by Eliza Freer
I grab Izzy and fold her into a hug. “It’s so boring when you’re not here. Thank the Gods for you, babe.”
Izzy smiles. “Same, same. Now, restock the pastry case for me, will you?”
I slip into the back and grab the necessary pastries to refill the case. I hear Izzy calling my name and I step into the front with the tray full of muffins and croissants. I see four familiar faces and start shaking my head.
“No. Go away.”
Simon laughs. “God, I can feel the love. Thanks, East.”
I shake my head. “No. I know what you want.” I spear a glare at Paul. “I told you. DO NOT make this a thing. It’s not a thing. It’s us going to something stupid. I will back out on you.”
Paul shakes his head. “East, I love you, but this is meant to be a group activity. I told the guys about it at practice once they started interrogating me about dating you, and we all agreed we all want to take you. Deal with it, love.”
Riley pipes up. “Honestly, we’re a little offended you didn’t ask us to take you. That you were just going to skip it because you’re not with Wilder anymore.”
I glance down and refill the case, avoiding their pitying eyes. “It’s just not important. It was something he and I were going to do together, but I just don’t care too much otherwise.”
Blake nods. “We get that. But we’re all going whether you want us there or not. If you say no, me and Riley and Simon are showing up anyway and will find you and Paul. We just need to know what color your dress is so we can match you and be all cutesy and whatnot.”
I laugh. “Sorry boys.”
I hear Izzy scoff. “She’s wearing red.”
I turn around and look at her. “And how in the hell would you know that?”
Izzy waves her phone back and forth. “Texted Tassie. She said she’s loaning you a dress since you don’t have anything bordering sexy and classy, and you’re wearing the red one. Don’t pretend like you didn’t know. You’ve had this planned for like two weeks.”
I growl at her. “You’re not helping my case.”
Izzy glares at me and goes to the tip jar. She writes something and sets it back down. I walk over to read it as the guys all smile.
“What should Easton do tomorrow night? Go to the dance with four hot guys or attend with one hottie and pretend she doesn’t really care?” I look at her and roll my eyes. “Damnit, Iz.”
She shakes her head. “What? You know how people are going to answer.”
One by one the guys step to the register and order coffees. They all put a five dollar bill into the tip jar in the side suggesting I go with all of them. Foamy and London Fog roll up to see what’s going on when they see our arguing.
“Oh, you’re definitely going with four hot guys. No contest.” Foamy throws a five in and walks back to his table since he already ordered his coffee. I yell his name after him, but he just shrugs and sits down. London Fog throws a ten into the side sending me to the dance with the four of them as well. I narrow my eyes at her and she smiles at me. She gives the boys a wink and heads out of the shop as she’d already finished her drink.
I throw up my hands in defeat. “Fine. You can all be my dates. I am warning you that this will be boring and awful and you shouldn’t get your hopes up.
Simon leans over the counter and grabs my hand. His face gets serious. “Honey, we all love you. We want to go with you. You’re not just some girl we’re taking to something dumb. We want you to have this memory, even if you were having it sarcastically. Please, just be cool with this and have the last weekend before school be our weekend. We’re going to get real busy and miss you a lot. This isn’t just for you.”
I smile and look over all the boys. “Okay.” I shake his hand. “You’re sweet you know?”
Simon smiles. “I can’t let Paul corner the market. He said he’s working on wearing you down so you let us do whatever we want like Riley and Blake.”
Riley smacks his arm. “You better mean just hanging out with her or we will make your life harder.”
Blake crosses his arms and looks over Simon. Simon throws up his hands. “That’s all I meant. You three are tight, but next year is our year with East. Just saying.”
I roll my eyes. “Now, get out of here. You do realize if you go to this with me you’re spending all weekend with me. The family cookout is on Sunday. That’s a lot of me to handle.”
Riley pops over the counter and kisses my cheek. “Never enough.” He pushes Simon and Paul so they’re walking towards the door. “See you tomorrow night. Seven thirty. Be ready and pretty. We have reputations to maintain.”
