How would he know?
“It’s not like that. We’re just friends going to homecoming together.”
“You already asked her?”
No. But I figured it wouldn’t be a big deal since neither of us have a date. “I’m about to.”
He hawks a loogie on the payment. “Flowers don’t get you pussy, son. Money does.”
The plastic container in my hand crackles as my hold on it tightens. “I told you it’s not like that with us.”
“Yeah, cause she’s smart enough to know a dud when she sees one. That woo-woo girl might be weird as fuck, but she ain’t desperate or stupid.” He knocks my shoulder with his as he moves past me.
“Asshole,” I whisper under my breath.
Making my way as fast as I can to the car, Nick’s mom is patiently waiting. “Aw honey, that’s beautiful!”
“Thanks.” I get in and see Nick running up the road with a bag of candy for Carly. We both figured we’d ask the girls to HoCo. Bennet and Dean aren’t going.
“Wow, that’s a nice one,” he says, getting in the car with me.
“You boys ready to do this?”
“Yes, ma’am,” we say together.
My stomach kinda hurts and my legs won’t stop shaking. This is our first homecoming, and I still don’t know how it all works. On top of the corsage, I also have asmall bouquet for today that I made out of lavender and sage because she likes those herbs. Figured she can hang them to dry and do something with them later.
Nick’s mom drops us off at Carly’s house and we’re halfway up the front porch steps when I freeze at the sound of Taylor squealing in happiness. “I can’t believe he asked me!”
“Holy crap. Did you say yes?” Carly asks.
Nick stops and listens too. That’s the thing about having your windows open—anyone close by can hear that you’re going to HoCo with someone else now.
“Of course I did,” Taylor sounds thrilled. “No one else has asked and no offense but I’d rather go with a date than you, cuz.”
Carly pretends to be offended. They laugh some more. “It’s a little shitty he waited so last minute though.”
“Better late than never, right? OMG, our first homecoming and I have a real date! This is magic.”
“Con,” Nick whispers, grabbing my arm, but I jerk away from him.
“It’s fine. At least she has someone to go with.” I toss the corsage and bouquet in the trash bin on the side of the house and walk six miles home by myself…
“Earth to Conner.”
Taylor’s voice snaps me out of my memories. “Hmm?”
“I asked if you’re hungry yet.”
Not really. “Yeah.”
“Good, because I have a surprise.” My girl gets up and rifles through her loaded cart. I feel bad that we haven’t used anything she brought yet. “Close your eyes.”
I shut my peepers and tune into her movements,listening carefully to the surrounding wildlife—the quiet whoosh of the stream, the crickets and frogs, the owls.
Something rests in my lap. “Can I look yet?”
“Yup.”
