by Caitlyn Dare
I push the thoughts far from my head.
My heart aches enough without thinking about what did or didn’t happen between them.
But Mom clearly hasn’t got the memo when she asks, “Have you spoken to him?”
I press my lips together, shaking my head gently.
“Oh, sweetheart, you should. I didn’t want to interfere because Lord only knows I’ve done enough of that already. But he sent you something.”
“He did?” That has my attention.
A knowing smile twinkles in her eyes. “Give me one minute.”
Mom disappears and I grab my cell, re-reading all of Ace’s messages. I can practically feel his desperation in every word. But he broke my trust.
He broke part of us.
And I’m not sure I can just forgive him.
Not this time.
Even if it makes me stubborn and foolish.
His last text is the hardest to read.
Ace: If you want space, I’ll give it to you... but I’ll never stop loving you Remi, ever. I can’t.
Mom reappears with a big box in her hands, and I quickly switch off my cell.
“Calling someone?” she teases, and I scrunch my nose up at her.
“No one important.” The lie sours on my tongue.
Ace isn’t important, he’s... everything.
But my emotions are all wired wrong. The hurt and pain of my past are inexplicably woven in the love I have for him.
It’s very confusing.
“I haven’t opened it.” Mom settles the box on the bed, pulling me from my thoughts.
With shaky hands, I lift off the lid and dig through the layers of tissue paper.
“Oh my gosh,” Mom breathes as my fingers meet lace, and I gently remove the dress from the box.
“A dress. He got me a dress.”
“Not just any dress, sweetheart. That is one perfect dress.”
She’s not wrong. I gingerly climb off the bed and move over to the mirror, holding the dress up against my body. It’s a black skater dress with a lace hem and matching lace Bardot bodice and off the shoulder sleeves.
It’s perfect. Pretty but not too feminine. It’s exactly the type of dress I’d pick for myself if I had to.
“Now if that isn’t a sign of a boy in love, I don’t know what is.” She reaches over to pick up the note inside the box and I pluck it out of her hand.
Every girl should get one perfect dance.
Come to Homecoming with me Remi, and I’ll explain everything, I promise.
It’s you and me baby, always.
A xo
Damn him.
Damn Ace and his persistent texts and beautiful gifts and heartfelt notes. He isn’t playing fair. Chipping away at my resolve until he thinks I’ll crack.
“Well, don’t just stand there staring at the damn thing. Put it on.” Mom gives me an encouraging nod.
“I don’t know, Mom. Homecoming really isn’t my thing.”
“Remi.” She stands and comes over to me, touching my cheek. “You are a beautiful, brave, and headstrong young woman. Surely you’re not going to let the likes of Michaela or a little fight with Ace stop you from going to Homecoming?”
“But Ace...”
“Loves you. He loves you, Remi. It’s written all over his face every time he looks at you. I’ll be honest with you, sweetheart, his intensity toward you scares me a little. You’re both so young... but something tells me he would move mountains to make you happy.”
I clutch the dress to my body. I had no intention of going to Homecoming, but Mom’s right. I’ve spent my entire life living in the shadows at Sterling Prep.
Maybe it's time to step into the light.
Maybe it’s my time to shine.
“Do you think I can wear my sneakers?” I ask, and Mom’s soft laughter wraps around me like a blanket.
“Come on,” she says. “I think I might have something that will work.”
I’m adding the final touches to my make-up when I hear something outside the kitchen doors.
My heart flutters at the prospect of seeing Ace. I haven’t texted him back yet, so it doesn’t surprise me that he’s grown impatient and taken matters into his own hands.
Blotting my lips one last time, I walk over to the back door and pull it open. But there’s nothing there.
Frowning, I step outside. “Ace?” I call only to be met with silence. A shudder rolls through me.
“Remi?”
“I’m out here, Mom.”
“What is it?” She meets me at the door.
“Nothing, I guess. I thought I heard someone...” I glance back, but there’s nothing but the empty sidewalk and the beach behind that.
“Probably just the wind.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Are you all set? You look stunning, sweetheart.” Mom holds my shoulders, taking me in.
My hair is in a relaxed updo, leaving a few waves loose around my face. It draws attention to the low-cut neckline of my dress. I searched for my locket again earlier but couldn’t find it, so I’ve opted for a plain velvet choker. It looks killer alongside the black ankle boots Mom gave me.
Ace is going to die when he sees me.
At least, I hope so.
My nerves only grow as Mom drives me to Sterling Prep. Homecoming is always held in the Old Hall, one of the beautiful brick buildings on campus. Hadley had tried to talk me into going to the football game beforehand, but I didn’t want to sit through another game alone.
It’s going to be hard enough walking into the dance alone, but it’s something I need to do. I can’t really explain it, but it feels like everything has been leading to this point.
Mom stops right outside the Old Hall and twists around to me. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” I give her a tight smile.
“You’ve got this, sweetheart. Gosh, Remi, I’m so proud of you. I hope you know that.” She leans in and gives me a little hug, careful not to snag my hair.
“Okay,” I take a deep breath. “Here goes nothing.”
I’ve arrived fashionably late, so I know Hadley is already inside. But I don’t know if Ace is here yet.
