Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 100612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Maddie narrows her eyes, but the smile tugging at her lips tells me she’s not offended. “Gee. I’m assuming that if you have the nerve to compare me to a child, she is fabulous. You sure have a way with words, Easton.”
I bow my head. “It’s a gift.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t respond right away, her expression shifting into something more thoughtful. She closes her eyes for a brief moment, then looks at me again, gazing deep into my eyes—my soul, it feels like.
“Seriously, Easton—what are you still doing here?”
“What does that mean?”
“I mean—why are you still sitting here with me?” Maddie asks, gesturing toward the sparkling lights in the distance, illuminating the entrance to the dance. “You need to march your ass in there and find your real date.”
“Maddie…”
She cuts me off with a raised hand. “No, don’t ‘Maddie’ me. Look, I understand you didn’t want to be a dick and dump me last minute. You agreed to go with me, and I appreciate that. But let’s be real—you’re not here for me. Not really.”
I open my mouth to challenge her, but she’s not wrong. She also does not let me argue.
“Harper is in there. If you like her as much as I think you do, then you need to march in there and snatch her up. Don’t waste the night sitting somewhere you’re not supposed to be.”
I let out a slow breath, her words sinking in. “You really think I should?”
“Do I think you should?” She mocks me, rolling her eyes toward the roof of the car. “Easton, if you don’t go in there and talk to her, I may do it myself. And trust me, you do not want me playing Cupid.”
“That sounds like it would be a nightmare.”
“Damn right I’m a nightmare.” She smirks. “Now go. And don’t worry about me tonight. I can handle myself.”
I hesitate, glancing at the gym, then back at her. “You sure?”
She waves me off, already reaching for her phone and sliding it into her purse. “I’ll be fine. Tyler Fisher owes me a slow dance because I caught him staring at my ass yesterday, and I plan to collect.”
I shake my head, opening my car door and stepping onto the pavement. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?”
“I do. Sorry, not sorry.” She unfolds herself from the car and tosses a wink over her shoulder. “Now quit stalling and go find your girl.”
Go find my girl.
My girl.
I watch my date strut toward the gym entrance as if she were on a runway during Paris Fashion Week, radiating confidence with every step, and for a moment, I realize that Maddie Miller is more real than she gives herself credit for.
She might be a pain in the ass, but she’s a pain in the ass with depth—and a hell of a lot more authenticity than she knows she has.
With a deep breath, I head toward the gym, heart pounding. Palms sweating.
This is it.
Time to find Harper.
Chapter 36
Harper
This is my senior prom.
So far, so good.
The gym looks like a glitter bomb exploded. The fake chandeliers we hung dangle precariously from the basketball nets and rafters—the decorating committee clearly went bonkers with way too many silver streamers after I left the walk-through.
It feels surreal seeing all the decorations we worked on come to life—the cardboard knights standing guard at the castle facade, each one meticulously painted with gleaming silver armor, bold red crests on their helmets, and swords raised like they’re ready to defend the dance floor.
One knight near the refreshment table holds a banner that reads A Knight Under the Stars in elegant calligraphy—but I notice some jerks drew a mustache on him and added googly eyes to another.
The shimmering curtain of lights cascading over the DJ booth adds to the magic, flickering in time with the pounding bass. The dance floor is a sea of movement under flashing strobe lights, students packed so tightly that I’m amazed no one’s tripped over their heels yet.
The DJ’s song choice—an overplayed club mix—makes my head ache with every beat.
Say it with me: HELLO, MIGRAINE!
The combination of the lights, the music, and the crowd feels overwhelming but oddly satisfying. This chaotic, shimmering mess is exactly what we were going for.
Feeling lost in the mass of people, I let out a slow breath, stepping all the way inside, scanning the crowd for familiar faces.
Halp!
Someone find me!
I weave through the crowd, heels clicking against the polished floor, on a mission to find my best friend. Macy texted me that she’s here already—thank goodness—and standing at the refreshments table.
It comes into view, and there, under the flashing lights, is my bestie, glittering in her lavender dress, brunette curls perfectly styled like she’s stepped out of a prom magazine. She spots me and waves frantically, shoving past her boyfriend to embrace me as usual. If there is one thing I can rely on, it’s Macy’s enthusiastic greeting.