by A. R. Perry
I make it to my front door but pause with my hand on the knob. Why the heck is he here so late? He hasn’t tried to talk to me at all, and now he’s outside my house in the middle of the night.
Chewing on my lip, I rock on my heels. I guess it’s better for him to yell at me with no one else around. Half of me is certain he’s here to tell me to go to hell. The other half is wondering if he finally read my letter.
A very embarrassing, detailed letter of my feelings for him.
Does he want to reject me in person?
I scroll through the messages he’s sent. There’s only one more that says he’s outside. It came in well over twenty minutes ago.
He’s been sitting out there waiting for me to respond for twenty minutes.
There’s no way he would wait around for that long just to tell me off.
I step into the cool night air, nearly choking on the frantic beat of my heart when I see him leaning against his truck next to one of the trees that line the long driveway.
He’s staring at his phone, his thumbs tapping on the screen. The slight glow illuminates his face and makes my stomach flutter. Even in such dim light, he’s gorgeous. How did it take me so many years to realize that?
He lets out a long breath, deflating his shoulders, then glances up, meeting my gaze. Even from where he’s standing, I can see his whole body tense up. Nervously, I smooth down my sleep-ruffled hair and walk toward him, each step measured so I don’t fall on my face.
“Hey,” I whisper when I’m close enough for him to hear.
“Hey.” He slips his phone into his pocket and crosses his arms over his chest. “Thought you weren’t coming.”
“Had to make sure I didn’t wake up my parents.” I glance down, noticing he’s dressed in workout gear. “Were you at the gym or something?”
“I was gonna go on a run, but jumped in my car and drove around for a while and ended up here instead.”
“Oh.”
This is awkward. It’s beyond awkward. Never in my life have I been in a situation that makes me want to flee and stay in equal measure. The cautious part of me is screaming to leave before he crushes my heart all over the pavement. The other part, the super morbid one, wants to stay. Maybe if he lays it all out there and tells me how much he hates me, I’ll be able to move on.
“So…” I kick at a nonexistent rock, needing something to do with my feet.
“Why’d you lie?”
I wince. Guess we’re jumping right into this. “I didn’t mean to. At first, I just wanted your help to get an in with your crowd. But then things spiraled, and you and I…” I swallow, glancing away because I won’t be able to handle seeing any kind of revulsion on his face. He’s got Cristy back and I don’t come anywhere close to her.
“You and I what?” he asks as his shoes scuff on the ground, coming into view seconds before his finger curls under my chin and lifts it until I’m meeting his gaze.
Words catch in my throat and I have to choke back tears. How could I turn into someone so ugly all for revenge? I ruined what Carter and I could have had when I should have been honest from the beginning. I almost ruined friendships.
“Are you and Cristy back together?” I blurt out.
“No.” He slips his hand around the back of my neck and tugs me closer. “You and I what?”
He’s not with her? I didn’t think my heart rate could be any faster. I was wrong. “Did you read my letter?”
“No.” He reaches into his back pocket, coming out with the white envelope.
The edges are torn and ripped open. Freaking Jordan.
“Why didn’t you read it?”
“I wanted to hear whatever you had to say in person.”
Swallowing is dang near impossible with my nerves wreaking havoc on me. “I saw you and Cristy together. You looked together together.”
His thumb rubs circles at my nape. “She wants to be, but I don’t have feelings for her anymore. I kinda have a thing for someone else. She gets that now.”
All signs point to that someone else being me. Why else would he be here? But I have to hear it straight from him. “If you say that someone else is Claire, I’m gonna scream. Don’t think I can take that hit twice.”
Laughter crinkles his eyes. “I’m sure she’s a sweet girl, but I prefer redheads with a killer aim who inspire me to be bold and fight for what I want. Like not being a lawyer.”
“What? You talked to him? How did it go? What did you say?” The questions are rapid-fire, layering on top of each other to the point where I’m not even sure they are coherent.
“It went better than I thought and for the first time in a long time, I think I might be in control of my future. Well, one aspect of it. I'm kinda nervous about the other really big part of my future. So, you gotta tell me…you and I what?”
Sighing, I let my fingers slip into his soft hair. His eyelids close and I swear he shudders. With his gaze no longer on me, I find the courage to blurt out my next words. “You and I are everything I never knew I wanted. And I screwed it up because I got a crazy idea in my head that I’m not good enough the way I am. Once I stopped fighting my feelings for you I tried to back off, but I didn’t know how to tell you the truth.”
His eyes pop open, fire burning with such intensity I shudder. “What’s the truth?”
Might as well lay it all out there. “That I lied to you to get back at my ex all in the name of some lame experiment. But then I realized how much I enjoyed hanging out and I did something even stupider and fell for you. Though if I’m being honest, I think I’ve always had a thing for you. Ever since you rescued me from my tower.”
A ripping sound cuts through my last few words. I glance down and watch as Carter tears my letter in half and then half again. Over and over until it’s nothing but confetti.
My mouth pops open in shock. I spent hours writing that. “You didn’t read it.”
He shrugs, letting the pieces float to the ground. “I don’t need to. Like I said, I wanted you tell me in person.”
“There were some really great lines in there. I’m talking my sun and stars life level poetry.”
He laughs, pulling me back into his arms. “Would you shut up and kiss me already?”
“Does this mean you forgive me? Because if not—” His lips silence my next words, knocking them right out of my head.
My insides turn to Jell-O as he tilts his head to deepen the kiss. His fingers knot into my baggy shirt, bringing me flush against him. At this moment, all I care about is us. My parents could walk out and ground me and it would be worth it.
I guess there was one thing I didn't lie to Carter about. I was unknowingly searching for my dream guy.
