Hazed (Palm South University)

But while I’m honored to have the job and excited to be a part of the team, I’m exhausted, and very, very thankful to have a Friday evening off. Between learning the ropes at the office, running around town to gather supplies and work with vendors, making and taking more phone calls in two weeks than I have my entire life, meeting family after family and herding bridal party after bridal party, organizing photographers and DJs and bands and caterers and the works, all while doing my damndest to knock my new boss’ socks off and make a lasting first impression?

I’m not just tired.

I’m about two fake smiles and no problem, I’ll take care of it’s away from collapsing and never being able to get back up again.

Fortunately, I have a very understanding boyfriend, who didn’t give me even a little grief about not joining him for his formal tonight. I know how important fraternity formals are. They signal the end of a semester, the end of a year, the start of summer, and the transition of power. Kade is just a week away from finding out if he’s going to be the next president of Alpha Sigma, and I know this event means a lot to him.

But he understood when I explained how tired I was, and also, how weird it made me feel to think about attending a fraternity event now that I’ve graduated. Hell, I already stayed an extra semester to finish off my commitment as the recruitment chair for Kappa Kappa Beta.

It was high time for me to leave Palm South, and now that I have a condo downtown and a salaried job to boot? I feel like I’ve taken a big step into adulthood, and there’s no going back.

She says, as she eats a pizza Lunchable and drinks a bottle of wine.

Kade did send me a picture of him looking snazzy as fuck before the limo ride to the venue downtown, and just for fun, I snapped him a nude in return.

What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t give him a chub around all his fraternity brothers from time to time?

The only thing that would make this night even better is if my sisters joined me, but Ashlei has already moved half her shit out and into Brandon’s, and I’m sure they’re very busy on this Friday night. And Erin has been holed up in her room studying for her big exam all week, tonight included. She’s promised me she’ll join if she gets to a point where she feels comfortable enough to take a break tomorrow, but if I know her well enough, I’ll be lucky to get a glimpse of her on a snack break.

Even so, I’m not mad at it being just me, my kid food, sweatpants, and a Friends marathon.

If anything, I’d say this is the best Friday night I’ve had in a while.

It finally feels like everything is falling into place, I think to myself as I pour up another glass of wine. It’s crazy how just being offered a job boosted my self-confidence. And now that I’ve been kicking ass for two weeks, I feel like the baddest bitch in the world.

Look out, Miami.

The city’s next hottest wedding planner just stepped on the scene.

As the night goes on, Erin does pop her head out from time to time to check on me, and I even manage to convince her to stay for half of the The One Where They’re Going to Party! episode before she chains herself to her textbooks again. As for me, a full bottle of wine has me feeling pleasantly warm and relaxed.

So much so that I almost don’t notice my phone buzzing under my butt on the couch.

I snap out of my haze around the fifth buzz, not even bothering to look at the number before I answer. “Hello?”

“Ms. Vonnegut, it’s Herb down at the front desk. I’ve got a visitor here for you.”

“Send him up,” I say before he even finishes, because I know exactly who it is, and if he’s even a little bit as tipsy as I am after his formal, then I’m more than happy to welcome him to a romp in my sheets to cap off our Friday nights.

Herb chuckles. “Will do, miss. Have a good evening.”

I pop off the couch with a little squeal and a heel click once we end the call, and then fly down the hall to change into my cute sleep shorts and matching spaghetti strap tank. My hair is a mess, but I take it down just to throw it up in a slightly-better-looking messy bun. After a quick run of lip balm over my lips and a touch of mascara, I bound back down the hall just in time for two swift knocks to sound on the front door.