Mercy (Somerset University #3) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,34

legs up in the backseat for cash.

“Darling.” Painted hands snaked around Winston’s neck. “When will this wretched game be over?”

The girls had been drinking and talking on the couch, and the duchess was over it.

Lucky for her I was about to bring the game to an end.

“Nasir?”

Ezra-like eyes glittered as he spread out his cards. “Four aces.”

The boys winced, sealing my fate.

I turned over my hand. “Straight flush.”

Just like that, the hisses morphed into whoops and a few curses courtesy of Nasir.

“All right. We have our winner,” said Aiden, “and our loser by the highest amount.” He inclined his head next to Rowen. “What are you offering?”

“This.” Rowen removed the white gold watch from his wrist.

“Hold on,” I spoke up. “That watch retails at forty-two thousand dollars.”

“I know. That’s why I’m throwing in my canary diamond cufflinks.”

“You have to put up at least as much as you stand to gain,” Sawyer explained.

“Right,” I said. “So, he asks me a question. We both give an answer and whoever you guys agree with keeps the money. I’m the new guy. Why wouldn’t you all side with your friend and cheat me out of my winnings?”

“You gotta have more faith,” Aiden replied. “If you can’t, then I’ll tell you there’s no bullshitting. We have to back up an argument with one of our own. Using details and examples of why we agree or don’t, and we do that before we hear your answers. Teagan,” he called.

In a blink the Sally appeared with pens and paper. She passed it around to Sawyer, Aiden, Nasir, Hayes, and Winston.

“Satisfied?” he asked.

“What if we both agree? Rowen and I may vote for the same Powerpuff girl.”

“It will still come down to the better argument. But you can ask for another question if that happens.”

I wasn’t done yet. “And how do I know you didn’t decide your answers hours before I got here? It’s all well and good you writing down your answers before I give mine. Unless you already coordinated them.”

“Fuck’s sake.” Aiden laughed. “You’re a distrustful guy. Did you rub that off on Valentina or did you get it from her?”

“Leave my girlfriend out of this,” I hissed.

He put up his hands. “I apologize. That was below the belt. Fair enough, you’re suspicious. You don’t know any of us. What do you suggest?”

“I supply a list of random questions. He chooses one and we go from there. Deal?”

Aiden swept a look around the table. The guys nodded.

“Fine.”

Silence choked the room while I searched my phone for the questions. Even the ladies cut short their conversation. After a few tense minutes, I found a list of over three hundred discussion topics. No one could say I didn’t give the guy plenty of options.

I passed over my phone.

“Well?” Aiden prompted.

“Some good ones,” said Rowen. “Have to pick one I can defend. Give me a min— Wait. I got it.” Rowen sat up straighter in his seat. “Ready, boys? Rick?”

“Ready.”

“Go for it.”

I dipped my chin in reply.

“Does tribalism and our habit of separating each other into groups help or hurt society?”

“Ooh. Good one,” said Hayes. His pen was in his hand and flying across the page within a breath. The soft scritching of metal tip on paper tap, tap, tapped on my mind. Through it I held Rowen’s gaze, considering what I’d say.

It was an interesting question, and I had an inkling of which way he’d lean. Wealthy. Athletic. Healthy. Attractive. Sam. Claiming membership in those groups had resulted in an enviable life for Rowen Burke. To be fair, it resulted in one for me too.

Teagan collected the others’ answers and then turned on us. “First, Rowen, tell me if it helps or hurts.”

“Helps.”

“Maverick,” she asked me. “Does it help or hurt?”

“Hurt.”

“Good. We have a disagreement.” She squeezed my shoulder as she sat on Sawyer’s lap. “Maverick, you first.”

I launched right in. “Tribalism may be ingrained in us, but it can’t be denied that this habit is responsible for nearly every issue affecting our society today and societies past. Racism. Classism. Sexism. War. Genocide. Ethnic cleansing. Even something as small as which football team won or lost has resulted in fans rioting.

“This ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality has permeated every area of our lives and the damage has been recorded in our history books. It’s something we witness every day. I recognize at its core, it’s what brings us together as families, friends, and communities. Contributing and protecting each other, especially in the ages when we hunted with spears. Tribalism