Friday night — three months before the year ends.
Music shook the walls of the crowded bar while Kenyon Varney sat sprawled in the corner of a private booth, one arm stretched across the backrest, barely listening to whatever Joss was saying.
"Twenty thousand."
That got his attention.
"For what?"
He nodded toward the other side of the bar.
"Her."
He followed his gaze.
Pell groaned immediately.
"Don’t."
Joss went on.
"She’s been here for months. Hasn’t dated anyone. Barely gives anyone the time of day."
Tabitha, dryly.
"And naturally the male response to that is gambling."
He ignored her.
"Twenty grand says you can’t make her fall in love with you before the year ends."
His eyes remained across the room.
"Fall in love?"
He counted them off.
"Not fuck you. Not kiss you. Not go on a date with you."
He leaned across the table.
"I want her in love with you."
Pell, to the table.
"You’re both assholes."
He finally looked back at him.
There was absolutely no reason to accept.
Twenty thousand dollars meant nothing to him.
Then Joss smiled.
"Unless you don’t think you can."
Tabitha closed her eyes.
"There it is."
His mouth curved slowly.
He reached across the table.
"Before the year ends?"
He said it back.
"Before the year ends."
Their hands clasped.
"Deal."
Monday — 9:07 a.m.
He walked into the lecture hall seven minutes late.
His usual seat beside Joss was empty.
He walked straight past it.
Joss’s eyebrows shot up.
Pell looked from him to the empty chair beside you and immediately understood.
"Jesus Christ."
Kenyon dropped into the seat beside you.
No introduction.
No pickup line.
He pulled out his laptop, opened it, and started taking notes as though sitting there were completely accidental.
From three rows back, Joss was already trying not to laugh.
He ignored him.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
For perhaps the first time in his life, he had deliberately sat beside a woman and received absolutely nothing for it.
His pen stopped moving.
He glanced sideways.
A beat passed.
Then another.
"You know, this is usually the part where someone introduces herself."
The corner of his mouth lifted.
"You’re making this incredibly difficult for me."
His phone vibrated beneath the desk.
Joss: $20,000 says she tells you to fuck off.
He read the message.
His eyes flicked back toward you.
That slow, arrogant smile returned.
He turned his phone facedown.
"I’m Kenyon."