“Let what happen? I don’t even know what’s happening.”
“You like him, and he likes you. Lean into it. Let it go where it’s gonna go.”
“I’d like it to go into the bedroom, but he’s making me work for it.”
Ivori laughs, her braids swaying with her. “That’s because Landon isn’t a one-time fling.”
My lips tug downward. “Which is why nothing can happen between us, because I don’t need him getting attached.”
“Or you’re afraid thatyou’llbe the one getting attached.” Ivori points toward the door. “Look, the JV girls are here.”
Dominique steps into the room with a group of her teammates. She looks stunning in a satin yellow strapless dress, the color accenting her dark-brown skin.
“I love getting to see these kids all dressed up.” I smile as Dominique waves at me from across the room.You look beautiful, I mouth.
She nods her head and grins.Thank you.
Flipping over my phone, I glance at the screen.
No new notifications.
Landon said he’d crash the party, and my skin buzzes at the thought of seeing him in a suit. But Mr. Punctuality hasn’t arrived yet.
“The way you’re checking your phone?” Ivori says. “That’s excitement. And I haven’t seen it on you for anything other than lacrosse in a long time. I think Landon is good for you.”
I pop open the top on a can of Ginger Ale and bring it to my lips, letting the fizzy soda burn down my throat into my chest.
Or maybe it’s my best friend’s words hitting their mark.
“And just so you know,” she continues, “This person you’re pretending to be? The one who has casual sex, and doesn’t do relationships? That’s not who you are deep down. It’s just the armor you’ve been shielding yourself with because you’re scared of getting hurt again.”
I purse my lips. “Okay, Mel Robbins. No more self-help podcasts for you.”
She nudges me with her shoulder. “You know I’m right.”
Then she saunters away asSexy Backby Justin Timberlake blares through the speakers.
Chaperoning a room full of teenagers isn’t the way I prefer to spend my Saturday nights. It’s a lot of responsibility, and the boys tend to get rowdy. But it’s nostalgic to experience.
And I was looking forward to experiencing it with Landon.
We didn’t get to spend junior prom or senior prom together. By then, it was already too late. We were at each other’s throats, and there was no going back. We missed out on so many important life events because of our fight.
Maybe Ivori’s right. Maybe we can make up for lost time now with this second chance we’ve been given.
Maybe this time around will be different.
My heart thrums in my chest as I check my phone again. We’re already an hour into prom, and there’s no sign of Landon.
Something’s wrong.
I feel it in my gut, twisting like it always used to.
I shoot him a text, hoping he’ll tell me he’s running late or had a wardrobe malfunction. Something minor. Something silly.
But he would’ve texted.
My mind runs away from me, conjuring up the worst scenarios. One hour turns into two. And while the kids are doing the Cha Cha Slide, I finally break.