Blake shakes his head. “Not too pretty.” He also leans over the counter and gives my cheek a kiss. I roll my eyes. “You’re our girl. We wouldn’t do this if we didn’t want to.”
I sigh. “Fine. Now, leave with your friends so I can complain to Izzy.”
Blake laughs and heads towards the door. “Fine. See you tomorrow night.” He winks as he heads out with the guys. Izzy whistles low.
“Just saying Femme. If I had four hot guys, even if they’re my friends, that wanted to take me anywhere I’d go. Stop with this whole ‘I’m not going, it’s stupid but really I’m pining over Wilder’ thing. It’s not worth it.”
I shrug. “Yeah, well. I’m going now.” I sigh and turn towards the register to help the new customer that walked in. “It’ll be fun. I’ll have fun, promise.”
Izzy sees the order and turns toward the espresso machine. “You’d better. Otherwise, I’m very disappointed in you and will be sure you know it.”
I smirk. “Noted.” I head back to the machine and squeeze her shoulders. “Love you and stuff.”
Izzy leans her head back into me. “Love you and stuff too.”
The rest of my shift is just as eventful. I leave the shop after my shift hoping I get to work with Izzy as much as possible during the school year. My life is much more boring without her.
Chapter 27
Once I arrive home, I notice Dad waiting for me in the kitchen. It’s not too late, so I’m not surprised he’s there.
“So, you have a big date tomorrow, huh?”
I roll my eyes as I throw my bag the by the stairs. “Yeah, I was ambushed at work by the lot of them. They all come in saying we’re going to the dumb dance as a group no matter what I say. Those boys are incorrigible.”
Dad smiles. “No kidding. Getting practice back on track was a struggle. I think you coming to hang with me there could be more of a punishment for them than you. They love getting distracted, which doesn’t fly on my field.”
I scoff. “Well, lucky for you school starts on Monday so the last time you’re spending time with all of us is the cookout on Sunday.”
Dad shakes his head. “Kiddo, I’m going to make sure I’m here when they all pick you up. They need to know I’m watching.”
I walk over to Dad and give him a hug from behind. “Be sure to intimidate them too, please. I’m not exactly looking forward to this.”
Dad squeezes my arm that’s circled around his shoulder. “Anything for you my heathen.”
I give his cheek a kiss. “I’m headed upstairs. It’s been a long day. Love you.”
Dad nods. “Love you too. See you tomorrow.”
I nod. “Yep. Tassie is coming over early evening to help me get ready, so don’t be surprised if she shows up in the afternoon. She has it in her head I need to look sexy fancy for this.”
Dad laughs. “Great. Just what a Dad loves to hear.”
I wave over my shoulder as I head upstairs. “Cool it, Action Jackson. It’s just the guys.”
Dad scoffs. “Doesn’t mean they don’t know you’re a beautiful girl. Don’t worry, I’ll be on my worst behavior.”
I laugh as I walk up the stairs excited for what that might look like.
********************
Tassie gets to my house around three the next day. Not shockingly, she’s there before she says she will be.
/> “Yankee, you’re going to be the hottest girl at the before school dance.”
I smile. “Is that like the belle of the ball?”
She shakes her head. “This isn’t eighteenth century England. I mean what I say. Now, I’m going to give your hair some big curls and do your eyes all up to play up how pretty they are. You’re going to complain and say it’s too much and takes too long, but know I just don’t give a shit.”
I laugh at her. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
Tassie plugs in the curling iron and lays the make up out on the counter in my bathroom. “Honey, you deserve this. Stop being weird and sullen about it. You’re going to have fun, so just let go. You are incredibly lucky you have four amazing guys who want to be there for you. Also, Yankee, don’t be surprised if more of the guys show up.”
I glare at her knowing face. “Do you know something I don’t?”
Tassie shrugs and feels the curling iron. “Not saying I do. Just saying, I have excellent female intuition, and you don’t, so I’m feeling you’re going to be a girl surrounded by adoring men.”
I shake my head. “It’s not like that. You know it.”
