Chapter Twelve
TERA
Tonight is winter formal. Carter and his friend Dane, one of the linemen on the football team, picked up me and Shea in a limo. It was wonderful. I thought for sure there'd be awkwardness, but there hasn't been. Not during dinner or on the way to the dance.
When we step into the ballroom, I gasp. "This is so beautiful."
"It really is," Shea agrees.
Carter and Dane are standing right behind us. Maybe the awkwardness will begin now?
"There are a lot of people here already," Carter says.
"There really are," I agree.
The room is filled with fairy lights and white garland. There's even fake snow in areas. I look at the stage where the DJ is working his magic, and there are two huge big screens on either side.
"What are the big screens for?" I ask, looking at Carter.
He just shrugs.
I look to Shea. "I don't know. I never pay attention to details. You know this."
"Dane?"
He shrugs. "No idea."
I narrow my eyes. He's a bad liar.
"Would you like to dance?" Carter asks.
"I would love to."
We dance and dance and dance while sharing some gossip then talking about Carter's football. I tell him about the contest Shea and I are entering and he smiles so big.
"That's fantastic, Tera. You're going to win," he says with all the confidence I'm lacking when it comes to my work.
"I'm glad you think so because I'm doubting it."
"Stop. You know your paintings are beautiful. They're so different from anything I've ever seen. Uniquely you," he tells me.
"Unique isn't always good," I remind him.
"In this case it is." He looks down at me. "Trust me."
I nod. "I do. Thanks for being so supportive. Thanks for offering to bring me here. I don't know why you'd want to do that after I broke your heart."
He smiles softly. "I'd do anything for you. You're the nicest girl I know. Sure, you broke my heart, but that doesn't mean we're not friends, right? We were best friends, Tera. I can't stand to see you unhappy."
"This, right here, is how I know you're going to find your girl and when you do, you're going to realizesheis your one. She's going to steal your heart with just one kiss," I tell him.
One side of his mouth kicks up in a small grin. "Like you did?"
I give him a look. "Carter."
"It was just that easy."
I nod. I'm not sure what to say, so I rest my head on his chest while we dance.
