“You’re going to make me cry again,” Mom says, her reflection caught right behind mine in the full-length mirror on her closet door.
“Don’t do that,” I say, fanning my hand over my eyes. “I’ve got way too much makeup on to mess it up.”
“Wow, Paige!” Kate comes up behind Mom. “You look like a princess.”
“You really do look nice,” Claire says, joining us, “a lot better now that your hair is actually a normal color.” Leave it to Claire to make sure a backhanded compliment gets inserted somewhere.
“Thanks,” I say, silently agreeing that after the many years of making my hair different colors, I’m glad that I’ve finally embraced something much closer to my natural blonde. I’m wearing my hair down and curly instead of twisting it into the updos I’m expecting most of the girls to be styled in. I’ve lifted one side with a faux diamond covered barrette that matches the sheen of my dress perfectly. I’m wearing bright red lipstick and false eyelashes for the first time in my life, and Mom has loaned me a beautifully simple necklace, heart shaped and encrusted with small diamonds, a gift from Dad for their fifth wedding anniversary. The top of my dress fills out pretty nicely, and I’m wearing heels that will bring me a little closer to Garrett’s six foot two frame.
“And you and Garrett weren’t even going to go.” Mom shakes her head, like she can’t believe we were planning an anti-prom.
“There are bigger things in life than prom,” I say, even though I’m now officially glad that Evan pushed me, and in effect us, into going.
“Those bigger things will wait,” Mom says.
All of us turn our heads at the sound of the doorbell. Kate and Claire scurry downstairs. When I walk into the hallway, Grandma is standing there. She’s gotten dressed today, and while she’s leaning against the wall for support, she actually looks bright and healthy and a lot more like the old Grandma I remember.
“Grandma.” I smile and give her a long hug. “Come downstairs with us. You haven’t seen Garrett in a long time, and I know—”
Grandma shakes her head. “Honey, these bones don’t like stairs. I just wanted to see you before you left, but I’m going to turn right back around and climb into bed and watch me some Dr. Phil reruns.”
I don’t know why, but that makes me bust up in laughter.
“At least she’s not watching Maury,” Mom says with a wink.
“I’ll take a ton of pictures,” I say. “Maybe we can look at them together tomorrow?”
Most of the time, Grandma stays locked up in her room. She eats her meals in there, and a few years ago, Mom put enough money together to have a second bathroom installed in an old closet so Grandma would have a very small, but private suite. I really miss her being a bigger part of our lives.
“We’ll see how I feel, honey,” Grandma says, “but seeing you now… well, you’re absolutely gorgeous, and your daddy would be proud.”
After I pull away from a second embrace with her, I fan my eyes again.
“Garrett’s waiting!” Kate calls up from below.
“You have fun, honey,” Grandma says.
I take a deep breath and make my way down the stairs, following Mom and hoping I don’t fall in these heels and break my neck.
As soon as I clear the second floor landing, I see Garrett. I’ve seen him in a tux more than once, but somehow this time it’s different. He’s such a man now, looking so handsome in the crisp suit, his curly blond hair cropped short on the sides and a little longer on top. His eyes grow wide when he sees me, and a smile erupts all over his face.
“You look…” Garrett is shaking his head and looking me up and down from head to toe.
“I think the word you’re looking for is stunning,” Mom says and pats Garrett on the back.
“She does look pretty good,” Claire says, standing and continuing to assess me.
Kate has been rendered speechless. She’s looking up at Garrett like he’s her prince charming come to take her away instead of me.
“You’re beautiful,” Garrett says somewhat shyly for a boy who’s known me since fourth grade.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I reply.
We present each other with corsages and pose for the obligatory pictures. I feel like Evan should be here with us, but the plan is to meet him and Lexi at her parents’ restaurant, DeNero’s, have dinner and then arrive at the prom together. It would make more sense for Lexi to want to be with Beth and her date, but I’m sure Evan is the one who insisted it be with Garrett and I.
