Page 1 of The Mistaken Bet

Chapter1

Logan

“Logan, don’t forget I’m cashing in that bet tonight!”

My eyes snapped up to the flung folder of statistical data that had landed inches from my keyboard, whilst my friend perched on the edge of my desk. I’d hoped the fucker had forgotten that bloody snippet of information. I let a groan escape in protest.

I’d been lucky to forge such a fantastic friendship at work, but Daniel had finally uncovered my truth. For as long as I can remember, I had played a game with him and everyone I knew, pretending to them that my evenings consisted of fun-packed activities. In reality, I was a recluse, preferring my own company in the evenings—a welcome contrast to the busy, bustling workday. Stupidly, I had used the names of one or two colleagues when regaling Daniel of my pretend night-time fun, making up scenarios involving them, and it was only a matter of time before he did some digging and found out I had been lying. My life had struck a chord between heaven and hell.

“Will you counter check the findings in this report for me?” Daniel’s signature smirk graced his face, not with the arrogance like I’d expected. His expression was filled with more understanding.

“Give ’em here,” I said as I snatched the thick wadded pile from the desk. “Haven’t you got work to do?” I cocked my head to the side, questioning why he was still sitting and tapping the desk with his fingers like a petulant child staring at me.

“Yep, but it’s so much more entertaining analysing your ass,” he joked, letting a roaring laugh into the air.

The scrape of my chair caught the attention of everyone in the room. “Work, Daniel. Now!” I gritted through my teeth as I shooed him out of my cubicle.

With the show over, everyone diverted their attention back to their desks and continued with their own assignments, oblivious to why I had caused an atmosphere thick enough to cut with a knife. Numbers and percentages were my addiction—a fascination to find the best solution even if it meant losing hours of my own time. I achieved a better outcome in work-related challenges.

Daniel was my best bud within the workplace, although we were complete opposites. It was beneficial that our personalities slotted together, pushing each other towards our true potential. I had to be strict in the workplace: it helped my obsession with the world of numbers and order. Outside of the office, I preferred my own company, but Daniel shoved through that barricade with his personality. His means of getting me to support him had helped build our friendship both in and out of the workplace. He understood that I needed my own routines and rituals. I appreciated the calmness they provided. It was a coping mechanism, one that I had perfected throughout life. It hadn’t deterred him at all, though. Daniel—with his charming nature—could’ve persuaded anyone to his way of thinking if he focussed his energy on them.

Ruefully remembering how the bet first began, the biggest realisation hit me that he had somehow persuaded everyone in our department to support his cause that day. I’d just never imagined losing. Statistics were my forte. If I managed to balance the likelihood of winning, then I wasn’t bothered by a bit of fun.

Daunted by the fact I couldn’t escape the inevitable, I’d hoped Daniel would have considered my personality when making plans for tonight. I knew he’d wanted to cash in on the bet, but it seemed Daniel had read every sign written across my face as he hadn’t pushed me too hard. My night in front of the television with a meal for one was being exchanged for a night of the unknown. I would be turning up at Daniel’s apartment instead. The twinkle in his eye had promised the rest had already been taken care of.

It had done nothing to ease my anxiety levels. I just knew he thought I was ready to take these next steps, to push outside my comfort zone. At twenty-five years old, I’d never before felt required to. Safe in my routines, I had drawn these lines for my own sanity and protection, and tonight I wouldn’t let a stupid bet shatter my control.

I pulled up my car outside Daniel’s apartment, realising the rest of the workday had passed by in a blur of double checking. He was already standing on the doorstep, waiting for my arrival. With my window rolled down, he shouted, “Hurry and park that damn thing. You're letting the heat out.” Patience was lacking in the department tonight as I parked up and turned the engine off, ensuring I secured everything.

“It’s only an hour after we finished,” I said, checking the time on my watch to see why the hell I had panicked him.

“Well, we need to get ready and loosen you up. Big night ahead.” The excited grin plastered on his face was hard to miss.

The moment I walked in the building, he shoved an open beer bottle into my hands and a pile of clothes. “Put these on; drink that.” He pointed to the beer with his bottle. “Be quick, will you?”

“What the fuck? Why…how have you gotten my best clothes here?” I asked, totally puzzled.

Daniel smirked, shrugging his shoulders, showing my question hadn’t fazed him.“Last time I was at yours, I swiped them in preparation. Seriously, just get sorted now.”

After a long drink from the bottle, he pushed me into the guest room, shutting the door behind me.

If I’d digested what was happening around me, it would have driven me into a panicked state. A bet is a bet, and I’d fulfilled my commitments no matter what.

Dressed in the clothes Daniel had picked for me, I eyed my appearance in the mirror. I scrubbed up pretty well, even if I said so myself. I rubbed wax between my fingers and teased the edges of my blond hair into to a rough-and-ready look.

Heading back towards the living area, I saw Daniel staring at the clock on the wall as the minutes ticked past. He was watching how long it’d taken me to get ready.

I cleared the silent air and asked, “Are you going to reveal where we’re going now?”

“Nope, but the taxi is five minutes away.”

Taking in his designer jeans and fitted shirt, I noted that tonight wasn’t a casual night out for two. Daniel had made an effort, his brown hair immaculate, face shaved, and his aftershave bottle laid on the side. A high probability, I thought, that if I’d gotten closer to him, I would’ve smelled the woody tones it was famous for. My gut perceived that I knew where this was leading, but I felt uneasy trusting that feeling inside. The only reason I was even going tonight was for losing that damn bet. I decided there and then it was best if I just sat back and waited for the inevitable.

The intercom buzzed, and Daniel eagerly answered it, the speaker radiating out, “Taxi to ‘Vines’.”

“Right. Down,” he announced, cautiously as he had seen the look on my face. “Logan, come on, or am I carrying you?” The seriousness in his tone made me aware he would not let me back out now. I felt my strength draining from my body as the realisation hit like a freight train.

How had I forgotten tonight was the work’s celebration event for achieving the quarter target?

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