From a Wrong Turn to Mr. Right novel Chapter 235

Jumping to his feet, the legs of the chair screeched across the hardwood floor.

Carlson Baker flinched in surprise. “Dude, I just drank your water—no need for the drama.”

Ethan Carter looked like a storm cloud had parked itself over his head, face tense and dark.

Carlson realized something was off. The grin slid from his face; he was about to ask what happened when, just like that, Ethan’s gloomy expression broke and the tension melted away.

Ethan was staring at his phone, thumb scrolling quickly through a string of texts from Olivia Bennett.

A picture of a crowded poker table.

Another: “Lost all my chips.”

And: “Your grandma and her friends are hustling me like I’m from another planet.”

Ethan’s fingers flew across the screen as he fired off two rapid replies.

[Don’t worry, I’ve got money.]

[You can’t lose it all.]

Back at the Bennett house, Olivia was about to deal the next hand when his replies popped up. She glanced at the messages, a smile tugging at her lips.

Before she could type back, her phone buzzed again—a bank notification. Her eyes widened: a million dollars had just landed in her account.

Elaine Carter, watching her closely, grinned like a cat who’d found the cream. “Let me guess, Ethan just wired you some cash?”

The others burst into laughter, looking at Olivia expectantly.

“Yeah,” Olivia admitted, not bothering to hide it. She tapped out a quick reply.

[Can’t talk, gotta win my money back.]

Ethan: [Okay.]

Ethan: [Want some cupcakes?]

He texted back almost instantly. Olivia glanced at her phone, typed “Sure,” then snapped it shut.

Everyone around the table was grinning like they were in on a joke.

She kept her cool, feigning nonchalance. “Alright, let’s keep going.”

“Of course! Olivia’s bankroll is back!” Elaine cheered.

Poker? Mr. Carter?

No way. He must’ve misheard. Mr. Carter, skipping out early for a game of poker?

Evan shook his head, but couldn’t convince himself otherwise. He had good ears. Sometimes, you just had to accept the facts.

Poker it is. Everyone needs a break now and then.

On his way home, Ethan swung by the bakery to pick up cupcakes.

When he arrived, Olivia’s face looked more tragic than a soap opera heroine, her friends cackling around the table.

He strolled in, Carlson right on his heels.

Lily George spotted them first. “Hey, Carlson’s here!”

He nodded at each of them. “Heard you guys were playing poker. Thought I’d come see the carnage.”

Ethan handed out cupcakes, one to Lily, Elaine, and the others, before pulling up a chair next to Olivia.

Elaine’s eyes sparkled in delight. “Look at that, Ethan even brought cupcakes. Now that’s special treatment.”