A nagging feeling tugged at Avery’s gut. Though it was beyond silly, she couldn’t help but feel as though she was letting her sister down in a big way.
Crap.“Let’s say, for argument’s sake, I accept the dare. What happens if I don’t follow through?”
Back in the day, in addition to the purchase of cookies, they’d come up with all sorts of additional punishments for failing. Cleaning the other’s room for a month. Backrubs every night for a week. That sort of thing.
But now that they were grown, Avery couldn’t help but wonder what sort ofpaymenther sister would come up with.
“If you accept the challenge and fail…” Alex’s voice trailed as she mulled it over. With a quick glance at the man they’d discussed earlier, she looked back at Avery with a sly grin. “You have to go on a date with Ronald.”
Ronald. Had anyone ever screamed that name during a mind-blowing orgasm? She bet not.
Her eyes shot to the man still standing at the bar. A man she had absolutelynodesire to spend any time with—work related or otherwise.
“Fine.” She agreed to her sister’s terms. “I’ll go home right now and look at my calendar. But if I do this, then you have to…” It took her a moment to formulate her own brilliant punishment. Avery grinned. “You have tostopdating…and having sex. For six months.”
Alex’s jaw dropped. “Sixmonths?”
That should be enough time for the commitment-phobe woman to finally deal with the heartache she’d suffered, rather than hiding from it by becoming a serial dater.
“Six. Months.” Avery held her hand out across the table, pinky raised. “That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.”
You’re totally in the clear. There’s no way Alex will agree to this.
The thought had barely entered Avery’s mind when her sister reached over and curled their pinkies together.
“Fine.” Alex initiated the same finger shake they used to do as kids. “If you actually go through with this, I’ll stop dating for six months.”
Son of a…
“And no sex!” Avery blurted.
Her sister sighed and mumbled, “And no sex.”
Well, crap. That plan sure backfired. But, if her taking a few days off work meant forcing Alex to realize all wasn’t lost in the world of love and happiness, then it would be worth it.
Releasing her sister’s hand, Avery smiled at the waitress who’d finally gotten around to bringing them more drinks.
An hour later, as her ride was pulling to a stop near her apartment building, the confidence she’d felt earlier had begun to fade.
Why had she agreed to such a stupid, childish bet? Shereadabout adventures. She didn’t participate in them.
Flashing lights up ahead caught her eye, pulling her from her sea of regret. A slew of emergency vehicles was parked directly in front of the building.
Two police cars, a firetruck, and an ambulance.
What the…
Avery spun her head toward the brick structure, expecting to see smoke rolling from the windows or flames shooting out from the roof. But there was neither.
“Must be some sort of medical emergency,” her driver stated the obvious. “Hope whoever it is, is okay.”
“Yeah.” Avery nodded as she opened the door. “Me, too. Thanks for the ride.”
“No problem. And if you would, I’d really appreciate a good review. Helps with business.”
“Of course.” She shot the man a smile. “Have a good night.”
“You, too.”