Jenna: It's all in good fun, I promise!
Ryan: Grant's not even responding. I think we broke him.
Hannah: Riley, you're coming solo, right?
Mark: Obviously she's coming solo.
Emily: Riley always comes solo.
Hannah: RILEY. Confirm.
Riley stared at the messages. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
She could say yes. She could laugh it off, show up alone, and let everyone spend the next two weeks making jokes about Miss Independent. She could be the punchline.
Or—
Her fingers moved before her brain caught up.
Riley: Actually... I'm already bringing someone.
She hit send.
The chat went silent.
Riley's heart hammered against her ribs.What did you just do?
The dots appeared. Hannah was typing.
Hannah: EXCUSE ME?
Emily: WHAT.
Jenna: Riley Monroe. Elaborate. NOW.
Mark: Who is it?
Ryan: Is he from the city?
Hannah: RILEY. ANSWER US.
Riley dropped the phone on the bed and pressed her palms against her eyes.
You're an idiot. You're a complete idiot.
She didn't have a date. She didn't even have a prospect. She'd just lied to her entire friend group because her pride couldn't handle being the punchline one more time.
Her phone buzzed again. And again. And again.
She grabbed it.
Hannah: If you don't answer in 10 seconds I'm calling you.
Jenna: This is the most exciting thing that's happened all month.
Riley stared at the screen, her stomach twisting into knots.
And then, at the bottom of the chat, a new message appeared.
