Chapter 33
“Yeah, Dad, I promise to be careful.” I laughed, trying not to move too much to mess up my hair or make-up. “Anyway, K.C. and Liam will be there, so I’ll be able to find a ride if I get too wasted.”
My laptop speakers vibrated with the loud sigh my dad let out. “Tate.”
“Oh, relax. You know you can trust me.”
I guess I could still say that, but somehow I felt like it was less true than before.
My fingers fidgeted. I needed to get off this call, so I could get into my dress. Jared and Madoc had compromised about Homecoming. I’d be going with both of them. As much as I just wanted to spend every second with Jared, I’d decided to give Madoc an opportunity to make amends. If he was Jared’s best friend, then it was no skin off my nose to give him another chance.
Just one more chance.
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” my dad grumbled.
I narrowed my eyes. “But you like Jared, Dad.”
“He’s a teenage guy, honey. I trust him, just not with my daughter.”
Heat rose to my cheeks, and I hoped my dad didn’t see a blush. His suspicions were too close to home.
If he only knew. Guilt sullied the otherwise exciting night I was about to have.
Jared and I had made love twice on my birthday a week ago and again the next morning. Keeping him off me since then so I could get some school work done had become a full time job. A delightful and fun full-time job. I enjoyed the effect I had on him and how easily I could get him worked up only to say no. He called me a bully for it last night, and I’d laughed, because I did kind of get off on the power.
But if my dad knew that Jared spent all of his nights here now, he’d jump a plane home immediately. I would do the same thing if it were my daughter, but I just didn’t want Jared anywhere without me, and he seemed to feel the same way. We couldn’t control ourselves. Or maybe we just didn’t care to try.
“Well, how do I look so far?” I asked, meaning my look from the neck up.
He gave me a sad smile, and I knew he was sorry he couldn’t be here with me. “Beautiful. So much like your mom.”
My eyes welled up. “Thanks,” I barely whispered. My mom and I didn’t look a lot alike. She had red hair and was more petite, but it made me feel proud that my dad thought I was just as beautiful. I wanted her here tonight fluffing my hair or helping me zip my dress.
My honey-colored hair was parted in the middle, and wide curls cascaded down my back. The make-up I’d bought when I purchased the dress turned out to be less overwhelming than I originally thought. Whereas I usually applied minimal color to my face and eyes, I’d decided to go all out tonight and the result had been shocking. My eyes popped, and my lips looked like candy.
“Alright, go get dressed, and text me when you get in tonight.” He rubbed the stubble on his jaw.
“I love you. Talk to you later,” I replied.
“Love you too. Have a great time.” And we clicked off.
Casting off the white button-down, I slipped my dress off the hanger. Stepping into the nude and silver sequined material, I felt shivers down my arms and legs as giddiness overtook me. The slim-fitting, short, strapless dress featured a sweetheart neckline. My legs, arms, and cl**vage were the main attractions, since the dress covered none of them. I took a deep breath while I worked the zipper up and adjusted my body inside the dress as it hugged all the right places. The sheer overlay featured a pattern of sequins that made me look like I glowed. My toes dug into the floor when I saw myself in the mirror.
Wow. I’d never looked like this before.
After a few make-up touch-ups and adding some bracelets and earrings, I headed downstairs to grab my heels out of the Bronco. Waiting until this afternoon to purchase the finishing touch on my outfit had been playing with fire, but shoes had been the last thing on my mind this week.
Taking the box from the passenger side of the truck, I spun around to see Jared frozen in his driveway, staring at me. I swallowed with the sudden shock of seeing him dressed up. He wore a black suit, of course, with a black shirt and shoes. The jacket didn’t hang on him limply but was tailored in at the waist before it fell past his hips. His hair was trimmed and styled to perfection and out of his eyes, making them seem brighter. I just wanted to take him inside and forget about the dance.
His deep stare travelled down my body, and his breathing got heavier by the second.
Yes! Exactly the reaction I was hoping for.
Taking the top of the box and fitting it underneath the bottom, I slipped both high heels onto my bare feet one at a time. Jared kept his eyes on me, following every movement.
“So, is the dress for him? Or me?” Jared teased, crossing to my yard.
“For you?” I arched an eyebrow. “Why would this dress be for you?” My snarky attitude was meant to play with him. Something I’d gotten very good at.
Jared wrapped his arms around my lower back and picked me up, bringing his lips to mine in a hard “take that” kiss.
“You taste like a Starburst,” he groaned against my lips. “And you look like the sun.”
Elation swept over me at his words. “You look great, too.”
The distant hum of Madoc’s GTO echoed through the neighborhood, and I squirmed out of Jared’s arms. I was sure my dress had ridden up a little when he grabbed me and that was not a sight for his friend.
Madoc pulled up alongside my house and climbed out of the car in nearly the same black suit and shirt as Jared’s, but Madoc had added a purple tie. With his blonde hair and handsome face, he looked cavalier and gorgeous. The bruises from his fight a couple of weeks ago were pretty much gone.
