“And didn’t he end up crying to you?” Maura said as she started laughing hard.
“Yep. Because he tried to kiss me, and I said no. He said I ruined his prom experience, and that he could have gone with so many other girls and would probably have gotten laid. He then told me he’d never have asked me if he’d known I was a prude. And then he burst into tears and said he would never forgive me.”
“That douche canoe is such a jackass,” Coco hissed. “I saw him a few times this summer and gave him my best death glare.”
“So, he’s probably lying in a puddle of mush right now. I’m totally fine with that,” Gigi said and everyone laughed.
“We’re all meeting at Addy’s tomorrow afternoon, right? We’ll take our test, grab some lunch, and then head over to her house to get ready.” Ivy pulled up in front of my house.
It was a ritual. We’d been getting ready for dances together since our freshman year of high school. The girls always slept over after. The thought that this was our last year of making these memories made my chest ache.
“Yes,” everyone said in unison, and I hopped out of the car.
“Okay, see you in the morning. Get some rest. Love you,” I said.
“Get ready to have some fun tomorrow night.” Coco wriggled her brow. “Love you, bitch.”
“Love you,” they all called out as I shut the door.
When I stepped inside, my dad and Clem were sitting at the table with large bowls of vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate sauce.
“Hey, what’s going on here?” I said, grabbing a spoon and pulling out my chair to join them. I dipped it in my father’s bowl and closed my eyes as the chocolate melted on my tongue.
“Just talking about Clem’s big win today,” Daddy said, his handsome face beaming with pride.
“Do you want to hear the best part?” My sister could barely contain her excitement. Clem’s auburn hair bounced on her shoulders, and the cutest spray of freckles peppered her cheeks, standing out against her fair skin. We always joked about the fact that we didn’t know if I had freckles because my tanned skin may have hidden them. I had Mama’s complexion, and Clem was all Daddy. Our dark brown eyes were the only physical characteristic that we shared. And there was nothing that I didn’t love about my baby sister.
“What?” I asked, my gaze ping-ponging between them.
“My winning time was faster than the boys’ winning time,” she said, covering her mouth with her hands to hide her giggle.
“She beat all the boys.” Daddy ruffled her hair.
“Damn straight. Why they make us race by sex is beyond me. Put me up against any of those clowns. This is the twenty-first century. Women are tired of being held back. It’s our year, Addy.” My sister fist-bumped the sky.
Daddy and I cheered along with her.
“Not this again,” Mama said as she entered the kitchen, shaking her head with disapproval. “Women are doing just fine, Clem.”
“Well, I’m proud of you, girl.” I smiled at my sister. “I wish I could have been there.”
“You should have seen Coach’s face when he realized my time was faster than the kid from South High that won the boys’ race. Serves him right for telling me not to have such high expectations this season. ‘It’s a marathon, not a sprint, Clem.’” She imitated him and used two fingers on each hand to make quotation marks. “This one is for all the women who have been told to set their expectations low.”
Daddy high-fived each of us and Mama rolled her eyes, hands planted on each hip as she stared at my sister. “You’re awfully young to be a feminist.”
I gawked at my mother’s words. That’s all she had to say about Clem’s accomplishments?
“I was born a feminist, Mama. May I remind you that you should realize how powerful you are, especially after pushing two humans out of your vagina.”
Mama gasped. She didn’t talk about such things, and my father and I shared a glance, and covered our smiles with a hand.
“Go to bed, Clementine. Addy, you have a test in the morning and then I have Celeste and her team coming over to do hair and makeup for you girls. Let’s go to bed, dear.” Mama held her hand out for my father. This chat had clearly pushed her over the edge.
“Good job, Clem. Love you both,” Daddy said, pausing to kiss the tops of our heads.
“Love you, Daddy-kins, love you Mama,” my baby sister said as I called out the sentiment with her.
I paused to look at the pretty pink dress hanging on my bathroom door that Mama and I had found at Lulu’s Boutique in town. I ran my hand down the satin fabric, before getting ready for bed. I climbed under the covers and wished for a restful night of sleep.
Tomorrow was a big day.
For whatever reason, scoring well on my SATs was important to me.
Chapter Six
Jett
We took photos out at the old apple orchard near school. The tall cypress trees were covered in colorful leaves and a light breeze moved around us. Half the senior class was here, as Shaw and Coco deciding to go to a dance together had forced the two groups that normally wouldn’t mix—together. I didn’t care. I was ready for this night to be over and it had barely started. Jessica was acting like we were a couple, and I’d need to put some distance between us after this dance.
Ma and Gram drove out to take pictures and see everyone all dressed up. I posed for enough photos to last me a lifetime and forced a smile. Jessica wore a tight, short lavender gown, and her blonde hair fell around her shoulders. She was sexy, no question. There just wasn’t a spark there, and I certainly wasn’t looking to ignite anything.
“Addy?” my mother called out and my gaze followed. “Wow. You look gorgeous, honey.”
Ma always talked about Adelaide, because she’d been going to the diner every weekend with her friends for years. My mom thought she was sweet and kind, unlike Adelaide’s mother, who’d treated her as if she no longer existed after she got knocked up with me.
“Hi Mae. Thank you so much.” I watched as they embraced, and my eyes scanned Adelaide’s body from head to toe. She wore a pink dress, hugging her slight curves and showing off her toned legs. Her dress ended mid-thigh and her tanned skin shimmered in the last of the sunlight remaining overhead. Her dress was longer than the other girls’ dresses were, yet she managed to be the sexiest girl here. She didn’t have to try. She always stood out. Her dark hair was pulled back in a long ponytail falling down her back and I had a hard time looking away.
“Hellooooo. Earth to Jett,” Jessica whined.