Mismatched

Ch. 19

One last day.

It had to be perfect. I had to find a way to outdo all my other ideas. I wanted to plan a date so good, that even when Riley inevitably ended up with Jack, he would think about it still sometimes at night before he fell asleep. And when he thought about it, he would smile to himself.

Okay, crazy.

The pressure was on, and my mind was racing with ideas, each one more elaborate than the last.

"Just do something normal, enjoy each other's company," Lesley responded, after hearing my many possible plans. "Also, take a nap."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, turning back to my list. I'd been up most of the night, scouring the internet for ideas, and apparently it showed in my under-eye bags. But I didn't have time to sleep.

"So that's a definite no on the hot air balloon ride?" I asked, looking up from my list with a hopeful expression.

Lesley shook her head, laughing. "I think that might be a bit much, don't you?"

I scratched it out loudly, as Lesley continued to chuckle to herself.

"If you put half this much effort into school you may have actually graduated," Lesley attempted to joke, and I shot her a dirty look.

"You forgot to pluck one of your chin whiskers," I lied, but Lesley dropped the magazine in her hand, horrified and hurriedly looking for her compact mirror. I smirked to myself.

Lesley surveyed herself in the mirror, looking at every possible angle.

"I hate you," she eventually said, having found nothing and dropping the mirror back into her purse.

My phone vibrated on the desk with an incoming text. I looked down to see Riley's name, immediately grabbing for my phone. I was unable to help the smile that erupted on my face. Lesley laughed at my reaction.

Riley: chicken or beef?

I stared at it in confusion, unsure if it was a euphemism that I wasn't picking up. I replied back saying that, and my phone almost instantly pinged back again.

Riley: I'm going to cook for you, silly ;)

Riley was going to cook dinner for me? I felt my heart flutter a bit at the idea of it.

I typed my response quickly, not bothering to hide my excitement.

I sighed, feeling relieved, some of the pressure of the night off my shoulders.

"Are you still planning on telling him about Jack tonight?" Lesley asked. I bit my lip, looking down at the desk, but nodded.

"I have to," I replied.

He deserved to know the truth, and he deserved to hear it from me.

Lesley nodded, her expression turning serious. "You're doing the right thing, Nate. It will be hard, but it'll all happen as it's supposed to. And I'm right here with you," she said, coming over to the desk to give me an awkward side hug.

I leaned into it, which was a rarity. Usually, I pushed her away as if her touch might kill me. Lesley seemed surprised by my lack of opposition, but just continued to hold on for a few more seconds.

***

The sun was low as I drove across town to Riley's.

It had taken me far too long to get ready, as if the outfit I chose was going to make all the difference in how he would react to the news that I had been lying to him this entire time.