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PROLOGUE
Raelyn
Age 18
The day had been eatenup by the endless ceremonial tasks of graduation, leaving me with crumbs of twilight and little time to prepare for what might actually be the most pivotal moment of my life.
Did people really have to practice how to walk across a stage and where to sit? It was still alphabetical, like always, and these had been the same people we’d been with since grade school. But all the meetings, rehearsals, picnics, and breakfasts for graduating seniors were worth it, because it all led me to this moment.
I put the finishing touches on my lashes and shoved the mascara into my small makeup bag.
“Nora!”
My best friend popped her head into my doorway, frizzy curls framing her heart-shaped face. “You rang?”
“I need an outfit assessment.”
Scrunching her dark brows together, she stood tall, filling my doorway.
“Your makeup is perfect. Hair…” She put both thumbs up. “I love that you straightened it.”
Frowning at her, I slid my hands down my chocolate tresses. “Does it normally look bad, when it’s curly?”
“No, of course not,” she said easily, her eyes still moving along my low-cut mustard tank and dark leggings. “I think you’re ready.”
I felt ready. Deep down in my bones, I knew I was.
Nora crowded my bed as I sat down to pull on my sandals. “Let’s see the letter again.”
Excitement thrummed in me from head to toe as I pulled open my bedside drawer and handed her the carefully folded piece of white paper.
“Rae, meet me at the library Friday, nine p.m. I have something I need to tell you. Davis.”
Hearing Nora read it out loud made me flash back to the moment two days ago when Carl, my father’s best friend, handed it to me at my graduation party. It was better than any gift I could have received.
“I still can’t believe he knows who you are—likeactuallyknows who you are—after all these years of you crushing on him and secretly—”
I put my hand up to stop her. “We don’t need to go into what all I did; I think we’re both on the line for what was done in the name of getting his attention.”
Her eyes sparkled as she gripped the letter. “Yeah, but it actually worked! The love of your life knows you exist and now he wants to meet you!”
We squealed in tandem, and my heart soared.
“I just knew it was the fact that I was in high school that had held him back all these years. I just knew it.” I sighed, shaking my head while staring at the small spot on my carpet from a permanent marker that leaked through a poster board. I was fairly certain it was from that time I tried to reserve Davis a parking spot in front of the diner. That particular incident hadn’t gone over well.
“Okay, so it’s almost time… Are you driving there?” Nora adjusted her legs until she was facing me.
I mimicked her pose, nodding.
“I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m ready.”
My best friend smiled at me, gripping my hand. “I know you are—you’ve been waiting for this for so long. I’m so excited for you.”
We hugged and then she helped me finish getting ready. Little flyaways were sprayed, perfume was spritzed, and necklaces were traded in and out until I found the right one. Then it was time.
It was inventory night, so my parents were at the diner working, as was Carl, who was their shift manager. I assumed he’d read the note, seeing as it was from the crush he told me I shouldn’t have. So he likely knew where I was headed tonight, but just like all the other Davis-related conversations he’d had with me over the past three years, I knew he’d keep it a secret.
“Call me as soon as you’re on your way back home.” Nora walked with me to my car.
