“This sure is different from my actual homecoming.”
Ginny offered her the cream colored flower wrapped in greens to match Chloe’s dress and eyes. “I forget who you went with in high school?”
“No one,” Chloe replied, dipping her head into Ginny’s refrigerator and then looking up with disgust. “Virginia Remillard, you have light mayo in here? What’s even the point?”
“I hesitate to even tell you this, based on the look you’re givin’ me right now, but I don’t even eat the stuff. I just keep it in there for guests. My daddy eats light mayo.”
Chloe blanched, ripped the glass jar from its home and threw it in the trash. “If we are to maintain this friendship, I’m gonna have to take you for a proper grocery shop at some point.”
Ginny laughed. “If it’s that important to you, I think we can make it happen.”
“It’s a matter of honor.” Chloe held out her elbow, offering it to Ginny. “Are we ready, date?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she said, taking her arm and steadying herself against her friend.
“Let’s go dance the night away,” Chloe said, pulling Ginny down the stairs and through the shop to where her car waited. “And maybe we’ll see a hot coach along the way.”
Ginny’s stomach jumped with anticipation. “Maybe…”
On the street, Ginny found not just Chloe’s car but a line of her siblings and their spouses, dressed to the nines in their formal attire and each couple holding corsages of various shades of pink.
“What are y’all doin’ here?” she asked in complete shock.
Her sisters stepped forward first, Georgia offered her a light pink carnation with peach and cream ribbons tied around it and placed it on her wrist. “We are taking you to the dance, Virginia. All of us.”
“We shouldn’t have meddled when we did. Shouldn’t have taken things so far, and we’ll always be so sorry for how hurtyou are, Gin.” Caroline held out a blush cluster of baby roses tied with lavender ribbons and slipped Ginny’s hand into the stretchy bracelet.
“It wasn’t even close to your fault, guys. I should have been honest from the get go.” Ginny wrapped her arms around both her elder sisters and squeezed them close. “I love you so much.”
Dakota joined their huddle and slipped daisies with tiny pink mums around her already crowded wrist. “You deserve it all, Gin. Flowers, romance, PDA…” he gagged and the group laughed. “But while you wait for Doofus—”
Sadie elbowed him in the gut, sliding into their hug with Griffin and Lake close behind.
“Ahem,” Dakota said, clearing his throat, “while you wait on Ryan, we are here. And we always will be.”
Ginny had no words. Only gratefulness for the people God had so graciously placed in her life—her people—and she couldn’t believe she’d ever felt alone.
The school’s auditorium was beautifully decorated, draped in sheer fabrics of deep eggplant purple, lavender, and creams. All honoring the Sugartree Armadillos and the 200th Anniversary of the city Ginny was thankful to call home.
“I’ll always be impressed at your ability to make this place look like a wonderland,” Ginny told Georgia with appreciation in her voice. “You’re amazing.”
“Thanks, Gin. I had help, of course.” Georgia smiled at Lake, who winked and pulled her in close for a kiss. “I think we’re gonna go dance. You good here?”
Ginny looked around the room, seeing neighbors and friends happily mingling and dancing. “I’ll be fine.”
She watched them twirl onto the dance floor just as a slow song played over the speakers. A strong hand caught her elbow, and she turned, finding Liam looking back at her. “Hello, Virginia.”
“Hello, Liam Michael Holder.” She took in his gray suit from head to toe and smiled wide at him. “I’m glad ya made it.”
“Me too.” He smiled wryly back at her. “I know you’re… attached… but at the moment you aren’t, so I thought we might have a friendly dance. For old times’ sake.”
She hesitated. Liam, no matter how handsome or flirty, was not the man she most wanted to have in her arms at the moment.
Liam’s eyes flicked over her shoulder and his brow rose. “Looks like my timing was off… again. Bummer.” Ginny stiffened but didn’t turn around. Not when Liam lightly pressed a kiss to her cheek, and not when he walked away and she felt the heat of the man standing behind her. His hand twirled in one of her curls, then traced the length of her back before coming to rest on her hip.
“Would you dance with me, Ginny?” Ryan’s whisper caressed her cheek, sending nervous shivers across her skin.
She turned and her eyes filled with tears, blurring the vision of Ryan in his navy suit, hair perfectly tousled, glasses framing his tender green eyes, and a corsage of peacock feathers in his free hand. He released her waist before gently placing the corsage on her wrist. “Seems you’re quite popular tonight.”
