Page 65 of Crew Girl

“Everything okay, Dad?” Why did people ask that when they knew it wasn’t? To soften the blow?

“Oh.” His dad shook his head, moved a few papers around on the desk. Hiding whatever bill he was late on, probably. “Don’t worry about that. But… don’t grow. We can’t afford a new school uniform. The old one still good?”

“Yup. It’s fine.”

“Also,” his dad scrubbed his hair, depositing a streak of grease in it, “are you okay to pitch in on the evening shifts this week?”

“Of course. All except Friday.” He pointed at the garment bag. “Believe it or not, I’m taking someone to the Fall Formal.” He grinned at his dad. It had taken him months to ask Teagan out. He was pretty sure it wasn’t his insider knowledge about taco trucks that had spurred her to ask him to the dance, but even if it had, he wasn’t complaining.

“Son! That’s fantastic!”

“If you need me, though—”

“Absolutely not. Who’s the lucky date?”

“Her name’s Teagan. She’s on crew.”

His dad laughed, like the news just kept getting better. “A girl after your own heart. Can’t wait to meet her.”

“So, umm… would it be okay to use the truck?”

His dad frowned. “No. You may not.”

“Okay. No prob.” Maybe one of the team could give him a lift.

“Son?” His dad’s expression softened. “You can’t take a girl to a formal dance in that.”

Yeah. He kinda already knew that, but…

“Listen.” His dad clapped his arm around Cam’s shoulder and they headed to the shop. “I have a client who owes me a favor. Don’t worry about a thing. You’ll be taking Teagan to the dance in style.”

JOSH

Britney parked Josh in front of the full-length mirror in the suite she’d hired at the Fall Formal venue. It wasn’t until tomorrow and the venue was pretty much next door to Easton, but when Britney invested in something? She went all in. Especially when the spotlight was on her. The way she and Amber had been spreadsheeting everything, you’d think they were planning an actual coronation ceremony.

His input, as per, hadn’t been required. That’s what Perry was for.

Brit held one of the two suits she’d selected in front of him. “So, babe.” Britney met his eyes in the mirror. “The designer thought you could wear either this one”—she squinted at his reflection, scrunched her nose, switched it out—“or this one. Both match my dress.” She handed him the suits, inspected him again, then pointed at one. “I think you should wear this one.”

They both looked the same to him, but whatever. It made her happy. He hung both on the rack and slipped the jacket she liked off the hanger while Britney checked the evening rundown Amber had sent her.

“Right, okay.” Britney sat on the sofa and read aloud: “As King and Queen, we’re at the head table so…” Her eyes flicked up from her screen, watched him check himself out from different angles. As ever, she’d chosen well. “I’ve put Perry’s table near us. The crew will serve as our royal court.”

He wasn’t sure about that part, but having them within spitball distance would be cool. Sitting on a plinth with everyone staring at them was fun for only so long.

“Make sure they show up early, yeah?” she instructed. “We have photos—all of us—before the event.”

Any later and Noah would have gravy or punch on his shirt, seeing as he was more likely to bring a book than a girl. Crabby, too. Not the girl part—girls loved adopting him, like he was a pet—he was just clutzy. Not that he was judging. Especially now that they were really pulling their weight on the team. But Brit would want the team to look picture perfect. So, by default, he guessed he did care?

“I’m listening,” he assured her when he heard her give an impatient huff. “Photos. Dinner. Dancing. And then?”

“More photos during the dance. And then”—she shimmied her shoulders—“the King leads his Queen onto the floor for their solo slow dance.”

Meaning every pair of Easton eyes would be on the two of them, witnessing, once again, their place as Easton Prep’s Premiere Power Couple. “Sounds like you’ve got the whole day planned out.”

“Well… yeah, babe.” She was looking at him like she didn’t understand how he might’ve thought otherwise. “It’s a big deal.”

It was a school dance with fancy outfits. His brain took him back to the pizza and karaoke fest at the boathouse. An epic night that’d taken approximately three minutes to organize. “C’mere.” He held out his hand. Britney hesitated, consulted her iPad to see if she could spare a handful of seconds for her boyfriend. She found some. He pulled her to him, slipped his hands around her waist. “Hey. You know what I saw nearby when I drove here?” She shook her head. “Seven Acres Creamery. How ’bout we go grab some bourbon chocolate gelato?”