by Hart, Rebel
I grinned. “Thanks, Mom.”
“I won’t make a big deal out of it. I’ve only taken a few. And I’ll only take one of us together.”
“I know you’ll steal some from Allison’s parents later.”
She snickered. “You’re damn right, I will.”
The two of us started laughing and I ignored the sounds of the cameras. Mom held her arms out for me and I hugged her tightly. I tried my best not to cry, too. Because Allison insisted I wear makeup for the night. She’d worked on my face for almost an hour, trying to get everything right. The last thing I needed I needed to be doing was ruining it with tears.
“I love you so much,” Mom whispered.
“I love you too, Mom.”
Allison called out. “Hey! Rae!”
I released Mom. “What?”
“Did someone order a limo?”
I paused. “No, why?”
“Because a limo just pulled into the driveway.”
All of us looked at one another before Mom and I started rushing down the steps. Allison and her parents weren’t too far behind us. And just as we got to the front door, the doorbell rang. Allison squealed her head off. I heard Michael laughing behind the door. But when Clint’s chuckle followed behind, I felt myself blush.
“You ready for this, honey?”
I looked over at Mom. “I’m very ready.”
Allison’s father opened the door and there the boys stood. Michael, in a white tuxedo suit with a black collar and a black pair of pants. His button-front shirt was purple. The same color purple as Allison’s dress. And his boutonniere was pale yellow. Just like the corsage he had for her in his hand.
“You look—”
Michael was stunned speechless. I smiled as Allison wrapped her arms around him. Her parents snapped pictures as Michael slipped the corsage onto her wrist and the two of them posed for pictures. I stood off to the side with Mom, taking in how happy and wonderful my two best friends looked.
Then I felt someone appear at my side.
“She doesn’t hold a candle to you, Rae.”
I slowly looked up and saw Clint standing beside me. In his all-black suit, except for this bowtie. The dark green bow tie that matched my dress perfectly. I smiled up at him and he turned to me, his eyes locked with mine. He had a boutonniere on his collar, too. Dark green, with little sprigs of silver that were dotted with the smallest of pearls.
“This is for you,” he said.
I looked down at the corsage, and all eyes turned to me. Pictures were snapped. Mom wiped at her eyes. I smiled brightly at the matching corsage as Clint popped the plastic container open. He took my hand softly and slid the band over my wrist. And as my eyes rose to meet his again, he winked.
“The limo is courtesy of Cecilia, if you’re wondering.”
I snickered. “Why doesn’t that shock me at all?”
He shrugged. “She wants us to have a good time. And she going to want some pictures.”
We looked around at the adults and they nodded. Letting us know he’d get them, in due time.
“Wait, how did Cecilia afford the limo?” I asked.
Michael snickered. “Not going to lie, I’m wondering the same thing.”
Clint shrugged. “Her lawyer has informed her that, until the divorce is final, my dad can’t completely cut her off. Especially after proving that he sold the house right from underneath us.”
My jaw dropped open. “Wait, so…?”
He grinned. “Let’s just say Dad’s mailed her a new credit card to appease her in the hopes she won’t bleed him dry before they can get papers signed.”
All of us had a good laugh before Clint offered me his arm. Allison’s parents and my mother continued taking pictures as we walked outside, all the way to the limo. The leather seats called to us. They were soft. Like butter. And out of the corner of my eye, I saw something chilling on ice.
“What’s that?” I asked.
Michael picked it up. “The finest sparkling grape juice. Chilled to perfection.”
Allison and I giggled as Michael screwed the top off.
Clint grabbed crystal champagne flutes and we each had a glass. The driver had music blaring, preparing us for a wonderful night out. I cuddled against Clint as we drank through the juice. We sang to the songs and waved our glasses in the air. Toasting, over and over, a night to remember.
A night that signaled putting all this bullshit behind us.
The limo drove us to the hotel. To the ballroom the high school had rented out and decorated. I slipped my arm into Clint’s, then Allison took my hand. And together, the four of us journeyed into the hotel. We followed the red carpet all the way to the ballroom. All the way into the entrance. And as the beat pulsed and lights flashed, a smile crossed my face.
This was going to be awesome.
“Care to dance?”
Clint’s lips pressed softly against the shell of my ear to be heard. And a shiver worked down my spine. I peeked over at him and nodded, then pulled Allison over to me. I wrapped her up in a one-armed hug, kissed her cheek softly, and told her how beautiful she looked. Then, I told her I’d see her out on the dance floor.
Just before Clint started tugging me toward it.
He twirled me around. The bass of the beat wound down. And as his arm slipped around my lower back, the music slowed down. The song became sensuous. He pulled me close, holding my hand up with his, swaying us softly to the beat.
“I didn’t know you could dance, handsome.”
He grinned. “I’m full of surprises at times.”
I paused. “Michael taught you, didn’t he?”
“First—and last—time I ever dance with a dude.”
My head fell back in laughter as he dropped my hand. He slid his arms around my lower back, holding me close to him. I slipped my hands up his chest. My arms draped around his neck. My head came back up and our eyes connected as the music filled the small spaces between us. Nothing else existed. Just me, him, and the song. Our song.
A song I started softly singing as my eyes danced between his.
“I know you haven’t made your mind up yet. But I would never do you wrong.”
Clint smiled as his cheeks tinted with a blush.
“I knew it from the moment that we met. No doubt in my mind where you belonged.”
He pulled me close and took over the lyrics.
“I could make you happy; make your dreams come true. Nothing that I wouldn’t do.”
Tears rushed my eyes as I changed the lyrics.
“Drop down into a ravine for you.”
And as his nose nuzzled against mine, we sang the last of the song together.
“To make you feel my love.”
* * *
Thank you for reading STAY WITH ME. Do you miss Rae and Clinton already? Be sure to get DON’T FOLLOW ME and read about their summer before college to find out what the future has in store for them.
Have you already read Clinton’s exclusive novella? Check out CLAIMING ME, book 1.5.
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REBEL HART
Rebel Hart is an author of Dark Romance novels. Don’t miss her new Bully Romance, Reckless Rules, book 1 in the Elites Of Weis - Jameson Prep Academy series. You’ll fall in love with Emmett and Ophelia’s story.
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