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“I know.” Like the exploding cameras. My favorite. For just a second, I felt sad. I’d accepted walking away from school. But I wasn’t ready to walk away from my dream job yet. “Well, I’ll figure it out.”

Scarlett nodded. “I know you will.”

“Well, that was fun,” Justin said. “But now both silence your pretty faces so I can fix what you’ve both destroyed.”

Scarlett laughed. “Sorry, Justin.”

“You should be.” He started fixing her makeup.

I’d had a whole plan in my head of what I wanted. And I would have been scared that Adonis had pulled me off that path. But I trusted him. He was the singular most important thing to me. He was the only person that had ever made me feel like I was enough. Just the way I was.

Justin quickly fixed my makeup too. “Now, goddesses, let’s go take a million pictures.” He sniffed. “God, they grow up so fast. And you.” He turned to Scarlett. “You give me more than two weeks’ notice, okay? Pinky swear?”

Scarlett laughed and wrapped her pinky around Justin’s. “I pinky swear. We’re waiting until after college.”

“That’s what they all say,” Justin said. “But as soon as that handsome strapping young lad puts a bun in your oven all bets are off. And Uncle Justin can’t handle more stress. I’d prefer two year’s notice.”

“There will be no buns in my oven anytime soon,” Scarlett said. “Unless I want my father to kill me. And Axel.”

“Ah.” Justin put his hands on his chest. “I love when Daddy James goes all primal. Although, I’d prefer a proper spanking over a homicide any day.”

I laughed. I loved Justin.

“Come on, girls. It’s showtime!” Justin put his arms over our shoulders and walked us out of the bathroom.

“No,” Uncle James said when he saw Scarlett. “Go change, pumpkin.”

Aunt Penny laughed and swatted his arm. “James, she looked gorgeous.”

She really did. She was wearing a golden laurel wreath in her hair and a sparkly gold floor length gown. With a very dramatic V down the front. Which I was pretty sure was what had made Uncle James’ head explode.

“You sexy beast, stop it,” Justin said. “The girls look amazing. Don’t go all papa bear on them. Aim that energy at me if you want to spank someone.”

Uncle James frowned.

“The boys will be here any minute,” my mom said, doing her best to distract everyone. “But let’s get a picture just the girls.” She ushered us over to one of the pillars that was in our living room.

Everyone was coming to my place for pictures before the dance. As soon as I’d shown Scarlett the Roman columns from the resort, she’d gotten it in her head that we had to take pictures at my place. I’d been very concerned about Adonis coming over here. I’d successfully kept him away for months, but Scarlett was insistent about this.

And as far as I could tell, the ceiling still looked like a ceiling. And the weird staircase to nothing that my dad had threatened had never appeared. I was pretty sure it was safe. I could never be too sure with my dad, but he’d never ruin my prom. He’d save his pudding prank for some other time.

Scarlett and I struck pose after pose.

“Do you think you should talk to your mom in private?” Scarlett whispered. “Before everyone comes over?”

The thought actually scared me a bit. “Nope, I’m all about the big reveal.” So my dad could step in and save me.

“Okay. And I’ll be here to help.”

My mom really valued a college education. And I thought I did too. But opinions changed. She’d be okay with this, she had to be. Besides, it was already decided. I’d given up my spot.

“Let me get in one real quick,” my dad said and stepped in front of the pillar. He pulled me against his chest. “Baby girl, you look beautiful.”

I was pretty sure I heard him sniffle.

“Dad?” I looked up at him.

He cleared his throat. “Yes?”