Page 11 of Betting on the Best Friend
She shudders. “I’m glad he’s staying out of this.”
“So what’s Ava’s plan?”
“She says she’s going to research modern dating strategies, but I think she’s going to pick a dating app for me to be on and try some other stuff.”
It’s hard to know how to rate the risk with Ava without knowing her specific plan, but I make a judgment call. Threat level: moderate.
“What does the winner get if it works?” Besides my heart, still bloody after it’s ripped from my chest.
“They won’t tell me their stakes.”
“This whole bet feels chaotic good at best,” I say. “Well-intentioned but with about a dozen ways it can get messy fast. You’re okay going along with this?”
“You don’t think I should?” Her tone is surprised.
“Movie case study,” I answer. “Name three films with a love bet.”
“Ranking or rating?” she asks. We play this game often.
“Modification: rate how well the bet turns out.”
“She’s All That. Bet gets a C-minus because it was never meant to find anyone love. That happens on accident. The bet must be credited somewhat, but it was a flawed design.”
I consider this. “Agree.”
“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. The complicated double bet. Both designed to make the other fall in love, both succeed. I give her bet a B-plus and his a D-minus.”
“What? No. They should be the same, and they should both be C-minus, max.”
“No way. Her bet sends him away not wanting her anymore.Hisbet only thinks as far as winning against his friends. No exit plan or concern for her feelings. So rude.”
“But ultimately both bets backfired.”
“No, they didn’t. They each made the other one fall for them. The bets worked. Their goals changed.”
I hate that she’s such a good debater.
That’s not true. I love that she’s a good debater. I don’t like losing the debates.
“I concede again,” I say. “What else you got?”
“Uh . . .” She stares into space for a few seconds. “10 Things I Hate About You.”
“Not a bet.”
“It’s an implicit one. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is gambling that Heath Ledger—”
“RIP,” we both say.
She picks right back up. “He’s gambling that Heath Ledger can get Kat to go out with him. There are stakes and terms.”
“But he’spayingHeath Ledger. It’s a contract.”
“It’s still a gamble from JGL,” Ruby insists. “And he’s staked money on it.”
I have lost this debate too. “Fine. Rating?”
“Effective bet, but once again, not designed with a compassionate exit strategy for the dupe. Probably should be an F, but JGL was very smart about who he picks for Kat. There was definite thought put into it, but I can’t go higher than a C-minus.”
