The Bet | Ethma

24

It was nearing midnight and Grandma seemed to be winning despite Emma's attempt to put a hotel on every property she owned.

"This could go on forever," Mr. Casbon sulked. "I say we have a tie-breaker."

"Deal." Emma wasn't tired, but she figured the old people wanted to... socialize.

"The first person to roll a double six, wins the game."

"Easy enough." Ethan grabbed the dice and rolled. "A two and a four."

Grandma rolled. "One and a five."

Mr. Casbon cursed when his roll ended up on double ones.

"Your turn." Grandma handed over the dice to Emma. "Why don't you have Ethan blow on them for good luck?"

Ethan stiffened next to her.

The jerk. He could at least pretend not to be so offended by her presence.

Rolling her eyes she turned to him and opened up her hand. "Blow."

Ethan's eyes darkened, his lips parted, and for a second he looked as if he was going to kiss her. Slowly, his head descended, and he blew softly across her hands, sending shivers all the way down to her toes.

The dice flew across the board.

"You win, you win!" Grandma clapped her hands. "Well done, kids!"

But Emma didn't look at the board. She didn't look at Grandma. Her eyes were still trained on Ethan's lips. Damn him.

To his credit he didn't smirk, nor did he pull his gaze away. They simply sat staring at one another, each breathing raggedly.

"We'll just be going then," Grandma announced.

Emma snapped out of her haze. "Going? But Grandma you live here."

"I do," Grandma confirmed, helping Mr. Casbon to his feet. "But my lover is the boy next door, so I'll just be walking over there with him."

"What are your intentions with my grandmother?" Ethan asked, entering into the conversation.

Mr. Casbon smirked. "I'm gonna make an honest woman out of her."

Ethan laughed. "That's all I ask." He threw his hands up in the air in surrender.

They disappeared out the door, leaving Emma and Ethan and the board game.

The silence was deafening.

****

Would they never get along?

As if answering that question, Emma blew the hair away from her face and glared at him. "You gonna help me clean up the mess or what?"

"Hmm, let me think." He leaned back in his chair. "Help you clean up the game or watch you bend over and do it yourself. Tough decision."

"You. Are. An. A—"

"Hey now." Ethan slowly rose from the chair and sauntered over to the card table. "Do you think we can go an entire conversation without calling each other names?"

"Yes," she said tightly.

She was horrible at masking her emotions, and she was obviously upset. "What's up, Em? You're not yourself."

She snorted. "How would you know?"

"I've spent more time with you than Grayson this weekend. I think I can tell when you're pissed, especially considering you've been straightening that stack of money for the past five minutes."