Page 22 of My Best Bet

“Kappy,” JP blurted out.

“You fucker,” Kappy mouthed at JP.

“Language,” I shot back.

Lucy’s eyes widened and she slowly walked over to where Kappy was sitting on the ground. “You poor, poor boy!”

Kappy started to scramble off the floor.

“No! Sit, sit,” she said, touching his shoulder.

“No, that’s okay. I’m feeling good, Lu. Promise!”

She cocked her head to the side and let out a big sigh. “No, you’re not.”

He blinked. “But I am.”

“You need medicine,” she said matter-of-factly.

“I don’t! I swear, I don’t,” he claimed.

“He does,” JP shared a look of mock-sympathy with Lucy.

Kappy stared at JP with daggers and mouthed,“you’re a dead man.”

Lucy whirled back around to Kappy and put a hand to his forehead. “You’re positively burning up!” she shouted. “I’ll be right back. Don’t you move, Richard Charles Kappers the Third!”

JP and I busted up silently laughing at his shocked face.

As soon as Lucy started searching the fridge, Kappy tried to inconspicuously sneak away.

Moving quickly, I body-checked him against the pantry. “Sit,” I ordered.

His eyes widened. “What? Why?”

“You’ll upset her.”

“Yeah, don’t upset little Lu,” JP said, pouting his bottom lip out. “Her dad was already a dick today.”

I couldn’t argue against that.

And Kappy couldn’t win against both of us.

“Traitors,” Kappy spat. “And you told her my full name?” He shook his head at me in disgust.

Lucy started mixing up a concoction of different drinks and spices that smelled absolutely foul. This was how she played “doctor” and she loved it.

As soon as she was done, she carefully held the full cup and walked over to Kappy, who went back to his spot on the floor.

“Drink, Richard Charles,” she ordered.

He made a face as soon as it came near his face.

“Richard!” she yelled with wide eyes. “Don’t you want to get better?”

He gagged.

“Come on. You need it to feel better,” she pushed, patting his cheek.

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