I ground my teeth, fighting for calm, then Norma’s voice cut across the breakfast table like a knife.
“Go and get yourself a tuxedo too, Evan.”
Another tableau of frozen faces around the table, including mine this time. Norma arched an eyebrow, spreading butter on toast as she spoke. “Today after school. I’ll give you my credit card and you take it to the department store in Halston.”
I gaped, then glanced at Harris. “I’m supposed to work at the shop.”
Norma dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “I’ll not have any one of you look shabby on a night such as this. What color is this Jo’s dress?”
It took me a moment, but I found my voice. “I don’t know. She wants to surprise me.”
“Then go with a black tux. And her corsage should be white. It will match nicely with any color.”
I could only stare, a strange warmth in my chest I hadn’t felt in years, if ever. “All right,” I said faintly.
I was conscious of Shane’s attention on me, watching me through narrowed eyes. The miserable shit. The more happiness I showed, the more he’d work to take it away from me or turn it rotten. I vowed nothing would ruin prom night. None of Shane’s petty evil would touch Jo.
I shot him a warning look as I said to Norma, “Thank you.”
Norma sniffed. “Dishes, boys.”
Which meant breakfast was over. As we all cleared our plates, I felt the daggers of Shane’s gaze in my back.
“Well, look who gets to the go the ball,” he sneered at the kitchen sink. “Our own Cinderella. Only instead of a princess waiting for you, you have a scarred up slut—”
I choked off Shane’s words simply by towering over him, cornering him against the cabinets. “You want to say that again?” I asked, deadly casual. “Go ahead, Shane. Say it again.”
“Or you’ll what?” Shane said, staring at me through wide eyes. “You’ll break my face like you did Jared? You don’t think that’s not going to bite you in the ass, Freakshow? His parents are pissed. They’re going to sue, you know. They’ll press charges.”
“Let them,” I said,
Merle slipped in between us. He pushed me back and looked about ready to clock me but Shane waved him off. He straightened his shirt over his bony, caved-in chest, and laughed darkly.
“Go ahead, Freakshow. Enjoy your little prom fantasy with Matt King’s leftovers while you can.”
He shuffled off, leaning heavily on his cane, Merle following behind like he was put on this earth to do nothing but be Shane’s muscle. Garrett appeared at my heels.
“Hey, Evan,” he said in a small voice. “I’m happy you’re going to the big dance.”
I should’ve told him to mind his own business. To protect him. But he was staring at me, his little face open and sweet, and I knelt down and hugged him.
“Thanks, buddy, I’m sorry I’ve been such an ass to you lately. I just want you to be safe.”
He laughed at ‘ass.’ “Safe from what?”
“Shane. And Merle. I don’t want them pissed at you for being nice to me.”
He looked at me like I was crazy. “You’re my brother. Of course, I’m going to be nice to you.”
He patted me on top of my head and skipped out of the pantry. Shane’s dirty words about Jo faded out, and I sort of felt like skipping too. Or flying.
Or floating on water.
Prom Night arrived and I was a nervous wreck. I laid out my dress on the bed and stared at it, my fingernail tapping my front teeth. I bought it at a department store at the mall in Haltson, not from a thrift store like I had planned. It cost me $150, which is way more than I was comfortable spending out of my travel fund.
Our travel fund, I amended silently, and had to clap a hand over my mouth to hold back a sob. Or maybe it was uncontrollable laughter bubbling up. For the first time since my mother died, I felt I was moving toward something instead of being hurdled into a black unknown.
Evan.
God, how had he happened to me?
I studied the dress and let go of worrying about how much it cost. I wanted to be beautiful for him.
I showered. Shaved everywhere. I even put perfumed lotion all over my skin, making me smell like lilacs. I had new black lace panties and matching bra, bought on sale at Victoria’s Secret. I hesitated after I put them on, looking at my reflection. Black made my pale skin more pale, but the underwear set was the sexiest thing I owned. I wanted to be that for him too. I trailed my fingers between my breasts, touching the edge of the black lace. I hoped Evan liked it, but if he didn’t…
Then he can tear it off me.
My eyes fell shut as both the thought and its visual shot through me, leaving me weak. I inhaled sharply.
“Focus, Josephine. Focus.”
I braided my hair loosely and pulled it over my left shoulder, letting a few tendrils curl down to conceal the scar. I put on more makeup than I usually did, but with more finesse than the raccoon look I had going most days. I made it lighter and prettier, trying to bring out the green in my eyes. A little blush for color, a little lip gloss Evan would kiss off immediately.