“It would be worth it though. I’d bet everything on you. On us.” I met his gaze, trying to convey how serious I was. I’d risk everything to be with him, and in the grand scheme of things, the ticket to the event was nothing compared to how I felt about him. My future employment could work itself out.

“I know.” Milo nodded slowly. “And I’m still selling the car. Whether you win or not.”

“Of c—Wait. You’re going to let me play him?”

“You don’t need my permission.” Milo made a sour expression. “I don’t want to be that kind of controlling boyfriend—”

“Hey, I’ll take you being a boyfriend, period.”

“Be serious for a sec. You deserve a non-dickhead boyfriend and to make your own choices, same as me. If you want to play George, play him. Like Kellan said, a lot of people would love to see you win.”

“Thanks.” Another thought occurred to me. “Two tickets would mean I could bring you along. If I won.”

Another magical night with Prince Neptune? I was totally in favor of that, but also the scheming side of my brain was already thinking of ways to show off Milo’s art to the right people.

“You’ll win.” He sounded absolutely convinced and I hoped he was right. I didn’t want to let him down, but more important, I didn’t want to let myself down.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Milo

“Okay, very funny, guys.” George sneered as he entered the room, a supermodel-attractive girl and a guy who looked familiar from the revue following him. “This isn’t a duel at dawn. Did we really need fifty texts laying out the terms of engagement? Seconds? Neutral location? Judge? Isn’t this overkill?”

“Nah.” Game face on, Jasper slapped his deck bag down onto the table in one of the student union’s private study rooms. He had Kellan and me flanking him, exactly like this was a duel as we stared down the competition.

“I could have hosted.” George took out a leather-and-wood deck box that probably cost more than the heater for my car, never mind the pricey cards inside.

“I don’t trust you.” Jasper echoed my sentiments, voice cool and conversational. I’d come with him to reserve the room earlier in the day, and I’d been the one to push for a neutral location. I didn’t trust George either, and while it was rather caveman of me, I didn’t particularly want us entering his space. Luckily, Jasper had agreed. “You probably have one of those eight-grand custom gaming tables with secret panels. Or hidden cameras.”

“You’re giving me ideas.” George’s wicked smile reminded me of how I’d fallen prey to his charms to start with and made my stomach lurch. Ugh. How could I have been so stupid?