Page 79 of I Choose You

“Cool.” Kody nodded, looking at it again. “You have a date?”

Nerves fluttered in my belly. Was he seriously talking to me like a normal person? It was a doodle, not a masterpiece. “Uh, no.” I did, but I didn’t. Paige and I called each other our backup plan, knowing no one would be asking us anyway.

“Would you like to come to prom with me?”

I lowered my head and raised my brows. “What?” I held my breath.

He gave me a slow smile, charming me in a heartbeat. My pulse raced as I stared at him.

Kody Wagner, the popular blond every girl wanted.

“I want you to be my date,” he said.

Yeah, right. I blinked and stared at him. “Why?”

His lips eased into a crooked grin, and I felt my cheeks warming at the impact of his megawatt teenage-heartthrob smile. Just for me. He was looking at me with that devilish, charming face. He shrugged. “Why not?”

A question for an answer. How annoying, but I could hardly care. Kody Wagner was asking me to prom!

“Um, okay. Yeah.”

He winked, walking away. “Can’t wait.”

Is this for real? I tempered my breaths, not wanting to draw attention to myself as I spun to face forward in my seat. Oh, my God!

I had to tell Paige. She’d never believe it. I almost couldn’t believe it myself, but he’d asked. I heard him. He asked me to prom.

Paige was supposed to be my backup, but I hadn’t thought I’d need to fall back from a first option, let alone that Kody Wagner would pick me as his date.

I hope she doesn’t mind. Paige wasn’t a big fan of the Wagner twins. Ever since that hotdog incident in the fall, she steered clear of them. But I hoped she’d be happy for me. We only had our senior prom once in a lifetime, and now that he’d asked me, I was more excited than ever.

Today was my lucky day. Kody asked me to prom. Mom had a night off from the office for a change. And my dress would be coming along. Life was looking good.

I ran home, skipping the last bus ride because the constant stops were annoying. Mom was surprised when I burst in through the front door. She peered at me with alarm. In an apron and holding a spoon, she looked at me expectantly. “What happened? Are you all right?”

She must have noticed my smile because she relaxed.

“You will never believe what happened at school.”

She beckoned me into the kitchen. “Then tell me! Is it good news?” Her smile was so sweet as she glanced at me, standing in front of the stove to stir the spaghetti sauce. “It sure looks like it’s good news.”

“Someone asked me to prom! This really—” I swallowed, picking through my mind for a good word to use. “This really cute boy!”

Those twins were more than cute. They were dreamy.

Mom set the spoon down and wiped her hands off. “Oh, honey. That’s incredible news. I’m so happy for you!”

I smiled, pressing my face into her as she hugged me tight.

“You’re going to have such a great time.”

“You think so?”

She giggled. “I know so. I’m so excited for you!”

I squeezed my arms around her tighter. “I can’t wait!”

27