Mom watches with glossy eyes as I climb out of the car and make my way inside. The music is loud, drowning out the laughter and chatter of my classmates beyond. Everyone is probably high on the win. I heard from Hadley that the Seahawks won their game by a landslide.
“Holy crap, girl.” She spots me and hurries over. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you. Ace got me the dress.”
“No shit.” Her smile is too sweet.
“Hads... what did you do?”
“Who, me?”
“Ace called you, didn’t he?” Of course he’d had some help. I should have known.
“If it’s any consolation, I only gave him your size and a list of do-nots. The rest was one hundred percent all him. And the boy did good.” She grabs my hand and makes me twirl. “He’s going to freak when he sees you.”
“About that.” I lean in, lowering my voice. “Is he here?”
“You mean you didn’t call him yet? Remi!”
“I know, I know, I just... I feel like I’m giving in too easily again.”
“Well, if you want to drive him wild, get in there, grab the first guy you see, and shake that fine ass all over him. Ace won’t know what’s hit him.”
“I didn’t come to cause any trouble, Hads. I think we’ve all had enough of that.”
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I came to have fun.” Her gaze drops to her purse and she waggles her brows. “Wanna join me in the restroom for a little pre-party pick-me-up?”
My eyes grow to saucers and she giggles. “Vodka, Remi. I snuck in a bottle of vodka. Geez, what do you think I was talking about?”
“Sorry, I...”
“It’s cool. But come on, we need to hurry. They’re going to announce the king and queen soon and I’m rooting for Michaela to get knocked off he
r throne.”
“I think we both know that’s unlikely, Hads,” I grumble as we both walk hand in hand to the restroom. “She’s a sure win.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” She shrugs, but I don’t miss the faint smirk on her face. “I have a feeling the odds may be in our favor tonight.”
The student committee has gone all out for Homecoming. Blue and white balloons decorate big round tables, and silver streamers hang from the ceiling and wrap around the wall lamps. It’s like Seahawk school spirit puked up all over the place. I want to hate it. Part of me does hate it, but as I stand on the edge of the dance floor watching Conner twirl a tipsy Hadley around like a rag doll, I can’t help but smile. Maybe it’s the vodka running through my veins, or the fact that I feel beautiful in the dress Ace bought me, but I don’t feel their stares or hear the hum of their whispers.
I do, however, feel the person step up behind me. “Ace—" I spin around, the words dying on the tip of my tongue. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Is that any way to greet an old friend?” Bexley sneers, swaying slightly on his feet. He’s buzzed, his pupils blown and jaw tight. “Looking good, Remi Bear.”
“You should get lost, Bexley, before Ace—" I see him across the room, my body humming with nervous energy.
A low growl rumbles in Bexley’s chest as he glances over his shoulder. “You have got to be fucking kidding me. You’re still going to go back to that piece of shit after he played you?”
“Newsflash, Bexley, even if I’m not with Ace, I’ll never be yours. What part of that don’t you get?”
Ace starts toward us, murder in his eyes. I let out a low groan. This isn’t going to end well.
“You should go, Bexley. I mean it.”
He chuckles darkly, leaning in. “You and me, we’ve got unfinished business...” He leaves the warning hanging as he saunters away, hands in his pockets, wearing his trademark entitled-asshole smile.
I turn to face the dance floor again, giving myself a second to catch my breath. Bexley is becoming unhinged, and I know I need to tell Ace about the texts and the fact that I’m pretty sure he’s been stalking the house.
This time, when I feel someone behind me, I don’t falter. Ace’s strong arms wrap around me from behind, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “Do you have any idea how good you look?”
“Do you have any idea how mad I am with you?”
“I know, Princess. But right now, I don’t want to fight. I want to dance with the girl who owns not only my heart but my balls as well.” He slips around me.
He looks so good in dark slacks and a black dress shirt. The sleeves are pushed up to his elbows and he’s left his collar open, giving a hint at the ink and muscle beneath.
He looks devastating, and my heart races in my chest that I get to call him mine.
Even if he drives me completely insane sometimes.
“So what do you say, Remi?” He holds out his hand, nothing but love and lust shining in his eyes. “Dance with me?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ace
She tenses before me, and I already know what her answer is going to be. I don’t want to fucking be here dressed up like an idiot, yet I am.
For her.
“Please, Princess. Everything ends tonight, and it’ll be just you and me again.”
“It should be you and me now, Ace.”
“I just need you to trust me.”
“And I just need you to stop repeating yourself,” she quips.
Reaching out, I take her hand and pull her into my body. “One dance, Princess. I need you.”
She shudders against me and I know I’ve got her. “One dance. And keep your hands where everyone can see them.”
I move us as one out to the dance floor, my entire body relaxing at just having her beside me. “Do you have to ruin all my fun, Princess?”
Lifting her arms so they rest over my shoulders, I wrap my own around her waist, ensuring there’s no space between us. “That dress looks incredible on you,” I whisper in her ear. I knew it would the second I saw it. I may have had some instructions from Hadley, but I didn’t really need them. It was like the dress had Remi’s name written all over it.
“Thank you, it’s beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as the girl wearing it.”
