The Wedding Bet by Cupideros Read Free Book Online

married within a year is in full swing, from all the cell phone rings I’ve been having.”
    Amy said, “Oh. That’s who is stalking you. A married man.”
    I exited the door, too late to explain to Amy. “I’ll clear things up when I return this week.”
    Already my life found new meaning. Except instead of poring over cake mixes and confectionary suppliers and pots and pans and ovens, I now pored over how to make myself wholly undesirable to the opposite sex. I swore never to spend more than forty percent of my time thinking about men. Now because of the bet I accepted, I needed to follow through and close out my agreement. I will not get married this year. No matter how enticing the situations or men may become.
    I did have a bit of a problem. According to tradition the men take the initiative in asking the girl out. If it was the reverse, this wedding bet would already be in the bag. I’d simply refuse to ask or notice that some guy begged me to accept going out with him out on a date. Men, I realized enjoy all the benefits of dating. They can ignore every compatible marriage-minded girl in their vicinity while they chase after the bimbos and booty calls that they know will end in broken female hearts and stroked notches on the belts of their male ego. I was on the defensive, just like PR Man suggested.
    I followed PR Man in my car and he drove like a maniac. He’s never had a child that’s for sure. He’s never driven a cake to a wedding either. I huffed and puffed and wanted to blow his car over. Still and all it was better than being in the same car with PR Man’s intoxicating cologne playing dance numbers on my college party memory days. Not that I partied much. I ended up a Librarian after all. He pulled into the drive way of the out of the way studio apartment.
    The sleazy feeling rolled up from my gut again. I turned my mind toward positive thoughts. If he wanted to make a move on me, he certainly had Michelle Loy’s approval. All I needed was to scandalize the Triad was to be pregnant on my wedding day. “PR Man I know other ways exist to prevent me from marrying anyone before the end of the year. Please do not take those short cuts.”
    “What?” he said perfectly oblivious to his own driving recklessness?
    “I took a lot of risk just to follow you here.”
    “You look fine. Spotless.” He started to walk off then stopped. He checked his watch. “I apologize for my wacky driving. I never realize how fast I’m going until I arrive ten minutes ahead of scheduled.”
    I glanced at my watch. We were ten minutes ahead of schedule. “Next time I’ll drive or you drive, but I’m not riding the draft of your car exhaust anymore.”
    “Fair is fair,” PR Man pointed. “There is our contact.”
    We walked up to the guy, rather young, obviously an intern.
    PR Man introduced us. “Hi. Shawn Posado, this is Megan Bedrosian.”
    We shook hands. His hand shake limped like a bent cane.
    “Nice to meet you,” he turned back to PR Man. “We used this for our country scene shots or our small town ad copy or video. The cozy feel is intentional. We do have a more urban studio not too far away.”
    “This will be fine,” I interrupted.
    PR Man looked back at me like I’d stolen his thunder. In actuality, I didn’t need any more excitement. I imagined this being a fun bet to win. It had started to turn into quite a chore. :”Trying not to get married is as hard as trying to get married,” I quipped.
    Both men laughed as we entered the one flight walk up to the first floor.
    Shawn said, “See, it’s easy to reach. You can move equipment in and out of the front or the side entrance to the building. “Everything is stocked with food and amenities.” He opened the door and the smelled of daffodils and petunias assaulted my nose.
    “Flowery air scents.” Shawn said noticing our wide-eyed reactions. “People who love the outdoors love filming here.”
    PR Man walked around and examined everything. I