“You heard me.”
“Not clear enough.” I squirmed out from under him.
He took a stance, widening his legs and crossing his arms over his chest. “Love.”
“That’s not something you can bet on.” I shook my head. “I don’t do love.”
“So, you forfeit?” Carlos grinned as if he had bested me.
I shoved away from the table. “The fuck I do. Make a reasonable bet.”
“I did. That’s the only thing that will bring your cocky ass down. Whatever stunt I’d make you do; you’d do it.”
He was right, which only made me want to punch him square in his over-sized nose before he continued. “You need an actual challenge, one you won't let that big ego get in the way of.”
Fucking Carlos knew exactly how to get to me. There was nothing he could dare me do that would make me lose the bet to him, except this.
“Exactly what does he have to do?” Jake interjected in his calming dad voice.
“This is what I’m thinking. Mr. Lover over here already has everything, and he embarrasses himself enough that I wouldn’t add much to his reputation.”
“Funny.” I flipped him off.
Milos chuckled, as if in agreement. Earning him a glare from me.
Carlos continued, “Here’s the deal. You must try for love. Not lust or one-night stands. Hell, not even a weekend fling. True love.”
“How in the hell am I supposed to do that?”
“Whatever you do, do the opposite.” Jake laughed.
I shot him a, not-so-subtle,screw youglance. “It’s not that easy, man. You got lucky with Millie.”
They all nodded at Jake’s good fortune for finding his dream girl by sheer happenstance.
“He may have a point.” Kev shrugged.
I could see the wheels of Carlos’s brain turning and I didn’t like the face he was making. “We could take a trip. It worked for Jake.”
My head shook violently. “No. Just because it worked for him, doesn’t mean it will for me.”
Grunts and agreements were heard from them collectively.
“I have an idea,” Milos chimed.
“No.” I shot him down before they could all get in on this.
He scoffed. “You didn’t even hear it.”
“Don’t care. No.”
“Not to be the one to bring up the logic in this plan, but how are we going to know if it’s real or fake?” Kev asked, still sitting backwards in his chair.
“Good point,” Jake chimed in.
What the actual? I would expect skepticism from Carlos, but not Kev.
“First of all, I’m insulted. And secondly, evenifI go along with this charade, how will I know if she is faking it because of who I am?” Been there, done that. Never doing it again.
