Page 30 of Scoring Eden

Thankfully, he giggles and gives it to me. “Miller.”

“Hereby promise thee, Macon Miller, to a Switch battle on a date not yet disclosed. And any failure in keeping said promise will be punishable by death, at the discretion of aforementioned Macon Miller.”

His eyes widen to an extraordinary size. “Death?”

Ah, fuck, did I take it too far?

“You can’t die! Who will be the captain of the Strikers if I kill you?”

According to my team investors, Leo is already lined up to take my place, the stand-up family man that he is. It isn’t like he’s already taken my little sister away from me. Why not toss in my career as well?

“Okay, how about we amend that bit, then? If I break my promise, you can pick the punishment yourself.”

He agrees, and the deal is struck. A bond that shall never be broken. For, if I’ve learned anything in this lifetime, it’s that nothing is more powerful than the mighty pinky swear.

But whether I’m able to keep it is down to his mother. And though I’m taking her acquiescence to go shopping on my dime as a sign that she’s leaning toward taking the deal, it’s not as if she offered me her own pinky to swear by.

I can’t blame her for it, though.

There’s a lot to consider.

Until today, all I’ve thought about is what’s on the line for me. Sure, I’ve had an abstract idea of what’s at stake for Eden, but it wasn’t until I met Macon that I realized how crucial it is that this plan of mine works out.

Because if it doesn’t, I might lose my place on the team…but this kid will lose his mom.

TEXT THREAD BETWEEN ALEX AND EDEN

Eden: My sister is actively trying to bankrupt you.

Alex: I figured as much when the bank called me for suspicious activity on my account.

Eden: For the record, I am trying to stop her.

Alex: I’ve met Aspen twice now. Not even the apocalypse could stop her.

Eden: In other news, I’ve made my decision…

Alex: Do tell.

Eden: I’ll do it.

NINE

EDEN

Anderson’s face when I slap my letter of resignation on his desk—the piscine gape of his lips and the grotesque bulging of his eyeballs—will forever be filed away as one of my favorite memories. Sure, his shock might have something to do with the fact that I waltzed into his office without knocking and found him bent over Angela on the dental chair, but it’s gratifying, nonetheless.

“Edith! What the hell are you doing?”

He tucks himself back into his pants in such a hurry that he catches his foreskin in the zipper. Even Angela looks thrilled when he doubles over in pain and whimpers like a dog.

“Just giving you the courtesy of handing in my resignation letter in person.”

He blinks. Gapes again. Then turns an even richer shade of tomato red. It’s quite the sight to behold. I only wish I hadn’t left my phone in the car so I could take a picture. “Your what?” His voice is gloriously strained, so beautifully pathetic. I never would have thought I’d be one for sadism, but I can’t pretend that I’m not experiencing unparalleled levels of satisfaction at his suffering.

“I quit. Effective immediately.”

“You can’t do that.” He composes himself, standing back up to his full height with a wince. “It’s a breach of contract.”