I watched the dice with trepidation as they danced across the board. Inside my head, I chanted. Not three. Not three. Not three. I couldn’t lose again. I just couldn’t. The first die came to a stop. It was a two. My jaw clenched. The second die slowed and spun and came to a rest.
One.
“Fuck.”
David smirked. Steven and James both grimaced. I picked up my racecar and morosely moved it from Chance, past Park Place, until it came to a rest on Boardwalk, in front of an ominous red hotel.
David held out his hand. “Pay up, Jessica.”
I averted my eyes. “I don’t have the money,” I spat out. So close to passing Go, so close to collecting two hundred dollars, and yet so far…
David leaned over and plucked up the few bills I did have and counted them loudly. “Hm, you’re right. Only forty-six dollars here. You’re a little short.”