That was the me he knew…that was the me he was falling for.
I couldn’t breathe, but this time not in a bad way. Because I liked that girl too. And maybe he had a point. Maybe that was me. The real me.
Or maybe it wasn’t.
That stupid announcer’s voice came over the loudspeaker once more.
And last but not least, let’s hear it for Tina Withers!
The crowd in the ballroom was cheering. For me. This was my grand moment to take the stage.
And I couldn’t care less.
All I cared about was the look in Julian’s eyes, the way he was looking at me as though I were the only person on the planet. As though I really were the kind of girl who deserved a guy like him.
But still, uncertainty held me hostage. I reached out and grasped his lapels like they were a lifeline. “I don’t know if I can change,” I whispered. “But I want to be the kind of person who deserves you.”
He groaned softly as he leaned down and planted a kiss on my forehead. “Don’t you get it, Tina? You don’t need to change. Not for me, not for anyone.”
I let out a huff of exasperation. “No, you’re the one who doesn’t get it. It’s in my nature.”
His sweet smile said he was humoring me. “What is?”
I frowned up at him, ignoring the announcer’s voice which called my name for the second time.
I wanted to cave so badly. I wanted to believe him, but something in me made me try one more time to warn him. “I’m power hungry,” I said. “I am way too competitive.”
“You’re determined and ambitious,” he said. “What else?”
“You’re laughing at me,” I said, giving his lapels a frustrated shake.
He shrugged before wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close. “Maybe just a little.” He leaned down and nuzzled my neck making breathing and logical thought impossible. “Go on, give me another reason why we shouldn’t be together. This is kinda fun.”
He stopped kissing my neck just long enough for me to form an answer. I took a deep breath. “I’m manipulative,” I said. “I play games. It’s who I am.”
Pulling back, he looked into my eyes as he arched a dubious brow. “Are you telling me everyone was right? Did you really use me get back at Alex?”
I could have lied and said yes. I could have ended this fight once and for all. But meeting his gaze, it was impossible to lie. “No.”
“And have you been playing any other mind games with me that I should be aware of?” he asked without a hint of suspicion. He already knew the answer.
“No,” I said with a huff. “Of course not. But it’s just a matter of time. I don’t know how not to play games—”
He cut me off with a quick kiss. “You’ve never played games with me because I don’t play games with you. You’re competitive, Tina, and you’re smart. It makes perfect sense to me that you’d play to win with the people you surrounded yourself with.”
I wanted to protest. I should protest. He was rationalizing my past actions, and I didn’t want to make excuses for myself anymore. “How can you be so sure that I won’t lie to you or manipulate you or…” I swallowed as the worst of my fears came bubbling to the surface. “What if I hurt you?”
His gaze met mine. “You won’t.”
He sounded so certain. Now it was my turn to arch my brows with a look of doubt. “You don’t know that. I could revert to my old ways with you. I could lie or, or toy with you, or tell half-truths, or…” I trailed off, hating myself for having to say any of that. But I didn’t trust myself and he shouldn’t either.
He exhaled slowly. “You could,” he finally agreed. “And there’s a chance we could grow apart in college, or I could meet someone new or—”
“Don’t you dare,” I growled. I couldn’t help it. Jealousy rose up in me like a monster. I was the Incredible Hulk in pink taffeta.
He grinned. “I won’t. I’m just saying I could.”
I rolled my eyes.
“What? I thought we were listing worst case scenarios here.” He was far too entertained by himself as he continued. “There could be an earthquake and the hotel we’re standing in could collapse, we could fall off a cliff and—”
“Shut up,” I said, but I was laughing despite myself. The tension had eased despite the announcer’s voice that kept insistently calling my name and asking if anyone had seen me.
I hoped no one had seen where I’d gone because I didn’t want to be found. I was happy here with Julian and there was no place I’d rather be.
Even if it did scare the crap out of me.
“Say something,” he finally said, his voice gentle and low.
“What do you want me to say?”
He smiled. “Say anything. Something real. Something honest.”
Terror swept through me but I pushed it to the side. I was Tina freakin’ Withers, after all. I didn’t do scared. “I like you.”
The words hung between us for a second and I watched breathlessly as they registered. In the span of one heartbeat I watched the course of our lives change.
I watched my life change. It wasn’t every day you stood at a crossroads, but this was a moment I knew I’d never forget.
And we sealed it with a kiss that stole my heart forever.
He pulled back, his grin so over the moon happy it made my heart swell. “You mean it?”
I nodded quickly. “I mean it. I like you. A lot.” I reached up to swipe at his mouth. “Also, you have lipstick on your face.”
He scrubbed at his face with a grimace.
“I’m just being honest,” I added. “You have lipstick on your face and I like you so so much.” Now that the words were out there, I was giddy with excitement. I was exhilarated and terrified and ecstatic all at once.
“How much?” He forgot about his face and its accidental makeover as he tugged me in for a hug so tight I was pulled up off my feet.
