Erin opens up a little

With that, the three of them slipped out of the car and back into the quiet house. Once in Erin’s room, Kristie felt the adrenaline of having gone to her first real party start to wear off. She flopped across the foot of Erin’s bed, while Chet leaned back in the desk chair, spinning it idly, and Erin hugged her knees to her chest on the comforter, having changed into her favorite oversized sleep shirt.

For a while, conversation ran from little details of the party, to how wild the crowd had gotten after Chet turned Madison into an oversized vagina, and the “safety” of being home again.

It was Erin who finally broke the lull. “I know it’s stupid, but I can’t stop thinking about what Madison did. I know people like her shouldn’t matter, but in the moment…” She trailed off, picking at the seam of her pillowcase.

Kristie scooted closer, folding her legs under her. “Hey, it’s not stupid. That sucked. I bet she’s always been like that, you know. Some people just can’t stand not being the center of attention.”

Erin gave a shaky laugh. “I just felt like an idiot. Standing there while everyone was watching and laughing. I couldn’t even look at anybody.”

Chet’s voice was gentle, almost serious. “You can’t let a girl like that get to you. Trust me, people forget that kind of drama by the next day. They’ll be too busy worrying about themselves, or how everything turned 80s, or even about what I did to Madison.”

Kristie nodded. “She’s the last person you should care about. Half the time, she doesn’t even like the people she hangs out with. She’s just loud and obnoxious.”

For a moment, nobody said anything. Kristie rubbed Erin’s shoulder. “Besides, you handled it way better than most people would. I’d have probably thrown the drink back at the bitch.”

That made Erin smile a little. “You definitely would have.”

Chet grinned. “I can think of a few things I’d have done.”

Kristie grinned back, glad to see Erin relax. “If it ever happens again, I’ll hold your beer.”

Erin shook her head, but her eyes didn’t look quite as sad. “Thanks. I know I’m not supposed to care, but… it just felt awful.”

Kristie put her hand over Erin’s. “Yeah, but it’s over now. You’re here. And Madison’s probably still trying to figure out what the hell happened.”

Erin squeezed her hand. “Thanks. Both of you. Really.”

For a second, they let Erin try to let go of what had happened, as she traced little patterns on her comforter, feeling the leftover embarrassment.

Kristie, wanting to shift the mood, nudged Erin’s foot. “Hey, you know who actually seemed pretty cool tonight? That guy who helped us upstairs- Tyler, right?”

Erin’s cheeks colored a little, but she smiled. “Yeah. He was actually really sweet. I don’t know if he was up there because he had to play bathroom security all night, or what, but it was nice of him to kick that poor guy out.”

Chet grinned, spinning in the desk chair. “He was the one with the backwards hat, right? Had the whole laid-back, ‘I’ve seen it all’ vibe going.”

Kristie shot Erin a teasing look. “And, for the record, definitely not bad on the eyes, either. I saw him checking you out when we left.”

Erin rolled her eyes, but the smile stayed. “I’m sure he was just looking to see if I was okay. I probably looked ridiculous.”

Kristie bumped her knee gently. “No, you looked cute in that outfit, even if it was from the wrong decade. Seriously, I think he was into it. Or into you.”

Chet shrugged as he talked, half distracted by the posters on the walls. “Look, you’re both a couple of good-lookin’ chicks, but Erin, you’ve gotta let go of all this insecurity. Yeah, you’re nerdy and smart, but you’re way more genuine than anyone else at that party. You just need to learn to fake it till you make it.”

Erin groaned, hiding her face in her knees. “Can we please not make this a thing?”

Kristie snorted. “Too late. I’m already planning your wedding.”

Erin groaned louder, feeling the tips of her ears turning pink. “God, please stop. He probably thinks I’m some weirdo. I mean, I don’t even know how to talk to guys.”

Kristie grinned, relentless. “Oh, come on. If you took the time, you’d clean up way better than half the girls at that party. If you don’t believe me, ask Che- Yeah! Ask Chet! After all, this is exactly what we were building him for in the first place.”

Chet put his feet up on the bed frame, and his hands behind his head, then flexed alternating biceps. “She’s not wrong. It’s what I’m here for, and like it or not, you got noticed tonight, Erin. And I don’t mean just because of what happened with Madison. I’d bet Kristie’s right and that dude was checking you out. That’s a good thing.”

Erin shook her head, lowering her voice. “I just… I’ve never really known what to do around guys. I’ve never even had a boyfriend.”

Kristie’s eyes went wide. “Wait, what? Seriously? But… I mean, how is that possible? I always assumed you had to have dated someone when you were in high school.”

Erin shrugged, looking a little defensive, and her eyes downcast. “It’s not exactly a secret. I’m awkward, I hate big groups, and I get so anxious I’d rather just go home than even try. I always figured I’d embarrass myself if I tried to date. And… I’m not pretty. Not like other girls.”

Kristie’s expression turned more compassionate. “Erin, stop. That’s not true. You’re gorgeous, and you have no idea.”

