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Eighteen years old/12th Grade/May
Ginny and I stood in the foyer talking to my parents while Patrick called his date to see how long it would be before she arrived.
“I hope the rain holds off until you at least get your pictures taken,” Mom said as she gazed out the window in the foyer.
“We’re supposed to have thunderstorms all evening,” Dad added, which instantly dashed my mom’s optimistic attitude regarding weather.
“Charles,” Mom said as she swatted the air between her and Dad, as if to blow off his weather report. “You have no idea how long it takes us ladies to do our hair and makeup.”
Dad laughed as he walked to Mom. “Oh, I’m more than well aware of just how long it can take,” Dad said. He kissed Mom on the cheek and then commented, “Hopefully, the weather gods will allow you to get your pictures first.”
“You look handsome in your tux, Hollis,” Ginny said as she reached up and wiggled my bow tie.
“I’m not a fan of the bow tie,” I said honestly.
“There will probably be many times when you’re going to have to wear a tux, Mr. TCF,” she said. I hated when she made references like that because she knew I didn’t brag about my future with TCF or bring it up. She was the one who constantly brought it up to her friends.
“I think tuxes are dumb,” Chase added from the stairs. I turned and walked toward him and gave him a high five.
“I’m with you, man,” I told him.
“Chase, you’ll change your tune when you get a little older,” Mom said.
“Yeah, Chase. You’re going to have tons of girls to pick from in high school. Being the little brother of Hollis ‘The Dragon’ Ward will have its perks,” Ginny said.
I really hated it when she said things like that.
“It wouldn’t matter who his brothers are. Chase will have whatever he wants because he’s awesome,” I said and winked at Chase. Ginny wouldn’t drop it, though.
“Your status will definitely help him in life,” she added.
I didn’t acknowledge it and looked toward the kitchen where Patrick was. I glanced at my watch and knew Steve and Zed were outside patiently waiting along with the limo driver. Alfonso and Jacobi were following Morgan and his date’s limo around for security, and Steve and Zed would be near the four of us, which had quickly turned into three.
Patrick slowly walked into the foyer, and I could tell by his face something had happened.
“What?” I asked him as he took his jacket off.
“She’s not coming,” he said quietly.
Fuck.
He looked at the corsage in the plastic box that sat on the table and then at me. He quickly tried to play it off. “It’s okay, though. Chase and I are going to play Mario Bros.,” he said.
Ginny and I looked at one another. She never minded when Patrick went places with us, and I hoped she wouldn’t mind tonight.
“You’re still coming with us,” I said.
“What? No. I don’t have a date.”
“So what? Remember, we’re meeting a group of friends for dinner,” I said.
“Yeah, but they all have dates,” he said.
“You’re stuck in the tux, Patrick. You might as well get dinner out of it,” Chase added.
“Chase, kitchen, bub,” Dad said to him. Chase sighed and headed to the kitchen.
“Come on, Patrick. The limo is waiting. You’re dressed up. Let’s go,” I said. I only mentioned the limo because Steve and Zed promised they wouldn’t be invasive and that we’d barely notice them. Steve gave me his word that all they were doing was following for security. And Patrick knew they had been quietly in the background with our family since the TCF event in January.
