One Night, One Time

Okay. I still literally cannot believe I said that.

Three nights ago, at Sunday dinner, my mother set down her fork, dabbed the corner of her mouth with her napkin, and announced my plans for me like she was reading them off a schedule.

Victoria: "You'll be attending the Autumn Gala with Sterling Hale this year. He'll pick you up at seven."

Riley: "Sterling? Mother, I hardly know him."

Victoria: "You'll get to know him. The Hales are an excellent family, and Sterling is a perfect match for you. Charming, well-connected, ambitious. Even your father agrees."

My dad didn't even look up from his steak. That's how my dad agrees with things.

Then she started talking about which photographers would be there, and how good Sterling and I would look together in the society pages. Then she mentioned that the Hales' place in Newport has a beautiful garden "for spring events," and I realized this wasn't about a gala at all. She'd already picked out the flowers. She was probably halfway through the guest list in her head. Something in my chest went tight and hot, and my mouth just... opened.

Riley: "I can't go with Sterling. I'm... I'm already seeing someone."

The whole table went silent. My mother set her wine glass down very, very slowly, which is the scariest thing Victoria Castellane can do.

Victoria: "Oh? And who would that be, darling?"

I should have made someone up. Literally anyone. A fake name, some guy in Paris, whatever.

Instead, I said yours.

I've had three whole days to figure out why. I still have no idea, and it's making me insane.

So now it's Thursday afternoon, and I'm standing outside the east entrance of Whitley Hall, because your Econ seminar gets out at 3:15. Which I only know because... I just know it, okay? It's not a whole thing.

Brooke and Sienna are on either side of me like always. Brooke has been giving me weird looks all week.

Brooke: "Riley, why are we standing here? You hate this building. You said it smells like a public library."

Riley: "Because it does. Okay, go get coffee. Both of you."

Sienna: "...Together? Without you?"

Riley: "Babe. Did I stutter?"

They exchange a look, which I'll deal with later, and leave. Brooke glances back twice. I pretend not to notice.

The doors open and people start pouring out, and then there you are, laughing at something your friend Kenzie said, with your friend Dante beside you throwing his bag over his shoulder. You look exactly the way you always look, totally unremarkable and so annoyingly comfortable in your own skin. My stomach does the stupid thing it always does when I see you, which I've decided is indigestion.

Kenzie spots me first. Her smile disappears.

Kenzie: "Oh, great. Incoming."

I walk straight up to the three of you, ignoring your friends and keeping my eyes somewhere over your left shoulder.

Riley: "Hi. You. I need to talk to you. Alone."

Dante: "Whatever you're planning, Castellane, maybe don't?"

Riley: "Ew. Nobody asked you." Then I make myself look at you, and immediately regret it. "Five minutes. I'm not gonna bite."

Kenzie: under her breath "Debatable."

I turn and head for the quiet spot by the bike racks without checking whether you're following. I don't need to check, because people always follow. If my heels are clicking a little faster than usual, it's only because I'm busy.

When I turn around, I cross my arms. Then I uncross them, because crossing them looks defensive. Then I cross them again, because I don't know what to do with my hands.

Riley: "Okay, so, first of all? This is not, like, a friendly thing. I don't like you. I've never liked you. Nothing has changed. Just so we're super clear."

I take a breath. I don't ask people for stuff. I tell them what's happening and they go along with it. That's literally how it works.

Riley: "Next week is my family's gala. The Castellane Autumn Gala. Very fancy, very boring, whatever. You're taking me."

I can see you're about to say something, so I put up my hand.

Riley: "Let me finish. My parents are trying to set me up with this guy Sterling, and, like, absolutely not. Nobody decides my life but me. So I told them I already had a date."

You: "Okay, but why me? Why not Todd or Craig?"

You know my exes' names. Why do you know my exes' names? Why do I... okay, what is this feeling? Whatever. Not important. It is not important right now.

Riley: "Because I said your name, okay? I told them it was you, so now you're taking me. I'll have a suit sent to your apartment."

My face is hot. It's the sun. It's literally so sunny today.

You need to look perfect for this to work, like actually perfect.

I shift my weight onto one leg and let my hands drop to my sides.

Riley: "It's one night, one time. You smile, you stand next to me, you don't say anything weird around my mother, and you make my family believe it so they back off. Then it's over, and we never talk about it again. Ever."

I hesitate, then I make myself say the word. It tastes disgusting.

Riley: "...Please."

There. I said it. I hope you know what that cost me.

I tilt my chin up and look at you like you've already said yes, because people always say yes to me. So I have no idea why my heart is pounding while I wait, like your answer actually matters.