And me.
Mackenzie Malloy.
“This is insane. How did I not know about this?” I know how. I’d been pretty distracted over the last few weeks with boy drama and attempts on my life and shit.
“Anyway.” George swallows. “It’s fine. You go. I’m used to going to the movies by myself. I prefer it, actually. I don’t have to share my popcorn and you won’t have to suffer through my terrible jokes, like why do vampires never order at a restaurant—”
“Oooh, who said something about homecoming?” Gabriel slides into the seat beside me. One whiff of his pagan scent and I’m gone. I’m surprised I’m not a permanent pile of goo from hanging around Gabriel Fallen so much. “Because I think we need to strategize. I’ll be wearing a pinstripe suit with my skeleton creepers, ala Nick Cave crossed with Jerry Only, so I was thinking to match me you should get some stilettos with a heel made out of a spine. Here, I found a picture… wait until you see this.” Gabriel swipes through his phone.
“Fuck off. I’m not going to homecoming.” I grab the phone out of his hand and stare at the shoes. They do look fuckingfierce,but also impossible to walk in. “These aren’t shoes, they’re torture implements. Don’t tell me, you had something to do with my nomination?”
“But of course, Queenie.” Gabriel’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “If I’m going to be wearing that crown, I need the most shaggable arse in school on the throne next to me.”
“If you want a date for the dance, you’re supposed to actually ask that person if they want to go with youfirst.” I throw my arms around George’s shoulder. “As it happens, George and I already have a date – we’re going to a horror movie festival at this spooky-ass theatre down in Brawley.”
Gabriel looks at me in horror. “Surely you jest? Of course we’re going to homecoming. I already purchased your ticket.”
I turn to George. “Can you believe this?”
George swallows. “It’s not a big deal. You should go with Gabriel. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
I glare at Gabriel. As George leans over to get something from her bag, Gabriel leans in close. I breathe in his dangerous scent as he presses his lips to my ear and murmurs, “I know you want to see what it’s like to have a normal life. Going to homecoming is the most normal high school thing you could possibly do. Besides, whoever’s watching you is going to be awfully suspicious if It Girl Mackenzie Malloy doesn’t show her face at her own homecoming dance.”
He has a point. I glance over at George, who’s sliding down in her seat, avoiding looking at us. “Fine. We’ll go. On one condition. You’re George’s date.”
George’s head jerks up. “What? No. I can’t…”
“Hot damn.” Gabriel rubs his hands together with glee, before throwing his phone at George. “Even better. George, you’ll wear these skeletal death-traps for me, won’t you, luv?”
As George and Gabriel start discussing their matching outfits, I glance across the table at Noah, who is very deliberately cutting his steak into neat squares. I kick him under the table. “Marlowe, I think there’s something you want to ask me.”
Noah raises his chin, and I peer into those dark orbs. “Honestly? I’d rather be your date for the horror movie festival.”
“No way. If I have to miss the festival, you all do.” George elbows him in the arm, then suddenly realizes how friendly she’s getting with the insanely popular kids who were horrible to her, and stares at her food again. “I mean,” she mumbles into her boobs. “Do you what you want, of course, it’s totally cool—”
“You are so adorable, George.” I reach across the table and spear one of Noah’s steak squares, dropping it on my tongue where it melts like an ice cube of meaty deliciousness. Damn, they made such great food here. I spear another, waving my fork at him to emphasize my point. “Let me phrase this another way – you’d better be at my place on Saturday night to pick me up, Marlowe. You’ll be wearing a suit, carrying a corsage, and grinning like the Cheshire Cat because you’re the luckiest fucking man alive to be escorting Mackenzie Malloy to the homecoming dance. Got it?”
Noah bites the steak off the end of my fork. I watch that jaw of his working, and warmth flushes my body as I remember tasting his blood in our ferocious kiss. I know what he’s thinking, because I can read those dark eyes like a book – he’s thinking that Noah Marlowe and Mackenzie Malloy at homecoming together will have people talking, and that’s going to get back to his father. He’s getting used to the fact he doesn’t have to be afraid of John Marlowe any longer. He nods, and the corner of his mouth tugs up into that self-satisfied smirk. “I got it.”
* * *
After we finish eating,we join the growing line at the homecoming-ticket booth, perusing all the special deals on limousines and crappy seafood restaurants the dance committee has put together. “Leave the pre-prom plans to me,” Gabriel throws his arms around George again. “I have ideas.”
“That sounds dangerous.” I can’t help the little dance of excitement in my gut. Even though the last thing I should be thinking about right now is the homecoming dance, all I’ve ever wanted is the chance to be normal. And going to a dance with my friends and my two fucking gorgeous boyfriends… I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Except I wish Eli was part of it, too.
As we take another step toward the table, a guy steps in front of us. “Hey, George, can we talk for a sec?”
It’s the metalhead stoner, and he’s got his hands shoved in his pockets and his hair pulled in front of his eyes, and I think my chest might burst from the cuteness. George peers up at me with her deer-in-the-headlights look. She needs help that only Mackenzie Malloy can provide.
I fold my arms. “Whatever you have to say to George, you can say in front of her bestie.”
I’m smiling, but my reputation precedes me, and stoner dude backs up a step.
“Um… see…” He touches his lips, as though he’s holding an invisible good-luck joint. “So, George, here’s the thing… I was wondering if you had a date to homecoming because I… I thought maybe we could go together if you’re into that kind of thing…”
Gabriel throws his arm around George’s shoulder. “She’s already got a date, actually.”
