The Wrong Prom Date
Alexandra Moody
Copyright © 2020 by Alexandra Moody
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Developmental Editing by Pete Thompson
Proofreading & Copy-editing by Kelly Hartigan (XterraWeb)
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Contents
1. Hayley
2. Ethan
3. Hayley
4. Hayley
5. Ethan
6. Hayley
7. Hayley
8. Ethan
9. Hayley
10. Ethan
11. Ethan
12. Hayley
13. Hayley
14. Ethan
15. Hayley
16. Ethan
17. Hayley
18. Hayley
19. Ethan
20. Hayley
21. Ethan
22. Hayley
23. Hayley
Epilogue
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Also by Alexandra Moody
About the Author
1
Hayley
It was officially the worst day of my life.
Even worse than the day I peed my pants in kindergarten or the time I forgot my one line in the school play. My car had broken down—which in the grand scheme of things wasn’t all that bad. But, it had happened right in front of the town sheriff, who was currently giving me a ride home while a tow truck took my baby away.
I felt like I was going to die of embarrassment as I sat in the back of the cruiser and stared out the window. I was not some delinquent who got rides home from cops, and the sheriff kept giving me such stern looks in his rearview mirror that I was worried I might suddenly spill every deep, dark secret I had. Not that any secrets I had were dark. Humiliating though? Most definitely.
“Hayley, remind me again why your car was stopped in the middle of the road?” he asked.
I swallowed and tried not to look as terrified as I felt. “There was a fox,” I lied.
“A fox? I thought you said there was a squirrel…”
Crap.
“Yeah, I was getting to that. There was a foxy-looking squirrel that dashed across the road. I thought I hit it and stopped the car to get out and take a look, but then it darted off the road and into the bushes. I knew it was okay, so I went to drive away, but my car wouldn’t start.”
“I see.”
I tried to keep my face straight, refusing to crack under the pressure of his knowing stare. All I could see were his eyes in the mirror, but they were more than enough to intimidate me. I didn’t need to see the rest of his face to feel the brunt of his disapproval.
“And you didn’t think to pull over first?” he asked.
“Sir, a squirrel’s life was on the line.”
I couldn’t believe I was lying to a police officer, but I couldn’t exactly tell him the truth. My favorite song had come on the radio, and I’d stopped the car so I could belt out the lyrics and give the song the tribute it deserved. It’s not like there were any other cars around, and you just can’t sing Taylor Swift and drive at the same time. Especially not when you’re also dancing in your seat. If I could rewrite the rules of the road, that would be the first thing all new drivers would learn—don’t dance and drive; stop and sing. Unfortunately, I didn’t think Sheriff Daniels would agree.
I blew out a breath as I thought through my predicament. I was devastated that my car was officially out of action, but I was more concerned about how everyone would react. My parents would probably be angry, and my best friend Madi was never going to let me hear the end of this. She often told me I was the world’s worst driver. I was beginning to think she might have a point.
We finally reached my street, and as we pulled up at the front of my house, I glanced up at the windows, scanning them for any prying eyes. I’d never been more eager to get out of a car in my life, but I didn’t want witnesses either. It was bad enough I had to tell my parents about my broken car; they didn’t need to see my shameful ride with the sheriff too. Thankfully, it seemed the coast was clear.
“Well, thanks for the ride, Sheriff Daniels.” I went to open the door only to find it locked, and a tendril of fear shot through me. Maybe, he’d changed his mind about dropping me off at home. Could he really arrest me for having car troubles though? I really hoped not, because I knew I wouldn’t do well in prison. I spoke without thinking all the time—which probably wouldn’t go down well with my cell mates. Plus, jumpsuits just weren’t my thing.
The sheriff swiveled in his seat and peered over his shoulder at me through the metal bars that separated us. “I hope this is the last time I see you in the back seat of my car, Hayley. Next time you think you hit a squirrel, make sure you pull over before coming to a stop.”
“Yes, sir.”
He nodded, and my heart seemed to start beating again as I heard the lock on the back door being released. I scrambled from the car, all too happy to escape. I took several deep breaths as I stepped onto my driveway. I could almost taste the freedom in the air around me. It was a crisp, fresh sensation that actually seemed to fill my lungs, unlike the back of the cop car, which had been so hot and suffocating.
The sheriff didn’t need to warn me—I had no intention of seeing the back seat of that car again. I was done breaking rules, which sadly meant no more stopping in the middle of the road to sing. I wasn’t even going to risk getting a parking ticket from now on.
I had barely taken three steps down my driveway when I heard a car door clicking shut. I stilled, and my eyes darted in the direction of the sound. Luckily, it had come from the house next door to ours and not Sheriff Daniel’s car, which was still idling on the curb behind me.
The last thing I needed was some nosy neighbor witnessing my walk of shame, but as my eyes landed on the broad shoulders of Owen Beck, all thought of my shameful trip home fled from me. My brain seemed to shut down, and my mind went blank, because Owen was the last person I expected to see getting out of the car next door.
