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Picking up the dress, I hold it in front of my body, staring at myself in the mirror, admiring the feel of soft satin under my fingertips.It has a sweetheart neckline with a subtle v, and I know my breasts are going to be mildly on display.
"What’s going on?” I ask myself out loud, slipping mindlessly out of my jeans and ugly sweater to step into the gorgeous gown.
I let my hair down, add a nude lip, some strappy, black heels and look myself over in the mirror one last time before I make my way down the stairs, feeling grateful that the dress isn’t tight fitted, and flows loosely all the way down to my feet.
While I have absolutely no regrets about the mountain of food I just consumed, I know I would struggle to breathe even more if the dress hugged my body.
Standing at the bottom of the staircase is the most beautiful man my eyes have ever seen.My heart goes wild while butterflies swarm my stomach, like they always do when he’s in the vicinity.
He’s wearing a black fitted suit, a white shirt and a black bow tie. His wavy, golden hair is combed over to the left, the sides having the perfect fade. His deep green eyes are hooded, his clenched and chiseled jaw ticking as he watches me carefully, slowly approaching him with caution.
"What are you up to, Wingrove?” I say as I take the hand that he holds out for me.
"I’m doing what I should have done fourteen years ago,” he says, smiling at me as he leans in to place a kiss on my cheek, and my hand rushes to feel the space his lips touched.
"Have her home before curfew,” Cranky Hank pipes up, my mom smacking his chest as she watches the two of us with tears in her eyes.
"Will do, Mr. Herring,” Harley replies, but his eyes don’t leave mine.
Not even for a second.
Closing the front door to my parents’ home, he holds my hand down the front porch steps, leading me to a limo parked out front.My skin crawling with goosebumps and teeny tiny snowflakes, but I’m too full of adrenaline to feel the cold.
"Harley, what are you doing?” I ask again, as he opens the door for me to get inside the well-heated limo, partition raised.
"Patience, Herring.” He smirks, sliding into the seat next to me.
Taking my hand in his lap, we sit the rest of the drive in silence.
forty-four
Cassandra
Pulling up at thehigh school gymnasium, he steps out of the limo first, offering his now black gloved hand for me to take. Helping me step out, his palm rests firmly on my lower back, and I feel a sense of comfort and protection wash over me.A feeling I've missed.
It’s dark out. The parking lot is covered in a thick layer of snow, but there's a clear trail leading up to the doors for us to walk along. White fog leaves Harley’s mouth with every breath he takes. I should be cold, too, but I’m too overrun by anxiety, my nerve endings on fire.
"Are you going to explain yet?” I raise a brow, trying not to let my eagerness take over as he places his coat jacket over my shoulders.
"This is the night everything was supposed to change for us.” He smiles, squeezing my hand, leading the way. He doesn’t turn to face me, though. It’s like he’s trying his best to keep his composure and he knows that if he looks at me, it’s game over.
Once we reach the double doors to the gym, my mouth gapes open, getting a strong sense of déjà vu. It’s decorated exactly how it was at our prom, fourteen years ago. Navy and gold balloons hang from all over the ceiling with a large disco ball hanging in the center. Large lights flash, illuminating the dance floor. There’s a DJ booth in the corner, occupied by Bea, as she stands behind it wearing giant headphones, smiling at us.
Harley hasn’t let go of my hand.
He leads me into the middle of the dance floor whenMake You Feel My LovebyAdelebegins to play.Gently, he pulls my body into his when he finally locks eyes with mine. My heart thunders in my chest, calmness coursing from my head to my toes.
I hadn’t even realized how tense I’d been for the last few weeks and yet, suddenly, I feel like I’m floating above us, watching myself live out a lifelong fantasy.
"I love this song,” I whisper, resting my cheek on his chest. Both of his hands sit comfortably on my lower back, his chin resting on top of my head.
"I know,” he replies. I can hear his smile through his voice. "I don’t know if you remember, but you promised me a dance at prom,” he says halfway through the song.
"I remember.” Closing my eyes, I focus on the sound of his heart beating perfectly in time with the song, not letting my mind wander to what happened that night instead.
"I remember this song playing, so I went to find you. Have a secret dance. But then I watched you leave.” I don’t think I’ve ever admitted that to anyone before. I ended up dancing with Austin, even though I told him I didn’t want to. We danced, and I buried my face in his chest, closing my eyes so no one could tell that I was crying.
