever did. If it wasn't for my dad constantly bugging me about it, I would not have been here today doing my mother favors. 

"Oh James I'm so glad you're here! Come in, Haley's getting her stuff for soccer practice. I've missed you, son." My mother stood tall, her black with a hint of grey hair looked newly washed. Her arms extend for a hug but the cold look I gave her was enough for her to put her hands back down to her sides. She knew I didn't come here to see her and it pained her a little inside.

"I'll go see what's taking her so long." Her expression changes as she makes her way away from the door.

I kept still at the door wishing I was out with some random college friends that only liked me because I was rich. Anything was better than what I was stuck doing right now. 

"Go  sit in the car. James will be out there in a minute." I hear my moms voice get louder as I see Haley run to my car with her soccer ball. 

"Hey watch it with that!" I turn around to see her kick it towards my car window. "Just got those re done." I mumble.

"James?"

I snap back to reality examining my mother stand before me. She had wrinkles on the corners of her eyes with a some-what sleepy look on her face.

"Yeah yeah soccer practice I'll get her back to you by five." I start to walk away hurriedly not wanting to have small talk with her.

"Thank you for taking her. Dave had to work over time and.."

"Bye Carla." A tiny ounce of guilt crept up my spine as I made my way to my car and pulled out of the driveway. Everything else blurred in my vision as my eyes focused on her image in my rear-view mirror standing by the doorway, her arms folded. "Why should I care" I whisper to myself quietly. 

 •   

"Love-fifteen!" My brother screamed with his fist punching the air as his wife scored a point over her sister.

After the encounter with my mother, I decided I needed to go see my full blood brother. Although we were close growing up, we drifted apart with our life choices. He got a job working for our dads business and I just wanted to party at college. Although I was jealous of how much money he made and his beautiful mansion-like house, I loved my party life and wouldn't give it up for anything.

"It's good to see ya brother." Max adjusted his spot on his folded out lawn chair. He smiles deeply at me. With me being so caught in my own life lately, it's been awhile since I had made a visit to him.

"You too Max." 

"What brings you here?"His crinkled eyebrow showed his curiosity. "Not that I don't want you here of course" He added.

I stared at my successful brother, 8 years older than me. Often as kids, strangers would tell us I was his mini-me. Sometimes I only wished I could be like him, other times I'm glad we're polar opposites. 

"How did you know?" My cocked head pointed toward his wife in her tennis outfit, her fair skin was glowing in the sun light. 

"Did James find someone?" His body emerged from his lazy-boy posture as his body shows his full attention. 

I think about Savannah, the bet, and the first impression I gave her. The truth was I didn't love Savannah, I knew that. However if I was going to get that tuition money from Katie, I was going to have to act the part. If I told Max what I was doing, he would lose all respect for me and I didn't want that. If I needed to get in the mind of a nice guy, I needed to tell a little fib. "You could say that." 

Max looks over at his wife endearingly "I can honestly say that woman right there made me the best version of myself. The version of me I didn't even think I had." His genuine expression peering back at me made me feel slightly guilty. "Love is when nothing is the same without her by my side. Food isn't as good, beer doesn't give me the right buzz, jokes aren't funny. Nothing. When you're in love.  He pauses and looks at his wife again, waving back at she waves her racket at him. "She's shown me that life can be so much more meaningful than I ever thought it could be."

I nodded in agreement although I had no idea what he was talking about. Truth be told, I didn't care if anyone left my life or not. I was going to be happy no matter what, maybe love wasn't meant for me but I was okay with that."Thanks brother." I get up from my seat.

"Leaving so soon?" 

"Yeah I got someone to see." I lie, telling the perfect excuse after our conversation.

"That's right brother! I want to see a date from you at family get togethers!", I start to walk away "Hey James. Please try to talk to mom.  I know you don't want to but you have to let that go my dude."

"Thanks Max. See ya later brother."

                                                                              •

The way from Max's to pick up Haley from soccer practice made me think about how I was going to go about this date tomorrow. I had to make this more convincing than ever, even I was nervous. 

I pick up Haley from practice and drive her back to my moms.

"Thanks for taking me James. I'll tell mom you had to get going." 

"Actually, I'll walk you to the door." I smile as we walk to the door. My heart races and my palms get sweaty. Max was one of the very few people in my life that I actually respected, he wanted me to talk to mom so I was going to try.

"I'm shocked to see you James." My mothers happy expression greets me at the door. 

"I will never be back. You are a disgrace. I should have never married you!"

"What about the kids?"

"Take them. I don't want anything to do with those brats that came from you."

"I can't do this on my own, Carla."

"Who cares. I don't love you. I never did!"

"James?"

My flashback ends as my jaw tightens. "Yeah, I'm shocked too." 

 I walk away furiously slamming the car door behind me. I needed to get back to my apartment and get this date over with.