Page 4 of Riley

That’s why I’d brought Cadence, my TA, with me to the weekend trip.

My brother, Aaron, and I got along just fine as long as the topic was sports related, or involved some sort of competition. Which wasn’t hard when I worked for our alma matter, Jasper Springs High. Our football team, the Jasper Springs Otters had gone undefeated last year.

But I needed more than just someone to casually grunt and chime in.

Not to mention Aaron was the star quarterback when we were in high school, which was what?

Damn near twenty years ago now?

I smiled as Grayson and Henry arrived at our table and everyone made introductions. Julie excused herself to go to the ladies room, Giselle and Mia hot on her heels.

Henry’s grin was enviable, and Grayson’s natural air exuded a confidence that was also quite admirable.

I was genuinely happy they seemed to be happy, just like everyone else in Giselle and Aaron’s party, but I still felt a sting of jealousy being the only single guy in the party.

“Where’s Cadence?” Aaron asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Probably having a better night than me,” I said, wanting to avoid the question I knew was coming.

“She your plus one?”

“No,” I said flatly, then taking a long drink.

“Why not? She seems nice. Not to mention she’s got a killer rack,” Aaron teased, nudging me. “Mom and Dad would love her...” he said with a laugh.

I rolled my eyes. He wasn’t wrong, but he also knew pussy didn’t do it for me.

My family always assumed I’d settle down, especially being in the line of work I was. Of course, I wanted to settle down too, but I didn’t have the heart to tell my parents it wasn’t with a woman. My brother understood the fact that I was as gay as a hot pink toaster, and he always told me I was being dramatic. That it wouldn’t matter who I was with, that they wouldn’t care as longas I was happy. But that was easy for someone like my brother to say. He was getting married to the daughter of one of the most well known families in Jasper Springs. Giselle was practically Miss Americana.

Aaron was more than supportive though. Hell, he even tried to hook me up with a gay or bi friend once or twice. But those guys, they didn’t want relationships. They wanted to fuck around, and while that had been fun in my college years, as a thirty-eight year old high school art teacher, I needed something more than just a guy with good deep-throating skills.

Who am I kidding?

Hell, I probably need that too, since my sex life is about as dry as the Sahara these days.

“Mom and Dad would love any woman I brought to the wedding, even if she was a lesbian.”

Aaron laughed, shaking his head. “True. You have a point. But at this rate, you’re going to have to hire a date for the wedding,” he said with a laugh.

I rolled my eyes again. “You sound like my coworkers,” I grumbled.

While my parents had not yet given up on the dream I’d meet the right woman, my coworkers were practically sending me singles profiles for men within a thirty mile radius or trying to set me up on blind dates every chance they got.

Just earlier in the school day I’d gotten into a debate with my classroom neighbor, Chris, about literallyhiringan escort like my life was a LGBTQ version of the Wedding Date or something.

“I’m just saying, the deadline fast approaches... and no one wants to be alone at a wedding,” he said.

“I’m notalone.I’m the best man.”

“You don’t technically have a partner.”

“And even if I did find a date in time for your wedding, it’s not like they’ll be up there with me,” I reminded him. “For God’s sake, I’m a glorified ring bearer.”

My brother sighed, obviously deciding this conversation was a lost cause, switching gears, instead challenging Grayson and Henry to a pool match.

I sighed, my shoulders sinking. Perhaps I just needed a distraction. Something to take my mind off my impending singleness. Something to relieve some stress.

So I agreed to play with the boys, if only for a little while. It was a school night, after all.

---