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His comments are hitting home and he doesn’t even realize it. He thinks he’s just jesting, but it actually does bother me. I'm thirty and have never even left the United States. I’m constantly reading about other countries and watching travel documentaries… but I can never convince myself to book a flight. What if the beds are uncomfortable? Or the flights are turbulent? Or the food. What if I hate it?

Leaving the comforts of home seems daunting. Traveling via documentaries is much safer.

I can’t even remember the last time I took time off work and went on a proper vacation.

I take a large bite of my cookie to disguise my facial expression, then wash it down with some bourbon. Note to self: cookies and bourbon do not complement each other.

My brother-in-law, Drew, pipes up. “There’s nothing wrong with being comfortable and content.”

Am I content though? Comfortable yes, steady yes, boring… yes.

Brooks smirks at me. “Yeah, I suppose so. If David ever does something out of the ordinary, I’ll run through the streets naked.” He laughs.

Drew and Madden perk up at his comment. “Really?” Drew asks, crossing his arms.

Madden mirrors his movement. “Yeah, are we betting on this?”

Brooks rolls his eyes. “Okay, sure. I’ll take that bet.”

“I’ve actually been thinking about doing a bit of traveling,” I tell them, trying to conceal my smile.

Brooks raises a brow. “If you do anything out of the ordinary before Christmas, I’ll run through the streets nude. But, if you don’t… you have to go skydiving with me.”

I calculate for a moment. It’s August 25th now, so that gives me several months to think of something.

“You’re on, but I have something better in mind than you running around naked. Nobody wants to see that, anyway.”

“That’s definitely not true… but what do you have in mind?” Brooks crosses his arms and eyes me curiously.

“If you lose the bet, ‌you’ll go four months without dating.” I thrust my hand out in front of me.

He bites his bottom lip as he contemplates my terms. “Fine. Since you’re going to lose the bet, it really doesn’t matter.”

Madden jumps between us before Brooks and I can shake on it. “Wait, what’s the consequence if Brooks loses and doesn’t hold up his end of the agreement?”

Drew hums and nods in agreement. “Yeah, I don’t trust him.”

Brooks grins mischievously, showing off the dimples in his cheeks that have long gotten him out of trouble. “I know, I know… it’s hard to believe women could resist me for four entire months.”

Madden, Drew, and I roll our eyes in unison.

“Alright,” I start. “Since you so generously gave me the idea.” I smirk at Brooks. “If we catch you on a date with a woman, kissing a woman, or even holding a woman’s hand before the four months are up… you’ll run naked through the Lady’s Annual Spring Garden Party at the country club.”

The set of Brooks’ shoulders exudes unadulterated confidence… but the slow descent of his Adam’s apple as he gulps gives his true feelings away.

He laughs, but it sounds forced. “Isn’t Mom on the planning committee for the garden party? And all of her friends?”

I nod my head, and a smile slowly creeps across my face.

“We’d make sure Mom wasn’t there to witness your demise.” Madden reassures him. “But there’s nothing we can do about her friends.”

Brooks shrugs and extends his hand to seal the deal. “I’m not too worried.”

I narrow my eyes at him before I grab his hand, and we seal our fates with a firm shake.

Madden and Drew look on with excitement in their eyes. They’ll be entertained either way, but I’m going to make sure Brooks loses this bet.

My doorbell rings, and Odette goes to answer it. A few seconds later, Odette enters the room with my annoying neighbor, Isabella Romero. I close my eyes and curse under my breath. Why did she invite this woman into my house? The more she knows about me, the better she can retaliate in our ongoing neighbor pranks.