“Actually…” Elliott pinned Clare with a look she couldn’t decipher.
“What?” She whispered at him even though Cat was only like a foot away.
Elliott bugged out his eyes. “I don’t want to overstep and upset you again.”
“You know I can hear you both, right? I didn’t accidentally fall under my invisibility cloak again, riiiiight?”
Clare flapped a hand toward her daughter before planting her hands on her hips and jerking her chin at Elliott. “Speak.”
“One of the kids on the team isn’t from here, a rookie, doesn’t know many people, going alone…” He glanced at Cat, and Clare’s gaze followed.
Clare tipped her head with an expectant pause.
“Blind date prom? Hell yes!” Cat fist-pumped above her head. “I’ll be ready in ten.”
Somehow, despite her daughter’s penchant for taking forever to get ready, they arrived at the community center early. She’d bet her bottom dollar that Cat dumped half her wardrobe over her floor and bed trying to figure out what to wear. But that was future Clare’s problem.
Present Clare couldn’t believe the transformation at the building. The hockey team had really pulled out all the stops for such a good cause.
“Clare Reynolds, as I live and breathe.” Pippa—of Pippa’s Place, the local women’s shelter and charity that provided whatever help they could to local women—strode toward her like a Hollywood actress. She wore a cotton candy pink halter gown with a slit all the way up to her mid-thigh. Though Pippa’s thigh looked less like the cottage cheese skin Clare was flashing as she walked.
Pippa air kissed both of Clare’s cheeks before stepping back to appraise her outfit. “You look fucking delectable. And this beautiful young woman must be your daughter.” She stepped forward to Cat and cupped Cat’s hand with both her own. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
Cat beamed. “I’m so excited for prom.”
In some moments Catriona Reynolds seemed wise beyond her years and grown too fast, but as the wonder in her eyes and voice carried through the night air, Clare was relieved that she had still held on to some of the magic.
Clare rolled her eyes. “She’s excited to meet you too, Pippa. She’s heardallabout how you helped me out through the years.”
Cat nodded. “Iamexcited to meet you. I’m just… It’s prom, Mom!”
“Hi Pippa, I’m Elliott.” He reached an open hand to Pippa.
“Coach Swift? Oh!” She accepted his hand and shook it with enthusiasm. “I’ve heard all about you for two days while the team has been getting this place decked out. They speak very highly of you, it’s a true pleasure to meet you. And congrats on the championship.”
Elliott nodded, his face turning pink.
“Coach?”
A tall, handsome young man that oozed confidence stood about three feet away, with a cocky smirk on his face. While everyone else wore black, he wore a white tux like he didn’t give a flying fuck what people thought and the gleam in his eye was almost daring someone to comment.
“Yes, please.” Cat’s murmur from behind her made Clare cringe.
This boy was going to be trouble.
“Ah. Theo. You’re here, good. You got my message?” Elliott stepped to the side and gestured toward Cat. “This is Catriona.”
Theo’s mouth dropped open like something from a cartoon. She wouldn’t be surprised if his eyes did that ‘pop out of their sockets, shoot forward, then slam back into his head’ thing, too.
Cat fluttered her lashes as she stepped forward and extended her hand. “Cat. It’s nice to meet you, Theo.”
Theo was clearly in trouble. His face was redder than Cat’s dress and a thin sheen of sweat was quickly prickling across his forehead as his mouth opened and closed without sound.
“Theo?”
“Ye-yeah, Coach?” Theo swallowed twice.
Elliott tipped his head toward Cat’s still-outstretched hand.
