Why? What did I say? Uh, type.
Never mind, just keep being you. Do you have swimming practice in the morning?
No, not until the evening.
I should have known that, shouldn’t I?
You did say you’d memorised my swimming schedule.
I said ALMOST.
Emory
I can set up a shared calendar.
That might not be a bad idea, even if it is a nerdy one.
The club opens at 10. Shall we meet you outside, Casey? Will that give you enough time to get ready?
Casey
Sure. I’ll take clothes with me to swimming practice. Um, what should I wear?
Jeans and a T-shirt will be fine. It’s not a nightclub, so you don’t need to dress up.
Okay. Thanks.
You should bring ID, Emory.
Emory
Why me specifically?
Because you’re too cute to look eighteen.
Emory sends an emoji with its tongue sticking out.
Casey
I’ll see you at 10, with ID. Have a fun evening together.
Have fun swimming.
* * *
The Heaven and Hell Club is on the outskirts of the city centre. We meet Casey at ten and join the queue to get in. It’s not lost on me that there are only men in the queue or that we’re the youngest waiting to get in.
Emory looks up and down the line while fiddling with his shirt buttons.
“Are you okay?” Casey asks, beating me to it.
“This wasn’t a good idea.”
“Why?” I ask.
Emory pulls us close and drops his voice to a whisper. “What if I get turned on?”
I squeeze his shoulder. “That’s the point. Trust me, if you do, you won’t be the only one. But if you’d rather go somewhere else, there’s a pub down the road that won’t be kicking out for another hour or so.”
