Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

Riley

It’s not a date.

Though my sweaty palms, flippant stomach, and nerves begged to differ.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d agonized this much over what to wear to an event that wasn’t a fundraiser or a funeral.

The school was pretty laid back when it came to our attire, so most of the time I just wore my chinos and a polo to keep things comfortable and simple, and when I was home it was sweatpants and old t-shirts.

At the risk of my ‘not getting properly laid’, Chris had taken it upon himself to chaperone me after school on my trip to Kohls to make sure I was ‘thirst trap material.

For a straight man, I had to admit, he did have a keen eye for fashion.

I’d settled on a shimmery chrome-like shirt that changed color with the light. The sleeves stopped at my elbow, to give the illusion of a rolled up sleeve, but really they were just cut that way.

Chris even talked me into getting a pair of black jeans to pair with the shirt. Jeans he said would really accentuate my assets , whatever that meant.

“Now, I expect a full report on Monday, and I don’t want to hear none of that holding hands bullshit. You have one mission this weekend?—”

“To find a location for my brother’s bachelor party?” I drawled as I finished wiping down the blackboard.

“To get fucking laid,” Chris said, miming a basketball shot into an imaginary hoop.

“Shhh. The kids are still here...”

Chris rolled his eyes. “Trust me, my foul mouth is not the worst thing these kids have heard on a Friday after school,” he said with a laugh. “Don’t change the subject. What’s your mission?”

I sighed, knowing it was best to just go along with his antics. But also I supposed, given the fact he’d insisted on helping me at all, it was the least I could do.

“My mission is to have fun and...” I sighed, first checking to make sure no one else was in earshot before I breathed out, “Get laid.”

Chris bit his knuckle, feigning a mother hen’s look of approval. “God, they grow up so fast.”

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed my blazer, heading for the door.

“Have fun on your date!” he hollered so loud I worried the damn office would hear. Even though they were more than a ten minute walk away.

“It’s not a date!” I yelled back as I turned the corner, grinning ear to ear.

Date or no date, I meant what I’d said. Tonight was about having fun, and as far as I was concerned, that was my mission.

To drink, dance, and have fun with Eric, my brother, and our friends.