I blinked several times as I waited for my brain to reboot, and it took several long moments before I could form a coherent thought. Owen had always had that effect on me, and it seemed things hadn’t changed.
What on Earth was he doing here? It was the middle of the school semester, and Owen should have been busy at the prestigious academy he went to on a football scholarship. He’d been there throughout high school, and I’d only caught the odd glimpse of him when he visited home over the holidays. It was certainly not the holidays now, so his presence left me baffled. I tried to come up with a good reason for his mysterious return, but I was drawing a total blank.
I should have just gone up to him and welcomed him home—like a normal person would—but my body was frozen in place, and all I could do was watch as he began walking toward the house with his mom. He didn’t look in my direction, but that might have been a good thing. Thanks to an intense after-school cheer practice and my car breaking down, I was a bit of a mess tonight. The fact I was watching him like some infatuated schoolgirl wouldn’t have been a good look for me either.
It was hard not to notice how unbelievably gorgeous Owen was these days. He’d put on a heap of muscle since I’d last seen him, and it seemed like he’d gotten even hotter—if that was possible. Had it really only been a few months since his last visit home? Because the amount of bulk he’d acquired in that time just couldn’t be humanly possible.
It wasn’t until he was inside the house and
firmly out of sight that I managed to shake off my surprise at seeing Owen and start moving again. It was as though I’d woken from a dream, and my limbs were tingling like they had been asleep for hours. My hearing seemed to start working again too, because I suddenly heard the car trunk slam shut and finally noticed that Owen hadn’t been alone with his mom.
His brother Ethan stood by the car with two large duffel bags hung over each of his shoulders. He was glaring in the direction of his house, but he didn’t immediately move toward it. It was hard to believe the guy could be Owen’s twin, as the two of them couldn’t have been more different.
The Beck brothers may have shared the same blue eyes, but that was where all similarity between the two of them ended. Owen had dirty-blond hair, a constant tan, and large muscles from all the football he played. Ethan’s hair was dark and constantly messy. He always seemed to have a light spray of stubble across his jaw, and the glasses he wore added to his nerdy vibe. He wasn’t doing himself any favors with the lack of effort he put into his wardrobe every day either. The baggy band T-shirts, old jeans, and ratty sneakers were hardly the stuff of a teen girl’s daydreams.
The real difference between the two of them lay in their personalities though. While Owen commanded the attention of every room he entered, his twin tended to avoid the room altogether. Ethan still went to Lincoln High with me, but you wouldn’t know it. He always seemed to disappear into the background, so it wasn’t difficult to see why Owen had always been more popular.
I doubted I’d ever said more than two words to Ethan, but that didn’t stop me from making my way toward him. If anyone would know why Owen was home, it would be his brother.
“Hey, Ethan,” I called out.
He was adjusting one of the bags across his shoulders, but his movements stilled at the sound of my voice, and he very slowly turned to look at me. His eyes widened slightly as he watched me walk toward him, and he pushed his glasses up his nose as his initial surprise turned to confusion. I couldn’t really blame him for reacting that way. We’d been living next door to each other for years, and I’d never randomly greeted him before. I’d probably be shocked myself if he struck up a conversation with me.
Several long seconds passed before he finally responded. “Hayley, can I help you?” His voice was deep and surprisingly smooth; it wasn’t hard to miss the caution in his tone though. At least he knew who I was, which I guessed was a good start.
I formed a large smile in response. I couldn’t just waltz right up to him and start interrogating him about his brother, so I tried a different tactic. “Looks like you’re the one who needs help. Do you want a hand with those bags?” I nodded toward the heavy luggage weighing down on his shoulders. Despite the size of the bags, he didn’t seem to be struggling with them.
He quickly shook his head though. “Thanks, but I’ve got them.”
He went to turn away, and I saw my window of opportunity closing. “Your brother’s back in town?” I sputtered out. The words had rushed out so fast it would be a miracle if he heard them correctly.
Ethan whipped his head back in my direction, and a frown creased his brow. His whole body seemed to tense, and I got the feeling he wasn’t as happy as I was about his brother’s return. “Well, you just saw him walk up our driveway, so I’d say that answers your question.”
“Not really,” I muttered, earning myself a hint of a smile from Ethan. “Let me rephrase. Why is your brother back in town?”
The smile quickly disappeared, and his expression darkened. “Please don’t tell me you’re a member of his fan club…”
“Of course not,” I scoffed. I wasn’t just a member; I was the president.
I had been in love with Owen for many years now, but I wasn’t about to admit that to Ethan. Owen Beck was completely unobtainable, and the fewer people who knew about my infatuation with him the better. Not that I was alone in my crush. Even in middle school, he’d been like a god walking amongst us mere mortals. All the girls had been after him. Unlike most girls though, I hadn’t put that crush to bed when we started high school and Owen left town. Every time I saw him, my heart still fluttered like crazy, and I was being slammed with the same feeling again now.
