The night has been amazing, and I feel like I’m living in a dream.
A school administrator gives us a quick rundown of what will happen next—which is not super complicated. When they call your name, you go onstage.
She sets the new king and queen crowns on a little table next to me. “You may have to crown both,” she tells me. “Last year’s king couldn’t come, and it looks like our backup hasn’t shown.”
She scurries away, envelopes in hand, and makes her way up onto the stage, where she starts announcing the Homecoming Court by grade, starting with the freshman.
“Lookin’ good, Dani Diamond,” a voice says from behind me.
I turn around to find Hunter Lansford giving me a wolfish grin.
“What are you doing here?”
“I guess Douglas couldn’t make it. They asked me to step in. I thought it was kind of lame, but now, I’m glad I did.”
“Great,” I mutter.
Hunter gives me the chin raise. “So, you’re a college girl now. You dating anyone?”
“I’m here with Chase.”
“Mackenzie?” He laughs. “He still have a boner for you? Although I know you’re lying. I was at the game when he asked Lacey. It was Senior Night, and my sister is on the dance team. Don’t worry, Dani.” He suggestively slides his hand across my shoulder. “I can pretend to be your date if you need one.”
“Don’t touch me,” I say, quickly moving away from him.
“Why is it one of the prettiest girls in town never has a date for the ball? Want me to be your prince? Find your shoe? Of course, I’d want some kind of a special reward to give it back.”
The sophomores are being called up now.
“I’m here with Chase. And I literally have no idea what I ever saw in you.”
He throws his arm around my shoulders and leans in close to my face. “Shall I kiss you and remind you?”
“I said, don’t touch me.” I forcefully remove his hand from my shoulder. “And if you do it again, I’ll be the one punching you in the face this time. Are we clear?”
He shrugs. “You must not be getting any in college. Or from Mackenzie. Probably because you’re a bitch.”
I react by kneeing him in the crotch.
“Ugh,” he says, buckling and falling to the floor dramatically.
The junior girls behind me start clapping.
And I can’t help but smile.
I’m thinking about how I stood here last year. Worried about not having an escort. A tradition that they have stopped, thankfully.
I remember freaking out about it—how it would look if I didn’t have a date. How I begged Chase to walk me out onstage. How even though he thought I should have the confidence to walk out there myself, he showed up.
“Because I’m your brother’s best friend,” he said, “I’m giving you the option. Walk out by yourself or on my arm.”
“In other words, what’s it gonna be—the shame of being alone or the shame of being with a younger guy?”
“Wow. Okay. So, helpful hint—neither one is supposed to be shameful. You still don’t get it,” he said, “and maybe you never will.”
My name is called. I grab both crowns, leave Hunter—who is still whimpering—in the dust, and walk proudly out onto the stage by myself.
I take my place next to the junior court as Pace is announced as the first king nominee, followed by my brother, and then Chase. They line up opposite me as the senior girls are announced.
I look over at Chase, who smiles and then winks at me, causing me to melt.
“And this year’s Homecoming King is … Damon Diamond!”
I take the crown and happily walk across the stage, put it on my brother’s head, and give him a big hug. Damon’s beaming, and I’m so happy for him.
“And this year’s Homecoming Queen is … Lacey Turnbull.”
Hunter, who has made it up onto the stage, snatches the queen’s tiara out of my hands, but once he realizes Lacey isn’t here, he looks dumbfounded about what he should do. Chase takes a step forward and meets Hunter in the middle of the stage. Hunter narrows his eyes at Chase in what appears to be some kind of testosterone-filled challenge.
But Chase simply takes the crown from him, and then he goes to the mic and says, “Lacey is home sick with the chicken pox, but I know she will be thrilled to be your queen. I’ll see to it that she gets this.”
Hunter snickers at me.
But I don’t really care what he thinks.
Love worth fighting for.
Chase
“Hey,” I say, joining Dani back at our table once all of the festivities are over.
“Hey,” she says breathlessly as I take her into my arms.
I know she’s been happy tonight, high almost. In her element. And I’ve been right there with her, feeling like I’ve been given a long-overdue gift. That we finally got to this point.
But I feel a little guilty. Because even though this was my dream—to be at Homecoming with Dani and dance with her all night—she’s already had her year as queen.
And this should have been Lacey’s year.
“Let’s get a few more dances in,” Dani says, “before Damon wants to go party.”
“I can’t,” I say.
“Why not?”
I hold up the crown. “I need to take this to Lacey.”
“It was really nice you accepted it for her, Chase. But you aren’t saying that you want to take it to her now, like tonight, are you?”
“Yeah, I am. This was supposed to be her moment. I should be out there, dancing with her right now. I’m sure you can understand since you’ve been there already. Since you got to feel that way last year.”
“Are you serious?” she asks incredulously. “There’s no reason you can’t take it to her tomorrow.”
“It needs to be tonight. And it won’t take long.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me,” she says, which causes me to flinch.
What she should have done was offered to go with me or said she’d be here when I got back.
“Dani, as much as I have dreamed of you being my date for every single homecoming, you ended up saying yes to Hunter. You could have apologized. You could have asked me. But you didn’t. And you’re not my date tonight either. Tonight, we’re just two people tossed together by circumstances beyond our control.”
“But you got me chicken and champagne.”
“Yeah, because I felt like I was being given a second chance. But standing up there, I realized that if we’re ever going to be together as more than friends, it shouldn’t be due to circumstance. It shouldn’t be because I happen to be there. And it shouldn’t be because it’s the path of least resistance. I want the kind of love worth fighting for, Dani, and I wish with all my heart that this were us for real. But I have to stop wishing my life away. I’m cool with the whole friends thing. I’m even cool with the whole friends-with-benefits thing, But if you ever want to be more than a broken promise, you’re going to have to let me know. In the meantime, I’m sorry, but I’ve gotta go.”