He heads for the stairs. “Be right back, guys. I have to see if she’s telling the truth.”
I start to kick and wiggle and Jayson nips me gently on my hip with his teeth.
I push up from his back. “Someone please help me!” Hailey and Brea grin and wave. “Traitors!”
“You have nine minutes!” Julien shouts at our retreating form and I see him press the timer on his watch and laugh.
Chapter 20
Prom
Elizabeth
“For fuck’s sake!” Hailey yelps. I think she’s burned her fingers four times already trying to straighten my hair. I have a lot of it, and she’s been at it for an hour. My butt is numb from sitting still for so long. My squirming has gotten worse over the last twenty minutes and Hailey is about to smack me to be still. Using a hand mirror, I apply the finishing touches to my makeup, painting my lips a blood red, as she glides the straight iron over the last section of hair. Why do girls do this to themselves? We primp and spray, fit our bodies into skinny jeans, and teeter around on four-inch sticks for shoes that blister our feet while guys just pick up some pants and a t-shirt that don’t smell too bad off the floor and they’re done.
“I’m almost done. When I get through with you, Jayson won’t know what hit him.” She spritzes more glossing serum on my hair and then sprays it with hairspray and stands back to observe her work. “There. Perfect. What do you think?”
Relief is the first thing I feel because I get to stand up and stretch. When I do look in the full-size bathroom mirror, my mouth drops open. “Holy hell, Hales.”
My long hair is naturally wavy which is why I never take the time to straighten it or do much with it other than a quick dry with the hair dryer. Hailey has turned my wavy hair into a glossy, sleek waterfall of spun gold. I run my hands through the ends, and it feels like I’m touching silk.
“Oh my gosh, it feels so good. It’s gorgeous, Hales.” I swish my hair from side to side and watch as it falls back into place. “You are a master hairstylist.”
“Just one more finishing touch,” she says and goes into her bedroom. When she comes back, she’s holding a square box. “This is from me and Mom. I hope you like it.”
Curious, I remove the lid and pull back pearlescent tissue paper. Sitting on the bottom is a black tiara headband with tiny red flowers. Beside it are five small red clip flowers.
“These are beautiful, Hailey.” I hug her tight and kiss her cheek.
“Here, let me.” She takes the items out one by one. She weaves my hair through the tiara headband to create some volume at the top of my crown and then clips the tiny flowers in various strands throughout. “See, now you do truly look like a princess. A smoking hot sexy princess.” We giggle as we look at my reflection in the mirror. “Let’s get you in that dress and down to your boy, shall we?”
Going shopping for my prom dress was a tad depressing for me. Maria and I always went clothes shopping together. I miss her. She still won’t talk to me, and to make matters worse, she’s gotten chummy with both Jacinda and Samantha. Instead of being my best friend, she’s become my bully. Maria has pushed me into a locker, dumped her soda on me, and tripped me in the girl’s locker room after PE. I haven’t told Jayson, Julien, or Ryder because if they found out she did that stuff to me, they would lose it. So I’ve kept quiet. She doesn’t mess with me when the boys are around, and I’ve gotten very good at making sure one of them walks me to each of my classes in order to avoid her.
I don’t want to think about Maria tonight. Tonight, I want to dance and laugh and have fun. Hailey helps me put on my red spaghetti strap high-low gown. It has a plunging neckline with flower applique beading on the bodice. The high part of the gown is in the front, and I love it because it shows off a lot of leg. Mom let me borrow her ruby drop earrings and matching bracelet. After putting on my black satin heels, I do a turn. Hailey wolf whistles and takes some photos of me with her phone.
I grin at her. “This will be you next year, little sis. And then I can be the one to dress you up.”
While Hailey helps me zip up the dress in the back, a bright light appears outside my bedroom window. Hailey rushes over and opens the window.
“Lizzie, look. Jayson must have turned on your tree lights. It’s just like that Valentine’s Day.”
My man is so freaking romantic. I hear male voices outside and know my boys have arrived.
“It’s showtime!” I grab my black clutch purse along with several items off my bed and make my way down the stairs.
I’ve been looking forward to seeing all three of the guys in their tuxedos, but I never expected to be greeted by a wall of utter male hotness.Holy shit!I don’t think I’ve ever seen a trio of more drop-dead gorgeous men in my life.
Jayson’s tux is black with a dark charcoal dress shirt, a black bowtie, and a deep red cummerbund to match my dress. His dark chocolate brown hair has been styled up top and curls around his ears. Ryder is wearing all black, of course. He’s in a classic black satin peak lapel tux, and his hair’s cut short on the sides and longer at the top. Julien has on a light silver-grey tux that matches his eyes and a dark grey bowtie and cummerbund. He’s spiked the front of his hair into a short mohawk.
Several gasps interrupt my lingering perusal of Jayson, Julien, and Ryder. I hadn’t noticed our entryway is filled with our parents all holding cameras. I do notice, however, three sets of male eyes on me in various stages of admiration, appreciation, and dirty eye-fucking. My belly flips violently and my breath hitches. I may end up in a puddle of goo before I make it to the bottom of the stairs.
Jayson steps up to grab my hand. When I get close enough to him, he leans into my ear and whispers, “You are a goddamn goddess,” before giving my earlobe a quick tug with his teeth. Yep. I’m officially a puddle of goo right now.
“Liz, you look phenomenal,” Julien declares and kisses my cheek.
My eyes find Ryder’s. “There are no words,” he tells me, a half-tip smile curving his mouth. I understand what he means because right now I’m having trouble finding the right words to say.
“You guys look so handsome. You all make me breathless.”
