Page 94 of I Blame the Club

“Maybe I’ll just go naked.”

Lacey puts her hands on her hips, “You are not showing up to your first date in your birthday suit.”

“Why not?” I throw another shirt over my head and onto the growing pile on my floor, “It’s better than any of my other options.”

She gives me a pointed look, “The reasons are endless. It leaves a bad first impression-

“Already checked that one off.”

-you wouldn’t be allowed inside the club. If youwereallowed inside you would catch some sort of disease-

“A STI sounds pretty good right about now.”

-and your dick would shrivel up from the cold and be nothing to brag about.” Lacey purses her lips and stares me down, “Do you want me to continue?”

I sigh, “The last one got me.”

“Then it’s settled. You’re wearing clothes like a normal person.” She turns and starts sorting through my closet, leaving me with no choice in the matter.

“Since when is being normal my custom?”

Lacey pulls out a black crop top and holds it out for my inspection, “Since when do you go on dates?”

“Touché.” I shake my head, rejecting yet another of my signature club outfits, “Nothing too scandalous. I don’t want Maurice thinking I’m gay.”

She bursts out laughing, “Pretty sure he’s already figured that one out.”

I groan, “No, not gay as in homosexual, I mean gay as in flamboyant. He’s about as straight as a gay man can be and I don’t want to scare him off with my wilder tendencies.”

“Nico, the man has already seen your code red charade. If that doesn’t have him running, showing a little skin certainly won’t.”

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Lacey gives me a shy smile, “Besides, that’s what makes you special.”

“Wearing outrageous tops?”

She shakes her head, “Your ability to be yourself in any situation. The guy I know wouldn’t care what his date thinks of his outfit becausehewould already know it looks amazing.”

This girl is too smart for her own good.

“Awe, mi amor. Bring it in.”

Pulling her in for a hug, I breathe in her floral scent and relish the fact we are back living in the same town. Having to talk to Lacey through video calls and text messages last year was harder than I had anticipated.

Long distance friendships are not for the win.

A knock on my door interrupts our moment, the familiar squeal of excitement telling me exactly who is waiting on the other side. Lacey tilts her head to look at me, resting her chin on my chest as she gives me a grin.

“Do you want to let her in or should I?”

I wince, “You go. I need to hide damaging evidence.”

She snorts, “I’m pretty sure Stella has seen condoms before.”

“Not when they’re being used by her brother, she hasn’t.”

Shooing her towards the door, I start running around my room, tossing clothes back into one main pile on my floor and throwing all the spare condoms and lube bottles into my nightstand.

I’ve just shut my fun drawer when Maurice’s younger sister comes barging in.

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