How much? Oh hell. If I was in, I was all in. “I like you so much that I’m pretty sure I’m falling for you too, Julian.” I kissed his smile with everything in me…every ounce of happiness, fear, and resolve.
I would be different. Or at least, I’d change my ways and be the kind of woman he deserved.
How did I know? I was Tina freakin’ Withers. If anyone could do it, it was me. Transformations were kind of my thing.
When we came up for air I was trembling. Despite my resolve and my newfound confidence, I had that terrified anticipation going on. The kind of exhilarating feel you get at the top of a roller coaster or when you’re about to set off on a road trip without a map.
“Now what?” I whispered.
He smiled. “Now you should probably go get your crown before they send out a search party.”
I grinned as I reluctantly backed away. He was right. I had to go. I turned to face him when I reached the door to the ballroom. “You’ll wait for me?”
His expression told me how stupid that question was. “Always.”
Epilogue
Julian
I honestly didn’t know who was more nervous, Tina or me. I watched her with a smile as she paced outside the entrance to the Java Hut, peering in through the glass window as if she were casing the joint.
“Tina?”
She stopped and turned to face me. “Yes?”
Her too-innocent expression was suspicious. “Are you up to something?”
She bit her lip. “Um, not exactly.”
I tilted my head to the side so I could better study her. My girlfriend. The love of my life. Maybe my fiancé in the not too distant future. Not the very near future either—I mean, we were both only freshmen in college.
But still, we were going on more than six months as an honest to God couple and each day was better than the last. While I was studying music theory at NYU, Tina was working away on her nursing degree and we took turns visiting each other’s campuses each weekend.
The best part about dating a girl I’d gone to high school with?
We both went home to the same town during breaks. That meant we’d been able to spend Thanksgiving together and now we were enjoying the Christmas holidays together.
She’d even convinced me that I should try out the new music I’d written at open mic night while we were in town. Her only stipulation was that I couldn’t play any of the songs I’d written about her, which basically wiped out my entire set list.
Her suggestion had seemed like a good idea when she’d mentioned it. But that was when we were cozy and isolated in our own little world in New York.
Watching her now, I started to get an idea of why she was acting so weirdly. “Look we don’t have to stay here if you’re uncomfortable,” I said, catching her hand and tugging her toward me so I had her full attention.
Her brows drew together in confusion. “Why would we leave? You haven’t even played your songs yet.”
Fair enough. She wanted to see this through. Of course she did, my girl was one of the bravest and strongest people I’d ever met. Still, even brave people needed backup sometimes. “Okay, we’ll stay.” I squeezed her hand. “But I’ll be here by your side if you need me, and when I’m on stage Alice and Brian will be with you so you have nothing to worry about.”
She scrunched up her nose now, confusion written all over her face. “What are you talking about?”
Oh. Um…maybe I’d read this situation wrong. Before I could explain, I saw understanding dawn alongside shock. “You think I’m freaking out because Alex might show?”
Even in our lovely isolated love nest far away from the Briarwood drama, we were still not entirely immune to the gossip. One particularly juicy tidbit we heard through the grapevine was that Alex had started dating Leila.
I hadn’t really cared and Tina had seemed to find it funny. We were both so over those two that all we could do was wish them luck and move on with our lives. But now…well, now there was a very good chance we would have to see that gross coupling with our very own eyes.
Leila still worked as a barista and we’d heard that Alex often came to hang out when she worked. “I just thought…” I waved my hands vaguely in lieu of words.
Tina was giving me that impish smile as she rolled her eyes. Leaning in she patted my cheek softly. “You’re cute when you’re jealous, do you know that?”
Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. “I’m not jealous.”
And I wasn’t. If there was one area where Tina and I excelled in was in the trust department. Our relationship was based on friendship and loyalty and honesty.
Not to brag or anything, but people should be jealous of us.
Something caught her eye over my shoulder and I turned to see my younger sister Clara arriving with some of her new friends.
Tina’s eyes lit up at the sight of her. “I’ll be right back,” she said. And then she was racing over and giving my little sister a huge hug. I was too far away to hear what was being said but I could see that Tina was being Tina…and by that I mean, she was being charming and sweet and funny, and including each and every one of my sister’s friends in the conversation until the whole group of Briarwood freshmen girls were beaming and laughing with delight.
All of this wouldn’t have been so odd if we hadn’t just seen Clara. Literally, we’d just said goodbye to her after taking her out for pizza. But by the way Tina was acting you’d think she hadn’t seen my sister in years.
After another few minutes, Tina walked back to me.
No, she swaggered. The girl was all cocky confidence as she tossed her hair, making me laugh even as my heart pounded furiously in my chest.
God, I loved this girl.
When she reached my side she wrapped her arms around my waist and I leaned down to drop a chaste kiss on her lips. My sister and her friends were watching, after all.
“Okay,” she said decisively. “We can go in now.”
I frowned down at her. “What was all that about?”
That sly look was back and I knew without a doubt this was what she’d been keeping from me. “Your sister may or may not have come to me for some advice on how to be cool in high school.”