Tassie groans. “Just because you’re not dating them doesn’t mean they don’t adore you. Stop pretending you don’t know that.”
I shrug and look down as she sprays some stuff in my hair. “Fine. I know, I really do. I don’t deserve any of it, I just…sometimes a girl wants to be sad.”
Tassie shakes her head and grabs a strand of my hair. “You deserve all good things. You’ve been sad long enough, and they know that. It’s time to get back to life.”
I smile. “I’m going to miss you when you’re gone.”
Tassie smacks my shoulder. “You’ve still got a weekend with me. Who knows, I might stick around and pretend to audit a couple classes to be with you.”
I shake my head. “No. Stick to the original plan. I start school, you head to Boston. You need to get started on your boy pool remember?”
Tassie shrugs. “Yeah. I’ll just miss you is all.”
I grab her free hand, being careful I don’t burn myself. “Ditto.”
Tassie smiles at me with tears in her eyes. “Now shut up and let me doll you up.”
I laugh. “I thank God for you every day. Seriously. I don’t know what I would’ve done if we didn’t find each other.”
Tassie winks. “You have no idea.”
********************
By the time the guys are supposed to show up, Tassie is long gone. After three hours of primping, I promised her I was capable of putting a dress on by myself. I hang around upstairs until the guys arrive, since I didn’t feel like chatting about the dance with my dad. At seven-thirty I heard the doorbell ring and my dad answer the door.
“Gentlemen.”
“Coach.” The guys said nearly in unison.
I headed down the stairs to watch their interaction with my dad since he promised to make it a good one. When I hit the bottom, I see four handsome men all wearing their away game suits, and all with red pocket squares. I smile at their adorable attempt to match me.
“Well if it isn’t my harem come to whisk me away.” I giggle when the guys all look uncomfortable with me calling them my harem in front of my dad.
Dad glances back at me and smiles before turning on the guys. “Now. Last time I told you you could take my daughter out, she wound up drunk with Blake carrying her to bed. This night will not be a repeat of that night, do we understand each other?”
The four strapping football players all look to the ground and answer, “Yes, Coach” almost in unison again. They look up when they hear me laughing at them from behind my dad.
“I love the pocket squares by the way. I didn’t realize we were going to Senior Prom together, but I’ll take it.”
Dad laughs along with me and takes a step towards Blake, Riley, Simon and Paul standing near the door. “I mean it guys. Keep her safe. No funny business and I will be awake when you all get back. And I expect all of you to bring her back, got it?”
The four nod and step back towards the door to make their escape. I laugh and give my dad a kiss on the cheek. “Dad, I am very disappointed in that underwhelming performance at intimidation. We’ll work on that.”
Riley shakes his head. “I don’t know, East. That was pretty intimidating to me.”
Blake, Simon and Paul all nod along with Riley’s statement. I roll my eyes. “Come on ladies, let’s go.”
I usher the guys out the door, where I hear them all breathe a sigh of relief. Blake lets out a laugh. “For as nervous as I get taking you out when your dad is home, you’d think we were actually dating.”
I laugh loudly as we walk to Riley’s car and all squeeze in. “That’s nothing. The first time,” I swallow, “the first time Wilder came to pick me up Dad threw a few metaphors at him about football and teams and other nonsense that was straight up scary. So you have no idea.”
Paul nudges my leg. “You forget we get all that intensity at practice. Picking you up for a friend date shouldn’t feel as scary as practice.”
I shake my head. “You guys come to my house all the time and you’re not this weird. Why is this different?”
Riley pipes up. “When we come to your house Coach knows where we’re gonna be and what we’re doing. Nothing’s going to happen because we’re at your house and we don’t have to worry about people that aren’t us messing with you. Trust us, it’s different.”
I sigh and lean back in my seat. “Whatever.”
Riley pulls into the parking lot at the Student Union where the dance is being held. We all hop out and head inside. I turn around before we enter the dance and put my hand up halting the guys. “Again, this will be lame. I am willing to leave whenever you guys want to. Just say the word.”
