“You’re my true north, Wyatt. My heart will always point to you.”
“Your turn. Open your gift.” He handed the perfectly wrapped box to me.
I nervously untied the bow and lifted the lid. “This is too much, Wyatt. I can’t take this.”
“You can and you will,” he demanded as he took the gift out of my hand. “Especially since you’re going away to college.”
“I can’t believe you got me an iPhone,” I laughed.
“It’s set up in your name, but I’m paying for your monthly service. I have to be able to reach you at all hours of the day and night.” He winked, his demeanor showing his sexy and playful side. “You tell me no a lot, but I won’t accept no for an answer about this.”
With his thoughtful gift, we chatted continuously—via text, phone, FaceTime. I even joined the social media revolution and tagged him in my relationship status.
Wyatt’s family was cordial to me when we made the obligatory appearances, but a perpetual icy air surrounded us. Blair still didn’t speak to me at all, but I was grateful for that. His friends started to accept me and view me as one of their group, even though my family’s financial situation hadn’t miraculously changed overnight. Maybe they felt compelled to include me since that was the only way Wyatt would go anywhere with them.
As basketball season ramped up, our relationship was not only Facebook official, but yearbook official. The school photographer made his rounds, collecting pictures to go in the last annual we’d have at Ridgeview High. Our lives consisted of finding ways to spend more time with each other, occasionally double dating with Christine and Jayce on the weekends, and hanging out at my house while I did my homework and he watched.
At the end of February, the student council started advertising the prom in mid-April. Students rushed to the tables during lunch to buy their tickets and begin making their plans. Wyatt stole up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. His lips brushed against my ear as he spoke. “Megan, my love. Will you go to the prom with me?”
“I’d love to go to the prom with you, handsome.” Though I didn’t say it, I had no idea how I’d pay for the formal gown I’d need, but I was determined to find a way.
When I got home that afternoon, both Mom and Dad were gone, which was unusual since only one of them was employed. Shrugging it off, I went to my room to study and finish my homework before Wyatt came over, as per my usual afternoon routine. I lost track of time while working through my calculus problems. When I looked up, my parents were standing in my doorway with smiles covering their faces.
“You two are creeping me out. What’s going on?”
They laughed and sat beside each other on the edge of my bed. “We have good news. Your father was rehired with a raise, and I got a raise today.”
“That’s great. Congratulations to you both!” I hugged them, happy for their good fortune, but couldn’t help but wonder if my relationship with Wyatt played a part with the sudden about-face at Montague Manor. “Wyatt asked me to go to the prom today, so we all had an exciting day.”
“We thought he would,” my dad grinned. “Your mom wants to take you shopping for a dress and shoes in a couple of weeks. Think you can spare a Saturday afternoon for her?”
“I think I can pencil her into my schedule.”
We chatted for a while, catching up with each other, and I watched them walk out of my room together. I thought about all the hardships they’d faced and how they clung to their love through it all instead of turning on each other. I hoped I’d be half as lucky if I ever got married.
As promised, two weeks later, Mom and I made a day of shopping for prom-related goodies. She was proud to be able to afford to buy my dress and shoes, and for once I didn’t feel guilty about her spending money on me. I could see it brought her so much happiness to be able to do it.
About a month before the prom, Wyatt surprised me with a Saturday at the beach on Tybee Island. The weather was unusually warm for Spring, so we strolled along the beach barefoot in shorts and tank tops. “It’s so beautiful here. Look at that house.” I pointed toward an enormous home at the end of a long wooden walkway. “I’d love to live there with this view.”
“Your wish is my command.” Wyatt winked and pulled me toward the walkway. “We can live here for today, anyway.”
“What? We can’t just go in someone’s house!”
“No, we can’t. But we can go in my parents’ beach house.”
“Your parents own this house?” I couldn’t believe my ears. Their house in Savannah proper was huge, elaborate, and professionally decorated. But having a vacation home that rivaled their main house astounded me.
“Yep,” he said and unlocked the door. We stepped inside the kitchen from the back deck, and I was instantly in love with the place. “Megan, I have to ask you something.”
“Of course, my love. You know you can ask me anything.”
“Several of my friends and their dates want to come here after the prom and spend the weekend at the beach. I don’t want to pressure you to do anything you’re not ready for, but I really want to spend the weekend with you in my arms. What do you think?”
“I think it’s a perfect idea.”
“Really?” His surprised reaction made me laugh.
Thinking about my parents and looking at the love of my life made me realize I didn’t want to wait any longer. One lost moment of happiness was too much. So I pressed my body against his, stretched up on my toes, and captured his mouth with mine. His arms wrapped around my waist when I slipped my tongue into his mouth. His erection hardened against my belly, and I tightened my arms around him. His hands slid down to my ass and pushed harder against me, slightly curling his hips upward to grind his arousal into me.
