Page 76 of Leave

We all laughed at that. And I couldn’t blame Tristan for backing down; I’d tried one of Sophia’s cheesecakes at the party the other night, and it was amazing. I’d known her since junior high, but apparently she’d seriously upped her cooking game in recent years.

We continued shooting the shit and playing games in between drinking. I’d slowed down quite a bit just because I didn’t like getting more than a little buzzed. Andrew and Chase were completely fucked up, which was hilarious. Matt, Tristan, and Riley were slurring and weaving, but they were hardly blackout drunk.

Good thing we’d prebooked an Uber van to get all our dumbasses home at the end of the night.

Around one in the morning, Matt and I were finishing up a game of darts when he turned to me. “Listen, do you have plans tomorrow night?”

I racked my brain, then shook my head. “No. Why?”

“Because that’s Sophia’s bachelorette. Is there any chance you could do me a solid and go with her?”

My heart stopped. “Me? Why?”

“Because Sophia would be way more comfortable if there was a guy with them.” He sighed and shook his head. “I guess the bridesmaids have kind of a wild evening planned, and that’s not usually her scene. But she still really wants to go, you know?”

I gulped. “Oh. Uh. So you… You wantmeto go with her?”

“If you wouldn’t mind.” He laughed nervously. “You’re one of the only people I’d trust, and anyway”—he gestured at his friends and our brother—“I don’t know what other guy I can ask to go to a male strip club.”

My stomach was doing flips, but I tried not to let it show. My skin still crawled just thinking about the almost-lap-dance tonight, and Sophia’s bachelorette promised to knock against some of the landmines I tried so hard to avoid. “Who else is going?”

“Just her and her bridesmaids. So, some of her friends, and Leann.”

My stomach stopped doing flips and just clenched itself to a tight ball. “Leann’s going?”

“Well, yeah.” Matt laughed. “She’s the maid of honor. Or, matron of honor.” He waved his hand. “Whatever it’s called when she’s married.”

“Oh. Um.” I pressed my lips together. The words“no fucking way”were dangerously close to coming out. But I didn’t want my brother to ask questions.

Icoulddecline just because I didn’t want to go. I didn’t need a reason.

But… could I say no to Sophia? Especially if having me there would make her feel safer? I understood why she might not feel safe in that kind of setting without someone there. I’d been DD for some of my female friends when they wanted to go clubbing and drinking, and that was only partly so they had someone to drive them home. They had a lot more fun when they knew there was a sober guy they could trust keeping an eye out in case some asshole decided to make trouble for them. And I knew for a fact that my presence had made at least two such assholes rethink their life choices; I hadn’t had to say a word or lift a finger, but when they realized I was with the women, they suddenly disappeared.

What if something happened during Sophia’s bachelorette and there wasn’t someone there to help? What if she had a miserable time because she was too anxious about her surroundings? Sophia wasn’t the kind of person who was too scared to leave the house, but she was wisely aware of the dangers.

She wanted me there so she could feel safe. And didn’t I know a thing or two about wishing someone had been there whenI’dbeen unsafe?

Fuck. As much as I hated the idea—as much as it threatened to do to my stomach what I’d said tequila would—what kind of brother-in-law would I be if I told her she was on her own?

“Okay,” I told Matt. “On one condition, though.”

He raised his eyebrows.

I tipped my head toward the table where everyone else was still drinking and eating. “I can bring Riley, too.”

Matt blinked as if that wasn’t what he’d expected. “Oh. Uh. Yeah, sure.” He shrugged. “I don’t see why not.” Then he grinned. “I mean, with two gay dudes who look like they could kick anyone’s ass, she’ll be totally safe. So, hell yeah! Bring him along!”

Well, there was that. At least I’d have Riley with me.

I didn’t know if that would actually make a difference—if I’d get through tomorrow night without losing my damn mind—but Sophia would be safe with me.

And I would be safe with Riley.

Chapter 21

Riley

I couldn’t drink like I had in my early twenties, and I usually didn’t drink like I had last night. Fortunately, though, I hadn’t let myself get too carried away. Not even when I’d had to show up the other guys by doing two tequila shooters in a row.

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