It was funny because I hadn’t always liked Owen. I actually used to believe he was completely stuck up, but then one day in English class, he’d surprised me.
We’d all been given a poetry assignment for homework, and Owen’s was so good the teacher had asked him to read it out in front of the class. I could immediately see why, because the poem was beautiful. It had shown there was so much more to him than the star footballer the school knew and loved. There was a thoughtful and deep soul buried beneath the layers of humor and frivolity. His words had laid his troubled heart bare, and I’d fallen for him right there in class. It certainly didn’t hurt that he was gorgeous and had only grown hotter over the years.
“So, why’s Owen home?” I prompted.
“Why do you want to know so bad?”
My cheeks warmed, and I struggled to maintain eye contact with him. “I don’t.” I did. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. I was just making polite conversation. I’ll see you around, Ethan.”
I turned and rushed up the driveway before he could respond or before my cheeks flamed bright red and gave me away, just like they always did when I was embarrassed. I didn’t need Ethan Beck uncovering my secret crush on his brother. I’d have to leave the mystery of Owen’s return to Lincoln for another day.
My embarrassment carried me inside but was quickly replaced by a flurry of nerves as I remembered how this stressful and emotional afternoon had begun. My car was broken, and I needed to tell my parents. I slowly traipsed through the house in search of my mom. Dad would still be at work, so at least I wouldn’t have to face him yet. I knocked on the door of Mom’s office, the feeling of trepidation only increasing as she called out for me to come in.
I cracked the door open, easing my way into the room. Like always, her office was a mess, and today, it looked like a curtain factory had just exploded in here. Mom worked as an interior designer, but she wasn’t exactly the most organized person, so she never put any of her things away.
“Hayley, honey, you’re home,” Mom tittered, flashing me a smile. She grabbed two pieces of material and brought them over to me. “I’m replacing those drab curtains in the family room. Which do you prefer, the hunter green or the emerald green?” Her eyes were bright with enthusiasm, like she’d just asked me to choose between a family vacation to Disneyland or a trip to SeaWorld. She always got this way about her work. Mom was one of those people who lived life at the emotional extremes of the spectrum. She never expressed herself in a half-hearted way.
“Er, neither?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she gave a decisive nod of her head. “Yes, you’re completely right. We should be looking at something more neutral.” She turned to walk back to her desk and started searching for more options. “How was your day at school?”
“It was fine.”
“And cheerleading practice went well?”
“Uh, sure.” Wow, I was really struggling to tell her what happened with the car. Mom was the understanding parent, so it shouldn’t be so hard. I was usually quite good about owning up to my mistakes. The car breaking down wasn’t even my fault, but the ride home in the cop car had freaked me out. Suddenly, it felt like I’d done something wrong.
“Is Laurie still pushing you hard?”
“She wouldn’t be Laurie if she wasn’t pushing,” I replied. The captain of our cheer squad had made me run laps of the field for most of practice because I’d been stupid enough to stop for a drink of water. Apparently, that meant I was lacking in stamina. I wasn’t Laurie’s favorite person, so my punishments were always particularly brutal, and today’s was no different. I wasn’t sure why she disliked me so much, but I had a feeling it was because I didn’t worship her like most of the other girls on the team.
It would have been so easy to keep
chatting about cheerleading, but I knew I needed to tell Mom the truth about my car. I squared my shoulders, knowing it was now or never. And never wasn’t really an option because I desperately wanted my car to get fixed.
“Mom, my car broke down today.” I said it quickly, like I was ripping off a Band-Aid. My face even scrunched in preparation like I was preparing for the shot of pain that came when you ripped the adhesive from your skin.
“What?” Mom spun to face me, a look of concern etched across her features. “What happened?”
“Well…” I launched into my explanation about how I’d stopped the car while driving home so I could sing a Taylor Swift song. That, at least, Mom understood, and she nodded in agreement. She probably would have done the same thing, as we both tended to sing with a lot of hand movements—especially when it came to Taylor’s songs. When I got to the part about my car needing to be towed away and the sheriff driving me home, she rushed forward and gathered me up in a big hug.
“Oh, my poor little girl, that must have been so terrifying for you.”
I smothered a laugh. I wasn’t sure if terrifying was the right word, but at least she wasn’t angry with me. “The tow truck driver took the car to Mike’s garage,” I said, pulling out of her hug. “He told me we needed to give Mike a call tomorrow to see what the problem is.”
Mom nodded seriously. “I’ll push back my first meeting in the morning so I can drive you to school.”
“Mom, you don’t need to do that. I can probably convince one of my friends to give me a ride.” Our place was slightly out of the way, but I was sure it would be fine for one morning.
The Wrong Prom Date Page 1