Betting on You

The next morning, Bailey is the last to wake up. Scott is at the table drinking coffee, and Emily and Charlie are making breakfast and talking about the Kansas City Chiefs football team. Bailey takes a shower, and when she returns, she overhears Charlie talking about his mother’s boyfriend. Charlie says that he’s not a bad guy, but he wishes the man were at his place with his own kids instead of spending every night at Charlie’s house. Scott looks uncomfortable, clearly feeling personally slighted by this. When Charlie and Bailey go to the kitchen, Bailey overhears her mother placating Scott, telling him that she asked about Charlie’s mother and he was just answering.

Charlie notes that Emily and Scott can see them and takes the opportunity to place his hands on Bailey’s waist and kiss her. Their kiss is intoxicating, which catches them both off guard, and it becomes deeper than they anticipated. When they break away, Charlie mentions that Emily and Scott have noticed and do not look pleased. Charlie suggests that he and Bailey use this weekend to hone their kissing skills because they’re “emotionally unaffected by each other” (256), but Bailey is offended and rejects the idea.