Blake grabs my hand and spins me around, pulling me into the dance. “Stop.” He yells over his shoulder, “I’ve got first dance.” He looks down at me. “Do you know the jitterbug?”
I laugh loudly as we walk in, not even noticing all the people watching us, but knowing there are always eyes on the guys. “Do you?”
I feel Simon’s hands on my shoulders and I peer up at him. He nods his head towards the stage and I glance up and see ten more football players waiting for us, all wearing their away suits, all with red pocket squares. I shake my head and choke down the grateful tears that are threatening to spill.
“You guys.” I let out a loud breath. “Damnit. This is the opposite of what I said.”
Paul chuckles. “You’re welcome. But do you really think when I announced to the whole team I was taking you out that these guys would just sit this one out? You’re smarter than that. Especially Tony. He loves you, and in a way that makes me uncomfortable at that.”
As those words leave his lips Tony comes rushing over to us followed by the other nine guys. Tony grabs me and picks me up for a big hug. “Surprised? Welcome to the beginning of school dance, Easton Alexa Collins.”
I hug him and pull back surprised. “You actually got my middle name right. How did you know my middle name?”
Tony sets me down and winks. “At my birthday. I kept using your full name but always a different middle name, and then you finally told me what your middle name is. I’m surprised I remember, honestly, but I remember most things about you.”
I shrug uncomfortably. “There’s way more about that night that I don’t remember. I called Riley bucko. I mean, what’s that about?”
Blake sensing my unease at all the attention, grabs my hand, and pulls me into the middle of the dance floor. “Let’s jitterbug babe.”
I laugh and let him lead me out. “Thanks. Also, that’s not the jitterbug. Also also, I don’t think Aerosmith wrote a single song that you’re able to jitterbug to.” Blake and I continue to dance like idiots. “Why are they playing Aerosmith? This isn’t 1998.”
Riley, Simon, Paul, Tony and the rest of the crew join us and we make a big cluster t
hat could be confused as a mosh pit if ‘Dude Looks Like A Lady’ weren’t playing. We dance through another three songs before I see Blake nod to Riley and all the guys head up towards the stage.
I grab Riley’s arm. “What the hell? Are you leaving me? All of you? I came with fourteen guys and I’m leaving with none? That’s sad, even for me.”
Riley puts his hand over mine on his arm. “We’re not leaving you and you’re not leaving alone. Trust me.”
I let go and watch them walk up onto the stage. I cross my arms and stand close enough so they can see my scowl at being left alone. Blake walks over to the DJ and grabs a microphone from him. The DJ cuts out the music as Blake clears his throat, gaining the attention of the entire crowd. Assholes.
“Hello Hamiltonians. We hope you’re enjoying the back to school dance and the…interesting music selection. There’s nothing quite like a Tom Jones and ‘90s rock band mash-up.”
I cover my mouth to stifle my laughter. If it were anyone other than these guys, I’m absolutely certain the DJ would be taking the microphone back at the insult.
Blake continues with Riley by his side. “Most of you know who we are, and if you don’t, the fourteen of us up here make up a good chunk of the starters on your very own football team.”
The crowd whoops and claps for the boys. Blake takes a breath and looks right into my eyes. My heart speeds up as I get a feeling where they’re going with this. “We’re all lucky guys. Not because we’re nationally raked.”
The crowd goes crazy again. Blake motions for them to quiet down. “Not because we’re going to crush it this season, but because we’ve got this amazing friend named Easton Collins. She’s awesome, and we take it very personally if anyone messes with our girl. She’s our family, and those of you who pay any attention know that much.”
Riley grabs the microphone from Blake. “As Blake was saying, if you pay attention, you know East is not just some chick to us. She’s just as important as any of my teammates standing up here with me. Now, I’m going to speak in some hypotheticals.” Riley looks over towards the group of university administrators watching the guys with interest. “Hypothetically, let’s say some jealous psycho starts spreading rumors about our girl trying to shame her and make her look bad. Hypothetically, some stupid bastards on campus start coming on to our girl saying some truly nasty shit.”