Against the Wall (Fuckboy Series - Book 1) (FINISHED)

Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

When Monday rolled around Colton was ready to take jobs and make some cash. He had exactly seven days until the rent was due, and although it was a lot of money he was hopeful he could put a good dent in it. Once he found his groove he knew he’d be able to rake it in. But before he could do any of that, he still had to make it to the gym before it opened for the day. Just because he had taken a position with Casual Companions didn’t mean he would neglect his responsibilities at Dave’s Gym. Right now money was uncertain, and he needed as much of it as he could get.

Just as he finished cleaning the last treadmill his phone buzzed, the specific jingle telling him that a new request that fit his parameters had just been added to the site. He quickly pulled it out of his pocket and hit the notification to open the app. If he’d learned anything over this weekend it was that each new request went fast, and if he wasn’t there to swipe it up someone else would.

Date for Charity Event

I need a last-minute date for a charity event tonight. 6pm to 9pm, probably longer. Tuxedo is a must. Age: 21-30. $150. Males only!

I can do that, he thought to himself as he hit the accept button. He could take a woman to a charity event. Plus, he still had the tuxedo from his brother’s wedding. He had a few weeks left to use it before he had to take it back so he might as well get his money’s worth.

A few minutes later he got a message saying he had been chosen for the date. He was provided an address, what time to arrive, and a reminder that he needed to wear a tuxedo because this was a formal event. He shot her a quick message telling her he would be there on time. At first he was nervous about the prospect of going out on a date with a complete stranger, but the more he thought about it he realized it differed very little from going on a blind date. People did it all the time when they met through a dating service. They filled out a profile and were able to see what the other person looked like as they chatted. When they finally met up for a date the only thing they had to worry about was showing up and the person not being who they said they were. At least with this job, he knew what they expected to begin with and could refuse the job if he felt as if he couldn’t deliver.

When Colton was finished cleaning the gym he waited until it was open and then got a quick workout in. He really should have done that before he had cleaned everything down, but he liked the camaraderie he found there when the regulars came in.

An hour later he quickly headed home to grab his tux so he could drop it off at the cleaners. While he was waiting for that he stopped to get his hair trimmed and got a professional shave, not wanting to look scruffy for the formal event. After picking his tux up he headed home, then took a shower and got dressed. As he looked at himself in the mirror he could feel the anxiousness gnawing at his gut, and he realized the unknown of it all was making him nervous. He was so unsure that you could see it all over his face.

“Stop,” he told himself. “You can’t show up for a date like this.” If he did she would know right away that something was wrong. He didn’t want to piss her off first thing and then make her feel uncomfortable. She was paying for his services and she might ask for a refund from the company if he couldn’t keep his emotions in check.

Colton took a deep breath and looked at himself in the mirror once again, trying to calm his nerves. He looked pretty sharp in his tux. Shooting his reflection a smile he ran his hands down over the jacket. He was glad his brother had forced him to be one of his groomsmen or he wouldn’t have the tuxedo to use on this date. And here he had thought a wedding wouldn’t do him any favors. Colton laughed to himself, which eased his tension a little. He needed to relax. He was a nice guy, he was interesting, and he was good looking. He would do just fine. She’d like him. All the women he took on dates liked him. He made sure of it.

Colton grabbed his phone, keys, and wallet, finding places in his pockets for them so they wouldn’t bulge out his tux, then stopped by Mason’s room before he left. He could always count on his best friend to give him a confidence boost, and he was in dire need of one right now.

Mason looked up from his laptop when there was a tap on his doorframe, then grinned widely when he saw Colton in his tux. Damn, he was sexy as f**k. He lost himself for the moment in the fantasy he always had of Colton f*****g his ass, then reluctantly shook the daydream off and gave him a whistle and a catcall.

“You look fabulous. I love the slicked back hair. Man, if you showed up for a date with me looking like that, I’d f*****g eat you alive.” He got up and walked around him, nodding his head in approval. “You look sharp.” He straightened Colton’s bow tie and stepped back, giving him one last look. “You should let me get a few pictures of you before you go. You could add them to your profile.”

“Good idea.” He grinned a little. Mason had a way of making him feel confident about himself. He knew he was handsome, but to himself he looked just like any other random guy.

Colton thought about himself. He stood six feet tall, he had a nice build, blue eyes, black hair, good looking, but nothing special. There wasn’t one thing about him that made him stand out in a crowd.

Mason returned with his camera and made him stand against the wall and pose in a few different ways to get the shot. “All right. You’re good to go. You better head out, you don’t want to be late on your first date.” He ran his hand down over Colton’s chest to smooth his jacket out and then stepped back, getting out of his way so he could go.

“Thanks.” Colton nodded and then moved toward the door. “Don’t wait up. I know she only said nine, but I’ve seen how long those events can last. I might be late.”

“All right, I won’t. See you later, try to have fun.” Mason waved and plopped down on his bed, returning his attention to the blog post he was writing.

Try to have fun. It would take him a while to find his groove. In his mind, this was a job. He didn’t want to f**k it up. Even though it seemed easy, he knew there was much more on the line. All he had to do was take this woman out, impress her, make her like him, and leave her with a good enough impression that she’d want to have another date with him. Getting regulars was the name of the game. That was where the money was at.

Colton hailed a cab and settled into the seat, forcing himself to relax. This would be just like any other date he had been on. The rules were the same. He would treat her with respect, show her a good time, and make her as happy as he could. What could go wrong?

Even if this date wasn’t what he expected it to be, or the girl wasn’t what he expected her to be, he could make it work.

He could do this. He needed to do this. His bills depended on his success tonight.