Whereas Jared had the movie star look, Madoc was pretty like a model. Too pretty for my taste but pretty all the same. Walking in with these two tonight, I’d be the talk of the town tomorrow.
Great.
Madoc slowed when he looked up and noticed Jared in front of me. Whatever Madoc saw in Jared’s eyes gave him pause. Any trace of a grin he was wearing had now vanished.
“I’m not going to get hit again, am I?” Madoc asked, half-timid and half-joking.
“Go f**k yourself. You’re lucky you’re getting her at all tonight.” Jared sighed and walked back over to his house. “I’ll get my keys. We’re taking my car.”
Madoc smiled after Jared as he watched his friend disappear inside his house and slam the front door.
I registered a low whistle and brought my eyes back to Madoc. “You look….edible.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe I could clean up nice. I rolled my eyes and fixed him with an impatient stare.
“Relax.” He smiled and held up his hands. “I’ll mind my manners…tonight,” he added the last with a threatening smirk.
Shaking my head, I turned towards the house. “I’ll grab my bag.”
After I slid my clutch purse off the entry way table, checked myself in the mirror, and locked up the house, I twisted to see Madoc holding a corsage in his hand.
Feeling slightly uneasy, since I thought Jared would be the one getting me a flower, I looked at him suspiciously.
He approached me, a thoughtful expression on his face. “If you don’t mind, I asked Jared if I could get this for you.” He widened the wristlet, and I slipped my hand through. “I’m sorry for being an a**hole all these years. I did have a plan, though.”
Puzzled, I asked, “Which was?”
He smiled to himself. “Jared’s my best friend. I’ve known for a while that he cared about you. The first time I came over to his house Freshman year, I found a stash of pictures of the two of you. He keeps them in his nightstand.”
My heart beat faster, but I was relieved. I hated that I didn’t see any pictures of us among his box of photos the night I snooped. Now I know that he kept them somewhere else. Somewhere close to him.
“Anyway,” Madoc continued, “I never understood why he treated you the way he did, and Jared is about as revealing as a hermit crab. He’s like one of those piggy banks that you have to break to get anything out of. You can’t just shake him and he’ll give up the goods. You have to get the hammer.” He looked straight at me. “You were the hammer.”
“I still don’t follow.”
He pursed his lips like he was annoyed he had to explain it further. “I messed with you more than he asked me to, because I wanted him to react. He’s never been a particularly happy guy, and I was sick of his brooding. He went ballistic after you left for France, and I figured out that his destructive behavior had something to do with you. Like he was lost without you or something. So, I decided to try to make him jealous when you got back and see what happened.”
“And you think that makes you a good friend?” Why would Madoc want to rile Jared up? Why not just talk to him?
“I don’t know,” he said sarcastically. “You two seem pretty damn happy.”
We were very happy. But I doubt it was Madoc asking me to Homecoming that got Jared to act. I guess it didn’t matter, though. Jared and I had come together again, stronger I hope, and Madoc got to entertain himself.
“So you wanted to see him happy. Why do you care about Jared so much?” I asked.
Madoc stuck his hands in his pocket and tried to hide a grin. “Did you ever hear about the time Freshman year that I got stuffed nak*d into my locker by some Seniors?”
Madoc got bullied? “Uh, no,” I laughed, not believing a word of it.
“No one knows. And that’s why Jared is my best friend.” His voice was even, and I could tell he was serious. Jared had helped him.
I didn’t know what to say, but we both turned our attention to Jared as he came walking out of his house. Taking my hand, he kissed me under my ear.
“Sorry that took so long. My mom was giving me a talk.”
Madoc came to my other side and held out his arm for me to take, which I did.
“About?” I pressed, a little nervous about what kind of parenting Katherine was doing today.
“About not getting you pregnant,” he whispered without looking at me.
I cleared my throat. Pregnant?
We both exchanged wary grins, not sure what to say to that. Jared and I had been using protection, but I guess I should get on the pill, too.
“Are we ready?” Madoc piped up from my side.
I held Madoc by the inside of his elbow and held Jared closer to me by the bicep. While a month ago I never would’ve thought I’d be here with these two, I felt at ease. “Totally. This is the start of a great friendship.” I jostled Madoc’s arm playfully.
“It could be the start of a great porno, too,” Madoc deadpanned, breaking into laughter.
“Son of a bitch! You’re going to get it tonight,” Jared threatened, and I shook my head laughing.
Chapter 34
The dance was more enjoyable that we anticipated, even with the watered down music and trying to juggle two dates. New York, New York was the Homecoming theme, and the gym was awesomely decorated with cutouts of the New York City skyline and twinkle lights.
Madoc and Jared were like yin and yang. Madoc loved everyone and everything. Jared—I love him—barely tolerates anything. Madoc got great pictures of himself and me leaning up against a retro New York City cab for our Homecoming photo. I played along, even though he kept trying to pose like a Goodfella. Jared had to be coerced in front of the camera, but I’m sure he just did it for me.