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“I wanted to ask you,” I admit.
Somehow, Caleb became the more vulnerable of the two of us, but it doesn’t make me feel powerful. It makes me feel inadequate.
One corner of his mouth twists cynically in response to my confession. “Sure,” he says easily.
“I didn’t know…if you’d want me to. I wasn’t even sure if you were coming. And I was worried you might say no.”
In response, he says nothing.
“You look good.” I half-smile, so he’ll know I mean the compliment. Although, I doubt I’m the first girl who’s told him that tonight.
“You look beautiful, Lennon.” Embarrassingly, those four words, delivered in an earnest tone, make my eyes prick.
The next song begins playing. We weren’t quite in tune with the last melody, but this beat is slower. I stop moving, fully expecting Caleb to drop his hands and return to his friends.
He doesn’t.
He tugs me closer.
I can’t see his face anymore, just the starched black fabric of his tuxedo jacket.
The song is melancholy, making it perfect for this moment. It’s one I’ve heard played dozens of times before on the radio when I’m cleaning the barn. But I don’t focus on the familiar words or the haunting melody. I’m fixated on the weight of Caleb’s hands resting possessively on my lower back.
I love him, I realize. I’m in love with him.
Instead of weakening my resolve, it strengthens it. We’re close—so, so close—to the end of high school. Despite staying here, it will be a fresh start. No school. No responsibilities, aside from Gramps and the farm and hopefully, theLandry Gazette.
Caleb might think he loves me. But that will fade, once he’s left Landry. I want to ask if he’s committed to Oakmont yet, but I know it’ll probably hurt to hear the answer.
The music ends, and his hands drop. We stare at each other.
I muster a smile. “Thanks for the dance.”
“I wouldn’t have said no, Lennon.” Caleb holds my gaze, watching those words sink in before he walks away.
I can’t stand out here alone, and I’m not ready to return to my table. So, I head toward the dessert table. I fill a fancy glass with sparkling water and take a couple of long sips. Bubbles tickle my throat as I drain the glass, set it on a tray, and then continue to the bathroom.
The marble restroom is empty when I enter it. My heels create a foreign echo as I cross the glassy surface. It’s a challenge to go to the bathroom in the long dress, but I finally manage.
When I exit the stall, I’m no longer alone. Madison is standing at the mirror, carefully painting her lips red. Her dress is a bright shade of teal that would probably look terrible on anyone else, but on Madison, it’s just audacious enough.
“Lennon,” she acknowledges, lowering her hand and adjusting her dress so the daring back dips down a bit further.
“Hi, Madison,” I respond, walking to the sink next to her so I can wash my hands.
“You’re looking less like a farm girl than usual.”
Instead of replying, I ask, “Why did we stop being friends?”
Madison drops the lipstick in her clutch and snaps it shut before turning toward me, eyebrows raised. “What?”
“You heard me. We were friends.Goodfriends. You’ve spent the last four years acting like we never were. Just because of my dad?”
“At first, yeah.”
“At first?”
“Caleb Winters was moving to town. I wanted to distance myself from you, because I knew that the Winterses care about appearances. Reputations. Money. Even before Caleb got here, he was the most popular guy in town. He and I made sense. I was obsessed with boys and being popular back then. You know that.”