Garrett opens the passenger door of his old Chevy truck for me, and I somewhat awkwardly climb in, not wanting to get my dress caught on anything. He tries to help and ends up putting his hand on my ass, which doesn’t feel altogether bad.
“You ready to do this?” He’s in the driver’s seat now, smelling of fresh, masculine cologne, and I have to admit that something stirs in my belly with him looking so good.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I say, knowing I have to get through a dinner with Lexi and then getting crowned up on stage as part of the court. “How about you? I hear Beth is going with Ben.”
Garrett flinches a bit at the mention of his ex’s name. “As long as you’re by my side, I think it’s going to be a great night.” His smile is so genuine that I can’t help but feel my heart leap at the sight of it.
“This is the last big thing, other than graduation of course,” I say, wanting to roll my window down on such a hot day but not wanting to mess up the hair I spent an hour on. “And then it’s working through summer and heading off to college.”
He takes one hand off the wheel and stretches it across my seat back. “You make it sound like we’re never coming back.”
As he drives along the two-lane road toward Basin Lake High, passing modest bungalows and the fields that stretch out behind them, the desert just beyond and the lake at the north end of town that we can’t quite see, there is a look of contentment in Garrett’s eyes that tells me he loves this town, his family farm and all the memories these places hold for him.
“Please tell me you aren’t still thinking of taking over your parents’ farm when you finish up with college,” I say.
He takes his arm away from me for a moment and turns the radio to his favorite country station and then brings his arm right back behind me. “So what if I am?”
“Even if you get into the pros?”
“That’s probably not going to happen,” Garrett says. “It’s kind of a miracle I’m even going to be playing college ball.”
“You never know,” I say. “You’re a better player than you give yourself credit for, and besides, why go to four years of school just to come back and run a farm?”
He laughs dismissively at that, the bit about him being a better player than he thinks, then goes on to say, “It practically takes a four-year degree just to run a farm these days, to stay competitive.”
I’m sure he’s right, but I still like imagining Garrett in the NFL, even if it’s just for a couple of years. I want the whole country to see what an amazing player he is, and more importantly what an amazing guy.
“I don’t think I’m coming back here,” I say with determination. “Once I finish college, I’m thinking of moving back to Seattle.”
Garrett laughs again, but this time it’s incredulous. “Seattle? Really?”
I shrug. “I just can’t imagine being in a small town all of my life.”
“Yeah, but I kind of thought…” he shakes his head. “What about your Mom and your sisters? I mean, you can get a job teaching here after you graduate, can’t you?”
“I can still see them,” I say. “It’s only like a three hour drive, and there are a lot more jobs in Seattle than Basin Lake.”
“Sure, but I kind of hate Seattle.”
“Just like Beth does,” I say without thinking.
Garrett’s jaw tightens.
“Sorry,” I say. “I didn’t mean to say the ‘B’ word again.”
�
��It’s okay.” He grips my bare shoulder with his big, warm hand. “I just have to stop feeling like such a jerk around her.”
“The last thing you are is a jerk, Garrett. Beth is going to be fine, okay?”
“If you say so,” he answers with a slight, unconvincing smile.
EVAN
Paige is gorgeous.
And I’m drunk.
When she and Garrett approach the table Lexi and I are at, I can’t take my eyes off of her. The dress she’s wearing makes her look like a live-action Disney princess, the girl that every guy can’t help but to fall in love with.
I stand up, and of course I knock a drink over.
“Ahhh… shit,” I say, knowing I sound like a fucking lush.
“I’ll clean it up,” Lexi hisses, which is kind of shocking considering Lexi doesn’t like to lift a finger if she doesn’t have to.
“Hey, man,” Garrett says. His hand is on Paige’s back, touching her bare skin. I’d like nothing more than to yank it away.
Lexi is soaking up the spilled Coke with napkins, and I try to help, but she pushes my hand away. “Sorry about that,” I say looking at Paige. “I’m drunk as all fuck, but damn if you don’t look gorgeous.” I drag my hand through my hair, hating the fact that she has to see me like this.
