She laughs and nudges his leg. “Yes. Obviously.”
“Aww,” Kiara sighs, pressing a hand to her chest. “True love. Disgusting.”
Then she sighs again. “Meanwhile I’m tragically single.”
“Same,” Noah says. “Guess we’re each other’s dates.”
Kiara immediately high-fives him. “Deal. But I control what you wear.”
I shake my head, laughing, and I feel Ryan shift beside me. He clears his throat just enough to get everyone’s attention, his expression way too calm for someone about to do something dramatic.
“So,” he says, a little louder now, “Madelyn Hazel Gracelyn.”
There’s something about the way my full name rolls off his tongue that sends me shivers.
“Will you go to the dance with me?”
A couple people nearby glance over.
I nod, with a grin. “Yeah. I’d love to.”
A few people nearby let out softawwsand I lean in slightly, “Full name? You really went for it, huh?”
He shrugs his shoulders, a grin appearing on his face. “Well, we gotta keep it convincing right?”
Oh. Okay, still fake. Got it.
I blink and it takes me a second before responding. “Yes—yes, of course.”
Mel claps immediately. “Okay! Now that everyone is officially going—outfits.”
“Yes!” Kiara says. “I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
We spiral into outfit talk for a solid ten minutes before Mel suddenly turns to the guys. “Wait. What are you all wearing?”
“Clothes,” Noah says.
“Probably a button-up?” Liam adds.
Kiara stares at them in horror. “That’s it?”
Mel looks equally offended. “You boys need to take this seriously.”
“It’s a dance,” Noah says. “Not the Met Gala.”
Kiara gasps. “Noah Luke Gracelyn. How dare you.”
I turn to Ryan. “You better wear something good, because I’m wearing heels.”
He smirks. “Yes, ma’am.”
Why does everything this man says give me butterflies? It’s really annoying.
“We should all get ready at our place,” I add, trying to think of anything else than this entire butterfly garden inside my stomach. “Tradition.”
“Absolutely,” Mel agrees.
“Great,” Liam says.