“Ace,” she warns. ‘Your smooth lines aren’t going to work.”
“That wasn’t a line, Princess. It was just the truth.”
We move together while others dance around us, but I pay them no attention. Nor the music which has a much higher tempo to the imaginary one Remi and I are dancing to. I’m too focused on having my girl back in my arms.
“I’ve missed you,” I whisper, holding her a little tighter.
“Then you shouldn’t have shut me out.”
She might be holding on to me, but she’s far from being relaxed.
“I had to. You’ll understand why soon.”
I’m so lost to the feeling of her pressed up against me that I don’t notice someone approaching.
“Um… Ace, what is this?” I bristle as the high pitch of Michaela’s voice flows through me.
I glance over to find her wearing the smallest dress I think I’ve ever seen and with her hand on her cocked hip.
“We’re dancing. How about you go and find someone to do the same with. Most of the team are free. I know how you feel about them.” I wink, remembering her words from the other night.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. And with her,” she spits, looking over at Remi as if she’s nothing but a bit of shit on her shoe.
“Fuck you, Michaela. I’m dancing with my boyfriend.” I can’t help but smile that she still calls me that. She might be angry, but I know I’ve not lost her. I’m also pretty confident that she’ll forgive me once the truth is revealed. “Go and sniff at someone who isn’t already taken.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Michaela says patronizingly. “Ace is taken. He’s with me now. Poor, delusional little Remi,” she mutters, slipping her hand through my arm and trying to pull me away.
I can’t help but laugh, because if anyone is delusional here it’s not Remi.
A crackle comes over the sound system, stopping Michaela from trying to peel me from Remi. She looks toward the stage where Principal Vager stands with a microphone in his hand.
“In a few short minutes, we’re going to crown your Homecoming king and queen. In the meantime, we’ve got a short video clip to show you.”
I keep my face blank of emotion despite the fact that my insides are having a party with what’s about to happen.
“I hope you’re ready for some Sterling Prep school spirit.” I couldn’t have written a better script for Vager if I’d tried.
He nods his head at the IT nerd who’s in the control room, the exact one who’s been paid a hefty sum to switch the tapes at the last minute.
The room falls silent as the projector lights up the wall. It’s fucking huge, and the feeling of sweet, sweet victory fills my veins.
The screen crackles to life like an old home movie before our one and only cheer bitch fills the wall before us. A collective gasp sounds out as they get a look at their queen in all her naked glory.
“Oh my God,” Michaela screeches. “What the hell is this? Turn it off,” she cries. “Turn it the fuck off now.” She runs for the stage as Remi turns her eyes on me. They narrow in accusation but she already knows that I’m behind this. She doesn't need me to confirm it.
Laughter starts up around the room and the guys start to hoot and holler as they take in Michaela, naked and tied to the chair in my bedroom. Only no one can see where she is, because behind her is just a cream wall. I was quick to make sure there would be nothing to tie this to me.
“What do I think of the football team?” Her voice comes through the speakers, repeating the question I’d just asked her. The room falls silent and tension begins to mount as everyone waits for her answer. She scoffs and rolls her eyes before givin
g her honest reply. “They’re a bunch of cockless douchebags. They all think they’re God’s gift to football, going straight to the NFL. Most of them can’t catch a cold, let alone a fucking football.”
The movie crackles again, cutting to another scene. She’s still bound, but I’ve zoomed in, just to ensure everyone gets a good view.
“The cheerleaders are hairbrained idiots as well. I only hang around them because they make me look good. It would be nice to have a fucking intelligent conversation for once but no, hair this, make-up that. Ugh, it’s exhausting.”
The tension in the room is palpable as Michaela continues to bash those who are meant to be her friends.
“Turn it off,” she screams, racing toward the control room. She’ll be shit out of luck, because those tech guys have locked themselves in, as per my instructions.
“Okay, okay. Everyone settle down. The show is over,” Vager booms over the sound system. Unfortunately for him, he comes to stand right in front of Michaela’s crotch just as I zoom in again.
The entire school erupts with laughter as he looks around for support. It’s fucking chaos as the cheer squad moves toward their captain, their faces furious, while Michaela rattles at the door, attempting to stop her very public social suicide. The entire crowd seems to surge forward to get a better look at the scene unfolding before them.
And I stand there, feeling better than I have in a long fucking time.
“Okay, let’s announce our king and queen, shall we?” Vager tries to maintain order, despite the naked cheer captain behind his head.
Hardly anyone is paying him any attention as he reaches into the envelope in his hand. “And your Homecoming king is…” he booms, trying to get everyone’s attention. I see Bexley step forward out of the corner of my eye, and a smirk curls at his lips. He seems to care more about a fucking crown than the words that just fell from Michaela’s lips, but then, I guess they were mostly true. He is a cockless douchebag.
“Hayden Lincoln.”
The look on Bexley’s face is fucking priceless. He’s already halfway to the stage, ready to accept what he thinks is his God-given right. Once he realizes he shouldn’t be moving, he very quickly disappears into the crowd as a very shocked looking Hayden emerges, cheered on by the rest of the team. None of which pay Bexley any attention.