“Dude.” Garrett walks around the table and pulls me into a loose hug. “Get a hold of yourself man,” he says like I’m an embarrassment, and I probably am.
Paige is looking at me like she’s disappointed in me too. “I’ll get you more water,” she says, taking a few steps toward the kitchen before Lexi drops the wet napkins on the table and grabs Paige’s arm.
“I’ll go,” she says and gives Paige a look I don’t like. “It is my restaurant.”
“Whatever… sure,” Paige says, turning back toward the table.
I’m sure I hear Lexi saying something snarky as she hoofs it toward the kitchen, but I’m more focused on the lack of eye contact I’m getting from Paige to notice exactly what came out of her mouth.
“You need to sober up man,” Garrett tells me like I don’t already know that. “They won’t let you in like this.”
“Well, maybe I don’t want to go,” I say, and just then Paige looks at me, and I take a chance. “You want to go to the lake with me and talk… come on Paige… just you and me, okay?”
“Evan—”
I push away from Garrett and move around the table, just wanting to get to her, wanting to tell her again how beautiful she is and that I love her, like it’s now or never. But before I can, Garrett grabs my shoulder.
“You need to just chill, man,” he says, and I want to fucking kill him.
“Lexi’s getting water,” Paige says to me. “We’ll go to the lake after prom, okay? Remember you saying Lexi would cut your balls off if you didn’t go?”
Garrett laughs, but it’s not funny. I feel clammy and sweaty and overheated all at once and wipe my hand across my face. “This is all wrong,” I say. I can’t tell her I love her like this—I’d look like an asshole.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Garrett says and somehow gets me back into my chair. “Everything’s good, okay?”
I turn back to Paige. “It just keeps getting worse,” I say because I don’t appear to have the balls to be honest with her or at least be sober for one of the biggest nights of her high school life.
“It’s all good.” Garrett is patting me on the shoulder, making me feel like I’m a child. “You’ve just had too much to drink.”
I stare him down.
He’s my best friend, and yet I’d like to punch him right now, but when I try to get up, I’m dizzy all of a sudden. “Dude, I’m going to be sick,” I say and haul ass to the bathroom.
The restaurant is crowded with our classmates, and a couple guys from the football team follow Garrett and I. I barely make it into a stall before I puke my guts up.
“You going to be okay, man?” one of the guys asks from outside the stall as I’m spitting the remnants of sick into the toilet.
“Sure,” I croak out, wishing I hadn’t taken the whisky shots Lexi offered me in the restaurant kitchen earlier.
“You look like a basket case,” she’d said when I’d arrived, and I let her believe I was nervous about prom and pissed off with my dad when I was actually terrified of seeing Paige later. I knew she’d look amazing, and it was getting harder to control my thoughts around her. I wanted things to be just right when I told her my feelings.
I hadn’t meant to keep drinking the shots down. I lost count after the seventh. I can guess Lexi is going to have something to say, how I can’t control my alcohol or that my tolerance should be higher. But she can say whatever she wants because our time is drawing to a close, and I’m not going to be her emotional crutch anymore.
Garrett and the guys look on as I step out of the stall and wash my mouth out at the sink. I look like shit, but I do at least feel better.
“Let’s get you that water,” Garrett says as we step out of the bathroom, the other guys heading back to their dates.
Lexi is back at the table, and Paige’s back is turned to us.
“You’re such a bitch, Lexi,” Paige says, clearly unaware of our return. She says it like it’s the most pleasurable thing that has come out of her mouth all month.
“Excuse me?” Lexi barks back, her eyes flashing to us.
“You heard me. You’re a fucking bitch, Lexi DeNero, and I feel beyond sorry that Evan or anyone at all has to put up with your shit!”
I start to snicker, and Paige appears startled by my and Garrett’s presence. I feel an urge to bust out laughing until Lexi angrily stares back at me.
