Evan looks over to me and raises his eyebrows in question. I bite my bottom lip to hold in a laugh while I give him a quick nod. I love that my two best friends get along and certainly don’t care if they share a dance, but no one better assume I’ll dance with Matt during that time. So not happening.
“Of course,” Evan smiles at her sweetly, “a dance later would be great.”
“Oh, and guess what?” Her high pitched squeal may actually be louder than the music. “We’re gonna be college partners!” She holds up her palm to high-five Evan.
Oh damn, that stings a little. Don’t cry at your prom, Laney, hold your shit together.
“You got in to UGA?” My voice wobbles and my smile is forced as I ask her.
“Hell yes! How ‘bout that? Isn’t it awesome?”
It is awesome. It’s the most awesome thing I can think of happening right now, but it’s not happening to me. It’s happening to Kaitlyn. And Evan. Together. Without me.
“That’s wonderful, Kaitlyn, congratulations.” I hug her quickly; it’s all I can give right now.
“Dance with me?” Evan murmurs against my neck from behind.
Grateful for the distraction, I turn and grab his hand.
“Amazed” by Lonestar starts, and I’m not surprised to hear Evan’s low, sultry voice singing along in my ear. I have one of my arms around his neck, my other hand held in his and pressed against his chest between our bodies. His strong arm around my back holds me close to him; he’s exactly the support I need right now.
“This is your song, Laney. I will always be with you,” he whispers in the closing notes.
He just sang to me that he wants to spend the rest of his life with me, that it just keeps getting better. God how I wish it was true, but it’s not looking like that’s gonna happen.
The song ends too soon, and we walk back to our table hand in hand. Evan pulls out my chair for me and then takes his own.
“You okay?” he leans over and asks softly in my ear. I give him a quick smile and nod, grabbing his hand in mine.
“So are you guys like officially a couple now or what?” Kaitlyn asks abruptly.
I glance at Evan and the blush that creeps up his cheeks matches my own, I’m sure. He picks up my hand and kisses the back of it gently.
“We’re anything Laney wants us to be,” he answers, his gaze locked on mine.
Heat sweeps through me, toes to scalp, and I can barely form a thought. Do I want to be a “couple” with Evan? Yes, I do. I guess we’ve kinda always been, just without the blatant physicality, which clearly sways my vote. So, it would seem I need to establish my exact intentions with him. Do I have to go ask his father first?
With so many after parties and invites, I wasn’t sure of our plans as we made our way to the car. His mother had been thoughtful enough to make him take her Camry, sparing me the climb into his truck in my dress. Bless Mrs. Allen, she’s always looking out for me.
“Where are we going now?” I ask as we leave the lot.
“Well, I figured we’d run back home and change first. I know your skin’s crawling; you’ve been in a dress for almost three hours,” he laughs.
It’s nice that he truly knows me, saves a lot of having to explain myself. He’s like the perfect song, all said for me.
I reach over and take his hand, lifting it to softly kiss his knuckles. He looks over at me and flashes one of his signature smiles. I can tell he’s happy and the feeling’s mutual. I settle our joined hands on my thigh. “Tonight was magical, Evan. Thank you for taking me.”
“Ah, Laney, I should be thanking you. Tonight was perfect. You’re perfect.”
We sit in the driveway for several minutes, just staring into each other’s eyes, the fingers of our interlaced hands teasing and stroking. I lean in first, overcome with how he makes me feel, how I feel about him. An inch from his lips I stop, letting his hot, fast breath wash over my face...I love the effect I seem to have on him.
“I’ll race you back here,” I tease and leap out for my head start.
Chapter Seven
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THREE LITTLE WORDS
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EVAN
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I’m running around like a crazy person, trying to change my clothes and grab all the stuff I packed for tonight. I don’t want Laney to beat me back to the car. I want to be waiting to open the door for her.
God, she looked beautiful tonight; I hope I told her enough. I’ve waited half my life to take my princess to the ball, and it’s been perfect. I want tonight to last forever, for everything to be that of her dreams. I just pray she’ll love what I have planned.
We’re about to start a new and very different chapter of our lives with college, and the same school plan is looking less hopeful every day. So tonight, I want to take her back to the beginning of Laney and Evan, the beginning of us. I want to remind her that we’re ingrained in one another and always will be.
I’m taking her fishing.
She beats me back to the car, but since we’re changed now, I tell her we’ll take my truck, so I do get to open the door for her. “Where are we going?” She asks as she gets settled in her seat.
“You’ll see,” I wink and close her door, walking around to my side, whistling.