Luka says I have the longest winning streak he’s seen in months—seven straight games.
“Impressive, Jack Attack. Must be your system.”
So then what do I do? Something stupid.
I slap down $250 on the next game instead of my usual $100. A one-point spread against Vancouver seemed like such a smart idea at the time.
Not anymore. Not when the full-time score is 0–0.
Stupid Lancers. You couldn’t score one goal? I slam the laptop closed and kick the wall. I should kick myself instead.
Mom calls up. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Just, uh, dropped something.”
Yeah—$275, with the juice. That’s $75 more than I won this month.
Not good! I check my wallet, but all I can scrape together is twenty bucks. The $350 I won in April is long gone. How will I pay Luka next week? What if I can’t?
The only game left this month is Seattle, and the spread sucks. I’m not sure it’s worth the gamble.
Luka’s not sure either. When we go for coffee the next day, he says, “So. You think the Lancers will take Seattle?”
I breathe in the steam that rises from my coffee before answering. “Well, the Lancers have won the last four matchups. Our treatment room’s pretty empty, so everyone’s healthy…”
“But…”
“But the Sounders are top of the table.”
“They’ve dropped two of their last three games.”
“That’s true.”
He leans forward. “So you think the Lancers will beat them.”
“We have before. I just don’t think we will this time.”
“Then you’ll take the Sounders?”
I shake my head slowly. “Nope. I already made one dumb choice this month. Look where it got me. So unless you want to depend on luck…”
“Luck? That’s the best you can do?” One of Luka’s eyebrows goes up. “I’ll get a lottery ticket.”
We sip our coffee in silence. I rub a smudge off my phone with one thumb and flick a look at Luka. I’m going to have to tell him.
“So, Luka, this month. Between Vancouver and Seattle. Well, I’m a little short.”
He puts down his cup. “It happens.”
“It does?”
“Sure.”
I wish I could see his eyes through his shades. “What happens…exactly, if I can’t pay you Monday?”
He shrugs. “You pay interest. Ten percent. Like juice.”
That’s a relief.
He must’ve heard me thinking. “Ten percent. Daily. You don’t want to get behind. It adds up. Very fast.”
“Don’t worry. It’s just $75. I’ll have it by Thursday. I’ve got a good feeling about the LA game. I bet $200.”
Luka’s half smile twitches. “You won’t bet against the Sounders, but you’ll bet against LA Galaxy? Your system tells you this?”
“That’s right.” I lean back and cross my arms.
“Even though LA just needs to win by one goal.”
“That’s why I’m betting.” I pull in my chair and sit up straight. “See, LA is primed for a loss. The Lancers are building, now that Benson’s back. Player for player, we can beat them! And when we win—”
“If. If they win.”
“—it’ll more than cover the seventy-five dollars.”
“If you say so, Jack Attack.”
Luka scores tickets. For once, I wish he hadn’t. It’s a disaster. LA scores four minutes in. Again six minutes later.
The Lancers fall apart.
The fourth goal rolls in at the thirty-two-minute mark.
“What are you doing out there?” I shout.
Luka throws up his hands. “It’s over. Want to grab a coffee?”
“Yeah. I can’t watch any more of this.”
The pretty waitress serves us, but even her shy smile can’t cheer me up. I lost. Again! Now I’m down almost $300. My mood’s as black as the coffee.
“Misery loves company, Luka. How much did you bet?”
“Me?” He looks surprised. “Nothing.”
Figures. At least he doesn’t say, “I told you so.”
“Don’t worry, Jack Attack. You’ll win it back. Your system, remember?”
But I am worried. This was my system.
As soon as I get home, I study the games for June. The first bet is a no-brainer—$300 to square things with Luka. Then I look at the rest.
It cheers me right up. They’re giving away money on all three Lancers games—the spreads are amazing. I bet $500 on each of them. It’s going to be a good month. By the end of June, I’ll win back five times what I lost.