Who knew he was under my nose the whole time?
“Okay. That’s enough.” I bat at Blythe’s hand as she tries to apply blush to my already makeup-covered face. We’ve locked ourselves in my room for hours getting ready and I've reached my limit.
She pouts, jutting out a ruby-red lip that matches her sparkly dress. “You’re ruining my vision.”
“The boys have been waiting for twenty minutes. We’re going to be late.”
“John texted me that if we don’t get down there pronto they will go as each other’s dates,” Claire says from her spot on my bed, layers of black tulle swallowing her lower half.
It’s taken a while, but I no longer flinch whoever she mentions John. In fact, we’ve kinda sorta become friends, which is a whole other level of weird. Even Carter and him have started hanging out. They might even like each other more than they like us.
Blythe sighs, tossing the brush on my counter. “Whatever. I should take longer that way the three of us can go stag together.”
Claire and I share a look. Despite several guys asking Blythe out, she decided to go alone. I have an inkling it has something to do with Jordan, but every time I bring it up she throws something at me. Nailed me in the face once with the remote. Considering I’m wearing a cream-colored dress at
the moment, I don’t want to chance it.
“Our dates are just for show.” I bump her with my shoulder. “It’s not like they’ll be able to keep up with us on the dance floor.”
The completely honest statement has Blythe lightening up.
“Not with these moves.” Blythe jiggles her hips, swinging her arms around in the most uncoordinated fashion.
“Save it for the dance floor, killer,” I say, ducking out of the way before I get hit in the face. The last thing I want is photos with me and a black eye at prom. There will be enough gossip as it is.
Ever since things blew up between Carter and me, we’ve kept a low profile. Half the school thinks we’re done. The other half have been speculating that we got back together. We haven’t clarified either way. Even Cristy has been tight-lipped and less murdery, which has got to be the most shocking thing I’ve ever seen.
Tonight, though, we’re going to step out as boyfriend and girlfriend for the first time. The very idea of a fresh wave of gossip has my tummy in knots.
“Ready?” Claire hops off the bed, slipping her feet into a pair of strappy kitten heels.
“Whatever. Let’s get this over with,” Blythe grumbles as she makes her way to the door.
Claire and I grin at each other as we trail behind. So, okay, I promised no more lies ever since the whole Carter thing blew up in my face, but I might have fibbed a bit tonight.
She’ll thank me later.
My mom awws as we make our way downstairs. The light from her phone flashes one too many times, capturing our descent.
“You girls look lovely.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Thanks, Mrs. G,” Blythe and Claire say in unison.
“The boys are waiting outside.” Mom hands out our purses. “I put twenty dollars inside each. Curfew is one. I’ve warned the boys to be perfect gentlemen or face my wrath.”
“Mom,” I scold. She loves Carter and couldn't be happier that we're together, but even so, she’s got the overly protective mother thing down pat.
“Call me if you need anything,” she continues as if I hadn't spoken. “And have fun! Take lots of photos.”
“I love you!” I call over my shoulder as I open the door.
Carter looks up the second I step out, and my heart almost stops. He’s got a black suit on with a black shirt. No tie. No bells and whistles. Yet, he’s still the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever laid eyes on.
His hand lands on his chest and he mouths beautiful.
I wink, my attention drifting to Blythe as she skids to a stop next to me, her glare focused on the guy, leaning against the door of the limo next to Nash and his date. When their eyes lock, he stands up straight, his mouth popping open for a second in awe before scowling.
“What did you two do?” Blythe growls, digging her red nails into my arm.
“Us?” I feign innocence as Claire snickers beside me. “We didn’t do anything. The boys must have invited him.
“I’m going to kill you.”
“Or thank me.” I pry free of her grip and bound down the stairs, launching myself into Carter’s arms. “You look amazing.”
His cheeks tinge pink. “My dad took me shopping. It’s a rental.”
“I went shopping in my mom’s closet.” At the last minute I decided it was bad luck to wear the dress I chose when John and I were still together. Besides, it looks better on Claire.
“Isn’t prom dress shopping supposed to be a big deal?”
“I think you’ve seen too many movies.” I kiss the tip of his nose, thankful Blythe applied smudge-proof lipstick. “Take it from someone who knows firsthand. They can put wild ideas in your head.”
“Let’s go,” Blythe snaps, shoving Jordan as she opens the limo door.
“Think they’re gonna end up dating?” Carter asks on a laugh.
I watch the way Jordan follows her every move with his eyes. There’s something going on there, and one of these days it will come out. “Definitely.”
My heels click on the ground as Carter sets me down. “Think it will be a disaster?”
“Definitely,” he laughs, taking my hand. “I left my car at the hotel in case we need to make a swift exit. Something tells me they’ll either end up killing each other by the end of the night or making out.”
“My bet is on both,” Claire says as she passes. John laughs, tucking his arm around her shoulder and whispering something in her ear.
Still so weird. But it makes sense. They’re perfect for each other. I should have seen that earlier.
“Ready, beautiful?” Carter holds my hand, bending into a formal bow.
“So ready.” He grins, knowing I mean more than prom.
Junior year is ending. We have the entire summer together, well, between work and football practice. Before we know it senior year will be here and I can’t wait to see what it has in store.
About the Author
A.R. Perry is an American-born author who has lived all over the US due to her wanderlust husband. She has a degree in photography and massage therapy yet somehow works in human resources.
When she's not working, reading, or writing she can be found sleeping because the day is practically done. Thank goodness for coffee, chocolate, and Panic! At The Disco or nothing would ever get done.
Also by A.R. Perry
The Dating Dare
Heartbreak Café
One of the Guys
Melt My Heart