Chet nodded, sounding uncharacteristically gentle. “She’s right. You’re selling yourself way too short. You may have been wearing your bra and panties in the shower, but it’s not look it hid the fact that you’ve got a cute, tight little body under that oversized shirt you’re wearing.”

Erin managed a small, uncertain smile. “You guys are just saying that because you have to.”

Kristie squeezed her hand. “Why would we have to? I’m saying it because I mean it.”

Chet added, “Trust me, I know babes when I see ‘em. And you’re a babe.”

Kristie rolled her eyes, but smiled. “He’s got a point. If you ever actually took a minute to look around, you’d notice that there’s plenty of guys that watch you when you walk by. Some are better than others at hiding it, but they look.”

Erin shook her head, still unconvinced. “Yeah, they’re looking because they’re checking out the nerd.”

Kristie scoffed and pressed on. “You’re crazy. And what about that Tyler guy at the party? He was definitely interested. I saw the way he looked at you when we came out of the bathroom.”

Chet nodded, grinning. “Told you. Guys know when there’s something worth looking at.” He stretched, deliberately flexing again. “And believe me, you’ve got it, Erin. Just need to learn how to dress to show it off.”

Kristie grinned. “That’s what tonight was supposed to be about when we were designing a guy, right? A little less hiding, and a little more… experimenting?”

Erin bit her lip, glancing from Kristie to Chet with her nervous expression, but not exactly resisting. “I guess… I just wouldn’t know where to start. Even if I wanted to.”

Chet’s eyes gleamed with mischief, still cocky. “That’s where I come in. Kristie’s got the pep talks, and me? I’m hands-on experience.” He winked, not subtle at all. “You want to know how to flirt, or how it feels to kiss a guy, you couldn’t ask for better practice.”

Kristie nudged Erin gently. “It doesn’t have to be anything big. But if you ever want to know what it’s like to have a guy look at you and actually want you… Chet’s here. For research purposes.”

Chet raised his hands in mock innocence. “Hey, I’m just doing my part for education in the pursuit of science.”

Erin’s cheeks burned, but she managed a soft laugh. “You two are unbelievable.”

Kristie moved closer, her voice dropping to something quieter and more sincere. “It’s just us, Erin. Nobody here’s going to judge you. If you want to ask questions, try something… you can. And if you don’t, that’s okay too.”

Chet leaned in, a grin still on his face. “No pressure. But if you’re curious, I’m right here. I can show you whatever you want. Do whatever you want. You want to see what it’s like to use your hands, lips… you name it. Or use mine.”

Erin looked between them, feeling the tension in the room shift as the two of them looked at her in expectation. She caught a strand of tight curls hanging alongside her face. A little smile slowly crossed her lips as she wrapped the hair around her finger, fidgeting with it out of nervous habit. “Maybe… I am a little curious.”

Kristie squeezed her hand as the excitement lit up her eyes. “Well, to be fair, I’ve been curious all night,” she chirped, looking over at Chet.

Erin twisted the strand of hair tighter as the color deepened in her cheeks. “So, how would this even… work? I mean, I’ve never- I wouldn’t even know what to ask for.”

Chet tilted his head, lounging back with his arms crossed behind it. “It’s simple. You just tell me what you want. Anything you’re curious about, anything you ever wondered if you’d like. I’m yours for however long I’m here.” He shot Kristie a wink. “Same goes for you by the way, sweet cheeks. I take requests.”

Kristie perked up a little more. “No limits? You’re just going to… do whatever we say?”

Chet laughed, holding his hands out, wrists together like they were cuffed, in a show of surrender. “Ladies, I’m literally here because you built me. My only job is to make you feel good. Good about yourself, about tonight, or about whatever you want to try.” He leaned forward, his eyes locking on Erin’s. “If you want to start with a kiss, we start with a kiss. If you want to go slow, we go slow. If you want to just talk, I’m here for that too. You’re in charge. Well, unless you want me to take charge, because I can do that too if it’s what you want.”

Erin bit her lip, processing, looking from Chet, brimming with confidence, to Kristie, who was eager to encourage it all. “So… I could just… ask you to kiss me? And you would?”

Chet nodded. “You just have to say the word.”

Kristie leaned in, squeezing Erin’s hand again. “Honestly, this is the safest place in the world to try it. And who else is going to say their first kiss was with a literal fantasy guy?”

Erin gave a small, nervous laugh. “That’s probably true…”

Chet’s voice dropped a little, sounding warm and reassuring. “No expectations. No pressure. Just whatever you want, Erin.”

For the first time all night, Erin felt a sense of control and freedom she’d never known. She looked at Chet, heart thumping, then at Kristie, who nodded, her support unspoken but unwavering.

“And nobody would ever know?” she asked, looking from Chet to Kristie.

“I’d never tell anyone,” Kristie quickly responded. “I promise.”

Chet motioned zipping his mouth shut. “Like I said, I do what you tell me. So, if that’s to not tell anyone, then I don’t tell anyone.”

“Okay,” Erin said quietly, keeping her voice barely above a whisper, “then… I’d like to try.”

Kristie squeezed her hand once more, smiling so wide it made Erin want to laugh. Chet just waited, patient and ready – letting her set the pace for whatever came next.

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