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Connor takes a step to the side and begins to head up the driveway. Not to the Hale House. But to the one across the street from it.
“Where are you going?” I ask him.
He turns to face me. “To set things straight.”
Don’t know what that means exactly, but I understand it anyway. I nod to him. “Good luck.”
He smiles. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t need luck.” Damn. He turns back around and heads up the driveway, reminding me that everything they said at Faust was kinda true. His confidence can’t be fabricated.
I head across the street.
All emotions wrapped up into one goal. Turn this night around for Willow.
I reach the front door just as their garage door groans open. My stomach nosedives. She’s leaving? For a split second, I imagine Lily probably whisking her out for a fun night to take her mind off prom. I should have called.
I run my hand through my hair again. It’s totally messed up now.
Fuck it. I don’t wait to see which car leaves the garage.
I knock on the door.
Please still be home.
No one answers.
I ring the doorbell.
I’m going to puke.
The door swings open. Rose stands on the other side, eyes piercing me in a pinpointed glare. I realize I didn’t make the greatest impression by hiding in a duffel bag and crashing their whole lake house thing.
I fucked a lot of things, and Connor’s already warned me that it’d be worse if Willow and I were dating. I can’t expect them to be open to this idea of me taking her to prom.
Rose appraises me from head to toe, stopping for a long moment at the flowers in my hand. “You brought flowers,” she says. “Who for? What are your intentions here?”
“I mean, obviously they’re for Willow?” I say like a question. It’s not a question. But I didn’t expect an interrogation so early on.
“If it’s so obvious, why do you seem so unsure?” she spits back.
Fuck. “No, they’re for Willow,” I say, confident this time. “That douchebag dumped her, and I’m here to take her to prom.”
Rose tries her hardest not to smile—but she’s failing. It makes me relax just a fraction, and I ask, “Is that cool?”
She opens her mouth, but she’s cut off by a voice from inside. “Who is it?!” Daisy.
Rose gives me another harsh look, more in warning. “Don’t fuck this up for her, or I will bury you in the backyard and let the squirrels shit on your corpse.”
Jeeesus. I bypass that threat by focusing on the fact that she’s opening the door wider. She’s letting me inside. She’s okay with this.
When I step into the foyer, I see Daisy hanging near the staircase. Her face brightens immediately when she sees me and the flowers and my formal attire. “Oh my God—”
“Go get her,” Rose cuts her little sister off and shoos Daisy towards the living room.
I turn to look at Rose and…she’s beaming.
Okay, maybe I didn’t fuck this up.
“Where’s Lo?” I wonder when it’s just Rose and me.
“Determined not to go to the hospital.” Rose explains quickly about his broken hand. Lily and Ryke are apparently in the garage, trying to get him to seek medical treatment. Knowing him, there’s probably a slim chance he goes. But this is still good for me. I can at least see Willow without Lo chiming in.
I breathe easier again.
Until I see Willow round the corner.
Then my breath is gone. Behind her black-rimmed glasses, her eyes are a bit reddened like she’s been crying. I want to run over to Declan’s house tonight and strangle the guy for being a complete asshole. For hurting the sweetest girl on planet Earth. But I temper those feelings when Willow’s eyes widen in pure shock. “Garrison?”
“That’s me,” I laugh. “In the flesh.” This is it. I take a step forward. “These are for you.”
She sheepishly takes the flowers from me like they’re made of glass. “Wow…what are…is this…am I dreaming?”
“Not a dream,” I say. “This is definitely real. At least, I hope so. I guess, I can’t ignore the probability of some virtual reality. But—yeah, I just thought that since Declan turned out to be a Grade-A asshole, I’d take you to prom.”
She puts her nose to the flowers, her smile lifting her lips. “Like a friend thing?”
My chest tightens. Say no, not a friend thing. But the happiness radiating from her is intoxicating, and if I say this is more like a date is that going to mess things up? Most likely…yeah. I mean, I’m the King of Fuck Ups. But I’m trying so damn hard not to fuck this up.
I nod. “Yeah, a friend thing.”
Her smile doesn’t wane. Good. Good. I made the right choice then. But why do I feel kinda like shit?
“Um…” Her cheeks flush in that giddy smile. “I should…get ready.”
