“Jim eyed me for a couple of seconds, then got off the bed and went to curl up on the pile of blankets I'darranged as its bed. "I don't suppose you'd care to lend me a couple hundred euros?"I pointed at the wall. It turned its back to me so I could get into the nightgown Perdita had lent me. "Youare not going to bet on me. Or against me. No betting whatsoever.Got that?"Jim huffed and settled down for the night. "You sure do know how to take all the fun out of life. Bet youeven made Drake use a condom.”

“Speaking of tired, I’m exhausted,” I breathed. “I’m gonna head to bed, Baby.” I looked to everyone else. “Good night, guys.”“Night, Sis,” Jim said.Travis’ brothers all bid me goodnight, and I headed up the stairs.“I’m gonna turn in, too,” I heard Travis say.“I bet you are,” Trenton teased.“Lucky bastard,” Tyler grumbled.“Hey. We’re not going to talk about your sister like that,” Jim warned.”

“you don't know me, but i bet you want to.”

“Sam counts the money carefully. I watch him in the mirror. “You know what I wish?” he asks when he’s done.“What?”“That someone would convert my bed into a robot that would fight other bed robots to the death for me.”That startles a laugh out of me. “That would be pretty awesome.”A slow, shy smile spreads across his mouth. “And we could take bets on them. And be filthy rich.”I lean my head against the frame of the stall, looking at the tile wall and the pattern of yellowed cracks there, and grin. “I take back anything I might haveimplied to the contrary. Sam, you are a genius.”

“but it's no use. I m already on my feet. She drags me onto the dance floor, jiving and snapping her fingers. When we're surrounded by other couples she turns to me. I take a deep breath and then take her in my arms. We wait a couple beats and then we're off, floating around the dance floor in a swirling sea of people. She's light as air--doesn't miss a step, and that's a feat considering how clumsy I am. And it's not as though I don't know how to dance, because I do. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me. I'm sure as hell not drunk.”

“Behind him Kaldar nudged Urow's youngest son. "Bet you he lasts at least thirty seconds.""Um..." Gaston looked at him. "No he won't.""Bet me something.""I don't have anything."Kaldar grimaced. "Pick up that rock."Gaston swiped the rock off the ground. "Now you have a rock. I bet this five bucks against your rock."Gaston grinned. "Deal.”