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Kenzie bent and hugged British by the shoulders. “I don’t know if I helped with your hair or not, but either way, you look beautiful.”
“If I had my cell phone, I’d take a picture and put you all over Instagram,” Maggie agreed. “C’mon, Kenzie, let’s sign out and get you ready.”
Tonight was going to be British’s first outing since her accident. Donovan had refused to let anyone else come over. He’d even made Kenzie and Maggie sign in and out, just in case British got wind of a piece of social media. She thought he was being ridiculous but according to him, she’d find out in due time. She had to trust him. The main thing British wanted to know was how the GRITS team had done.
With a little help from Erin, British came to her feet. In honor of her feeling better, Lexi Pendergrass Reyes sent over a one-of-a-kind perfect dress for British to wear tonight. The bottom half of the dress, made up of soft pink fabr
ic twisted into thousands of roses, covered her white canvas shoes. The off-white sweetheart top was accompanied by a string of pearls around her neck and pearl studs in her ears. The girls exited first.
British took a deep breath, not sure if she was anxious for being able to go out or just from seeing Donovan again. He’d been gone all afternoon and every time he returned home, she greeted him as if he were a soldier coming back from war. She hated being apart from him but looked forward to the deep kisses when he walked through the door.
At first Donovan was seated in the Victorian chair visible from the hallway. He stood and smoothed down the jacket of his black tuxedo. They were attending the middle school dance, both overly dressed, but this was special to her. British set her cane aside by the bedroom door. Donovan closed the gap to meet her.
“I am not sure if I can speak clearly,” he whispered in her ear, kissing her on her lobe. British glanced up and found a piece of mistletoe dangling above her door. She responded appropriately with a welcoming kiss and tasted his sweet mouth. He broke the kiss first and dazzled her with a smile that quickened her heartbeat. “I’m tempted to cancel tonight.”
“We can at least postpone it,” British suggested and tugged his arm back toward the bedroom. “I don’t think I can wait until tonight to jump your bones.”
“Oh God.” The deep groan came from the living room and sounded a lot like Finn.
Sheepishly, Donovan grinned. “I maybe should have started with telling you we weren’t alone.”
It didn’t take a genius for her to guess that her brothers were standing in her living room along with her sisters, parents and her Carres family.
“What are you guys doing here?”
“We’re seeing you off to your first dance, dear,” said Joan, stepping forward.
Vonna followed and gave British a hug. “We just wanted to see you attend your first dance after so long. We’re so happy and glad you’re getting better.” Her mother-in-law sniffled and allowed Tiffani to pull her to the side.
To humor everyone, British let her family take pictures. Even Will was there and took photos. “I get why your family is here,” Donovan whispered as they posed in front of the mantel, “but I don’t get why Will has to be here.”
“I thought he went back to Miami,” British said, “but what would I know? I love how close we’ve been but you’ve kept me away from the world.”
“I didn’t want any distractions. I needed you to heal.”
“Donovan, there’s no proof that social media distractions hinder body repair.”
Donovan turned British around by the hips and dipped his head low for a kiss, making any science, technology, engineering and math leave her mind. Satisfied his kiss left her dumbfounded, Donovan took her by the hand and bid everyone goodbye. For whatever good that did because they all followed them outside, where a man wearing a long-tailed overcoat and top hat stood by a two-horse-drawn carriage. A dark plaid blanket hung on the leather seat for cushion or a breeze.
The weather was perfect for a ride, perhaps a bit cold, but with Donovan’s arm around her shoulders she didn’t mind.
“This is a bit over the top,” British said, “don’t you think?”
“I don’t know,” Donovan said with a shrug. “I’ve never really done the dating thing. This is how it’s done in the movies I watched with my nieces.”
The two white horses began to move through the streets of Southwood. “By any chance, were these movies cartoons?”
“Probably. Why? Is this not right?”
British snuggled against his arm. “It’s perfect.”
People on the streets stopped and waved at them as they rode by. British felt like a princess. It was silly, she knew, but it was fun. They passed city hall and headed down the street toward the middle school but kept going. British gave Donovan a sideways glance. His wink told her not to worry.
Instead of the school’s dance traditionally being held in the gymnasium, it was being held at the old beauty school, Mas. Familiar parents’ and teachers’ cars were parked in the newly paved parking lot.
Zoe met the carriage at the red carpet. Music blared from inside the double doors. She wore a Bluetooth clipped to her ear and had a clipboard propped on her hip. Donovan stepped off first and turned to help British climb down. When she couldn’t maneuver with her skirt, he simply lifted her into his arms and set her down in front of his sister-in-law.
“Glad you could make it,” Zoe said, giving British a hug. “I haven’t seen you since, well, you know.”
