Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
“It was a brief phase.”
“Not that brief. The book spans all of high school. I love that your debate club was featured prominently. Can’t say I was all that surprised to see me with devil horns in several photos.”
“They suited you back then,” I note.
“They did. They still do, but for very different reasons.”
I hold up a hand to block his face. “It’s inappropriate to look at me like that in public.”
“You two are adorable. Were you high school sweethearts?” Anna, my hair stylist, asks.
“Dallas had a crush on me in high school,” I say.
“Oh, honey, I didn’t have a crush. I was head over ass in love with you.”
“You’ve been infatuated for a while.”
“Unabashedly accurate.” He winks at me and mouths I love you.
I make a heart with my hands back at him.
It’s another half hour before I’m done at the salon.
I hug Essie. “I’ll see you soon.”
“For sure you will.” She winks and sends us on our way.
We walk the two blocks to Dallas’s, fingers entwined, and take the elevator to the penthouse.
“I need you to close your eyes when we go inside,” he informs me when we reach our floor.
“You have more surprises?”
“I do.” His smile is impish as he leads me down the hall.
“Eyes closed, honey.” He kisses my forehead, and I do as he asks, letting him guide me through the penthouse. Music from our high school era plays in the living room. “Okay, you can open them.”
We’re standing in the walk-in closet and hanging in front of me is the dress I’d planned to wear to prom a decade ago. “Oh my…how?”
“Your scrapbook came in very handy. I had it made for you.”
“I can’t believe I wanted to wear this.” It’s strapless and royal blue taffeta with a huge, poofy skirt and a lace underlay. The best part is the zebra-print bodice. I’d been so in love with it. We bought it months before prom, and I’d tried it on almost every day leading up to the event. I press my fingers to my lips and fight the onslaught of emotion. “I can’t believe you had this made for me.”
“It’s a little self-serving. I wanted to go to prom with you, and I didn’t get to, and I didn’t get to see you in this dress.” He kisses my temple.
Even without a date, Brooklyn and I had planned to go. My moms had bought me the dress and everything. But they were the only ones who saw me wear it. “Can I try it on?” I finger the tacky, ridiculous bodice.
“I would love that. But first…” He passes me a gift bag tied with zebra-print ribbon.
I pull the ribbon free while Dallas leans against the doorjamb. Inside is a bra and panty set that match the dress. “Where did you find these?”
“I had them custom made, just for you. I’ll leave you to change. Call me when you’re ready; there’s more.” He kisses me on the cheek and leaves me alone in his bedroom.
I change into the lingerie and dress. And I don’t even have to call for Dallas, because he meets me at the door to his bedroom. “Oh, wow. That suit is—”
“Fucking awesome. I know.” It’s made of the same shiny blue taffeta as my dress. He’s paired it with a black button-down, zebra-print tie, and a pair of running shoes with the plaid stripe that’s missing from the rest of his outfit. He points to the floor and extends his hand. “Your shoes.”
Of course they match the rest of my outfit.
I bite my lips together and blink back all the feelings that want to leak out of my eyes. “You really went all out for this.”
“I wanted it to be perfect.” He cups my face in his hands. “Your feelings on fire, honey?”
I hold my fingers apart a fraction of an inch. “A little.”
He kisses my forehead and wraps his arms around me. “Let me absorb those for you.”
“I love you.”
“And I love you. Every single part of you. Especially the parts that bite. Those are my favorite.”
When I’m ready, he releases me and holds out his hand. I take it, slipping my feet into the blue heels with zebra-print bows.
“We can and should wear these next year for Halloween.”
“I was thinking the office Christmas party, but Halloween works, too.” He threads his arm through mine. “You ready to go to prom with me, Wilhelmina?”
“Absolutely.”
My heels clip on the hardwood as we walk down the hall. I gasp as we step into the living room. It’s been completely transformed. The furniture is gone, and a balloon arch—clearly Dallas is a fan of these—decorates one wall. There’s a photo booth and a table complete with punchbowl and popcorn. But the thing that nearly undoes me entirely is the fact that all our friends and family are here, including our parents and siblings, and Granny Bright. Even better is that everyone is dressed for prom. My grip on his arm tightens as they holler and clap.