Page 82 of Organized Chaos
Laughter bubbled out of his lips, and he threw his head back. It cracked Raven and Reid’s restraints as well. The tension diffused under a round of chuckles.
God, Chris could turn any situation around. Everything about him screamed an upstanding member of society. No one was immune to his charms.
As it turned out, not even Raven. “That’s wonderful to hear, Chris,” Raven said, digging into her Massaman curry. “Sorry for being so intrusive. It’s just... very few men seem to have good intentions nowadays.”
“No worries.” Chris smiled before sweeping the uncomfortable conversation entirely under the rug. “So, do you think you’ll join our church?”
Raven laughed. “I don’t think I’m your target clientele. But if Mia wants, I can come back next week.”
Just like that, Raven’s barrage of interrogation concluded, and I found myself unwinding. Apparently, it was Chris’ lack of entitlement that soothed her nerves.
Chris wasn’t a privileged asshole. Nothing had been handed to him, and men like him worked for their keep. He was as harmless as they came, which Raven loved. It meant that he wouldn’t feel entitled to a woman’s body if she were to turn him down... unlike this tatted bastard I once knew.
For only the tiniest second, I let my mind wander. Would Raven have given in so easily if Brandon were sitting next to me?
No. She would have stared him down coolly for his entitled attitude and self-absorbed ways.
And Brandon wouldn’t have made one single effort to turn the situation around. He wouldn’t cater to my family or put their minds at ease. If they didn’t like him, he’d blow off their concerns and tell them to go fuck themselves.
But not Chris.
Throughout the rest of lunch, Chris chipped away at Raven’s remaining defenses. By the time our waiter brought the bill, they were following each other on Instagram. Practically the best of friends.
Reid snagged the check. “Lunch is on me.”
“No way. Let me,” Chris protested.
“Nope, we invited you,” Reid said decisively and handed his card to the waitress.
It was a relief because I knew Chris was saving up for his remaining college expenses.
Reid stretched his arms over his head. “God, I’m tired.” Translation:I’m still hungover from last night.
It wouldn’t be a Sunday if Reid weren’t hungover. I often feared that he might be developing a drinking problem, but when I had brought up the topic to him, I was only met with his wrath.
“Think I’m going to head back,” he declared.
“Me too.” Raven looked between us, then did something to shock the hell out of me. “But you two should hang out. It’s such a nice day outside.” She slid a twenty-dollar bill across the table. “Go get some hot chocolate. On me.”
Did Raven just encourage me to hang out with a boy... unsupervised?
“Yeah, don’t let us old folks hold you back,” Reid added.
“I’m down,” Chris said easily.
“I guess.” I shrugged, staring between the two of them, hardly believing it possible. I had wanted them to give me more independence, and perhaps they were finally doing it.
With quick hugs outside of the restaurant, we exchanged goodbyes. Chris wasn’t put off by my siblings setting us up on a mini date. Instead, he dragged me to Central Park to try all the different types of street food.
Chris was affectionate throughout, randomly grabbing my hand without a second thought. He put an arm around my shoulders as he led me down a path. Anyone walking by might presume we were young lovers.
“Hope you’re hungry. These are the best crepes in Manhattan.”
I laughed. “We just had lunch.”
“Then consider it dessert.”
“I don’t—”