I pulled back so I could see her better. Honestly I was a little surprised that the two of them had been having private conversations without me, but I feigned outrage. “Wait a second. My little sister came to you and not me?”
She shook her head and widened her eyes, playing along. “I know, it’s a shocker, right? I mean you were just so popular.”
We both laughed at that one. Funny how something like popularity seemed so important to some people once upon a time. Namely Tina. Now she just laughed about her former obsession.
She’d been making lots of friends at college. Real friends. And I knew there was no way she’d go back to a life of frenemies and power plays. Which was why it was so confusing that she was apparently coaching Clara on that stuff.
“Please, pray tell, what lessons did Clara just learn from Briarwood’s resident mean girl?”
She swatted my arm. “Former mean girl, thank you very much. And don’t worry, this group of friends seem really nice. She’s not trying to hang out with the crowd that dissed her last year.”
I nodded. I’d met a few of Clara’s friends since I’d been home and I’d liked them. “And how exactly do you know all this?”
She shrugged. “We talk.”
“You do?”
She nodded, narrowing her eyes playfully. “You don’t know all my secrets, Morris.”
I held my hands up in innocence. “Hey, I’m just happy to hear she has someone like you to look up to.”
Her cheeks turned a cute shade of pink as she gave me a little squeeze.
“So what have you been telling her?”
She shrugged while still hugging me. “Oh, you know, all that cheesy stuff. Be yourself, make friends with people you trust. Basically, just do the opposite of what I did.”
When she stepped back from the hug, I nodded toward my sister and her friends who were still standing in a huddle a little ways off. “What was that all about?”
She gave me that impish grin I loved so much. “Being yourself is all fine and good, but everybody likes to impress their friends.”
It clicked and I started to laugh. Clara wanted to show off that she was friends with Briarwood’s former reigning queen.
She gave her hair a haughty toss in return. “I was the prom queen, you know.”
“I know, I know. I was there.” We shared a goofy smile at the memory of that epic night that had ended in more kissing than dancing, but a whole lot of once-in-a-lifetime memories.
I leaned down to give her a proper kiss because I couldn’t resist. When I pulled back I saw that dazed look I loved so much. “I’m curious. Are you still considered cool after ditching your friends and choosing a loner like me?”
She arched her brows in an eloquent yet silent “duh.” Then she patted my cheek. “Julian, I will always be cool.”
I laughed. My girl might act different these days, but she was also still the same…and I wouldn’t have her any other way.
She tugged on my hand. “Come on, we should get inside. You’re almost up.”
We spotted Brian and Alice cuddled up on a couch that lined the wall near the stage. They waved us over, but I gave Tina’s hand a squeeze. “You go on ahead, I’d better grab my guitar and get ready.”
She gave my butt a little swat. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”
“Thanks, coach.” It was the joke that would not die in our relationship. “Will you wait for me after my set?”
Her expression said I was nuts for even asking, but she winked as she gave the answer I loved to hear. “Always.”
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed The Prom Kiss, reviews are always appreciated. If you missed the first four standalone romances in the Briarwood High series, you can find them here:
Out of His League
A Whole New League
The Perfect League
The Holiday Kiss
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nbsp; For more YA romance by Maggie Dallen, check out her Summer Love series. Turn the page to read a sneak peek from her latest, full-length standalone novel in the series, Senior Week Crush.
Senior Week Crush
I’m the first to admit that I temporarily lost my mind. But really, when the guy you’ve been crushing on since forever turns your way in calculus class with that perfect smile and says, “What about you, Layla, are you going to Senior Week?”—you’re going to say yes.
Or at least, I did.
But try explaining that to Amy. My best friend was not having it. Backlit by the fluorescent glow of our high school cafeteria, she vaguely resembled a frizzy, red-headed interrogator as she peered at me across the aluminum table. I didn’t hold out on her. I described every minute detail as she ate her lunch of tuna on rye. I breathlessly told her everything, from the way his eyes met mine to the way he’d smiled in response to my answer.
At the end, her response was not what I’d hoped.
“You said yes? Why?” Her freckled nose was scrunched up in disgust like I’d just told her I’d said yes to weekly accordion lessons rather than a week of fun on the beach. I knew what she was getting at—up until that life-changing moment, I had not, in fact, planned on attending Senior Week with my peers. But he had asked. I couldn’t say no.
Before I could explain that, her face fell and she let out a little sigh of disappointment. “Oh no….”
Oh yes. She knew me too well. Sometimes it was annoying. It wasn’t like I expected her to jump for joy over this plan, but a little support would be nice. But Amy had never approved of my crush on Dylan Yates, my next door neighbor since kindergarten. And, in her defense, up until a week ago, it may have been a bit pathetic. But now the tides had turned. With just days remaining before graduation, the moment I’d been waiting for had finally arrived.
What was this cataclysmic event that shifted my fate forevermore?
The Prom Kiss (Briarwood High Book 5) Page 15