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“Why did I agree to any of this?” I slump in the vinyl chair, listening to the retro-disco track playing through the salon against my will.

Nicole flashes a sad smile. “Because you want the best education money can buy.”

I nod. That’s what it all comes down to. I’m doing this for my future.

And the lies keep stacking up.

“Am I doing the right thing?” I fidget in place, squirming in my peacock ball gown, making the scratchy netting under my skirt crinkle as I move.

In silent protest for my situation, I refuse to wear Victoria’s Secret and instead pluck the cheap nylon from my butt crack. Under the circumstances, it would be a colossal waste of pretty panties. Unflattering underwear aside, Nicole was right, I do look like an honest-to-goodness princess—minus the tiara. And I hate it because it reminds me of Jordan. Everything—from the white-chocolate mocha latte I had for breakfast to the shiny silver earrings Nicole lent me—reminds me of Jordan. I should be excited. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the formal for months. But my heart isn’t in it anymore.

Mom smiles up at me from my phone’s display. “You look beautiful.”

“You never answered my question.” I sigh, shifting my gaze to my reflection in the mirror. “Am I doing the right thing?”

“You’re going to the spring formal with two handsome men. What could be wrong about that?” She winks.

I glance down at my silver stilettos as if they hold the answers to the universe. “I don’t love either of them.”

She flashes a sympathetic smile. “And you loved Jordan.”

“I did . . . I do.” I release a breath. “It’s complicated.”

“Isn’t it always?”

I blink back tears. “I ruined everything, Mom.”

“No, you didn’t. You both made mistakes. But honey, with any luck, you’ll fall in love a dozen times before you graduate.”

“I’m officially done with men after this stupid competition is over and I get my scholarship. No one said I had to consummate anything. I’ll show up. I’ll smile. Then I’ll pick a winner and go home.”

Mom locks her gaze on mine. “You know, if Jordan hadn’t posted that list, there wouldn’t even be a competition . . . let alone a scholarship.”

My stomach twists at the unfair irony of it all. His attempted revenge backfired on both of us in so many unintended ways. “I know.”

“And if he hadn’t posted it, there’s no telling if the two of you would’ve ever spoken. You certainly wouldn’t have fallen in love.”

“What are you saying? Fate brought us together?” The intended sarcasm sounds oddly hopeful as it tumbles from my lips. For an instant, I almost believe it.

“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Maybe?”

Hope comes crashing down around me as the reality of my situation resurfaces. “Doesn’t matter anyway. I may have forgiven Jordan for what he did, but Jordan will never forgive me for choosing a scholarship over him. Seems I destroyed our fate when I broke his heart.”

“Don’t say that.” Mom furrows her brow. “If it’s fate, there’s nothing you can do to destroy it.”

My phone dings with an incoming text, and for half a second, I dare to hope it’s from Jordan. Maybe he’s decided to forgive me after all. Maybe he’ll beg me to call off the whole thing and run away with him.

“Hang on, Mom. I got a text.”

Or maybe it’s my dad again.

With a groan, I delete the message without reading it.

Sadness washes over Mom’s face. “Was that your father?”

I shrug.

“You deleted his message?”