Except the machines are loud, flashy, and kind of complicated. And there doesn’t seem to be a good place on the casino floor for a group of teenagers to remain invisible. After the boys have chosen their machines, Willa splits away to a different row and Taylor follows.

“What do we do now?” she asks.

Willa feeds a five-dollar bill into one of the machines. “I have no idea.”

Taylor chooses the slot machine beside Willa’s and puts in ten dollars, which gives her one thousand credits. She follows the instructions on the screen, making bets on each spin, but she’s reckless and before long all her credits are gone. The novelty has worn off and she’s about to suggest they go look for the boys when Willa’s machine goes crazy. Jaunty music plays and WINNER flashes on the screen above a total of $751.76.

“Oh my God!” Willa looks a little dazed. “I think I just won.”

“You think?” Taylor laughs and snaps a quick photo of the machine. She tucks her phone into her pocket as the slot attendant comes over to verify the win. Taylor stands as tall as she can, trying to look older, more . . . legal.

“I’ll just need to see your ID,” the man says to Willa.

She hands him her fake license. He studies it for a long moment, then glances up, comparing the ID photo to the girl standing in front of him. Taylor’s heart climbs into her throat and sticks there as she waits for his verdict.

“I’ll be back shortly,” the attendant says, and walks away, taking Willa’s ID with him.

“I’m starting to think this was a bad idea,” Taylor whispers as a bead of sweat trickles down her spine. Across the room, the slot attendant is talking to another hotel employee. He gestures in their direction. “Maybe we should leave.”

“You can’t be serious,” Willa says. “I just won seven hundred and fifty bucks, and that ID worked just fine in Canada.”

“I know, but my parents are already upset about the credit card thing. If we get caught—”

“This was your idea,” Willa says as the slot attendant and the other man disappear through a door marked CASINO STAFF ONLY. “It’s what Finley would do, remember?” She gives Taylor a bitter look. “Maybe it’s no big deal to you, but I could buy a decent laptop for college. I can’t just walk away from that kind of money.”

“If you get arrested, do you honestly think Case Western is going to let you in?” Taylor says. “I’m still a minor, Willa, but you’re not. So take those odds if you want, but I’m getting out of here.”