“Paige.” Garrett looks at her like she’s just pushed someone off a cliff.
“I think you should leave.” Lexi snarls at her.
“I’m not leaving without him.” Paige gets up and nods at me. “He’s in no condition to drive.”
“Oh, yeah?” Lexi is standing up now too, but Paige has several inches on her and is looking so damn sexy with her determination.
“You’re coming with me and Garrett,” Paige says, coming closer to me and grabbing my hand, and I’m loving her attention.
“Yes ma’am,” I say, smiling wide before Lexi smacks me on the shoulder.
“Look, I’ll drive his car.” Of course it’s Garrett that says it. “Let’s just calm down, sober up, and cool off.”
“She called me a bitch,” Lexi says in a low growl, looking around like she wants to be sure nobody else has heard.
“Paige?” Garrett sounds like he wants her to apologize.
“What?” She eyes him, and I love watching her in action, watching her defend herself.
“Can you just say you’re sorry?”
“Wow, this night has gotten way out of hand.” I shake my head, ready to tell Garrett that I’m sure Lexi said something to set Paige off, but she snaps right back at him.
“You want me to apologize to her? She did say ‘fuck you’ to me too, you know?” I’m rooting for her when she suddenly looks over at someone. I turn my head, and Mrs. DeNero is walking toward us, looking concerned. And then in one quick burst, Paige says, “Sorry,” before sitting down.
It takes me a moment to realize Paige’s retreat is all about not wanting to cause a scene, at least not in front of Mrs. DeNero.
“Everything okay?” Mrs. DeNero walks right up to me and pinches my cheek. I don’t mind. She’s been nice to me this past year, even if I might not deserve it. “You look all pale, Evan. You feeling all right?”
I’d be better if your daughter hadn’t been plying me with drinks in the kitchen.
“He’s fine, Mama,” Lexi says, smiling at her mom like everything is okay. And that’s what’s sad. Lexi wills her parents to believe she’s all smiles and unicorns when that’s the furthest thing from the truth.
“Hey there, Paige… Garrett.” Mrs. DeNero smiles at them. “You all hungry?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Garrett sits next to
Paige and I swear he pats her thigh. Kind of a patronizing, dick move if you ask me.
“How about some bibs so you girls don’t get sauce all over your dresses, huh?”
“That would be great, Mama,” Lexi says, at it again with that big fake smile that her parents want to believe is real.
“Sure, Mrs. DeNero, thanks,” Paige says, and I want to be sitting next to her with my hand on her thigh.
CHAPTER SEVEN
PAIGE
Prom — June
I wouldn’t have thought we could get past the whole “DeNero’s fiasco” and have fun at our prom, but we manage to. I basically ignore Lexi and hang close to Garrett. Part of me wishes he would have backed me up and dragged Evan out of there with us, but when I imagine the giant scene it might have caused and the people it would have upset, I suppose I’m grateful for his cooler head. Then again, doesn’t a small town like Basin Lake need a good scene every now and again?
Garrett is crowned prom king, and it’s not a shocker. I wonder what they would have done if we’d had our anti-prom? Would they have crowned someone else? Before him, a more sober Evan had been crowned a prince and Lexi his princess. Mike got a nod too, which was really nice considering the number of homophobes at Basin Lake High, and I fully expected to have been voted his princess. But when the last princess sash is given to Beth, I realize I’m going to be crowned queen.
As I make my way onto the stage, I can’t help but think about that movie, Carrie, and the group of especially big assholes who stuffed the voting box just so they could pour the blood of a poor, murdered pig all over Carrie’s head when she took her crown. While I lack her telekinetic abilities, I’ve always felt like a bit of an outsider in Basin Lake, even though I’ve been engrained in track and as many school clubs I could reasonably be a part of. The truth is that besides Evan and Garrett, there aren’t many people here I’d trust my secrets to, and therefore most of my other friendships have been pretty superficial.
Between the Boys (The Basin Lake Series Book 1) Page 6