Page 72 of We're At It Again

“I’m going to get ready for prom with Maya. Need to impress my date.”

Playing along, he folded his arms with a wide grin.

“Your date is a lucky guy. I’m jealous.”

“You should be.” We laughed together before I turned serious, placing the palms of my hands on his chest. “Promise me you won’t get into any trouble tonight.”

His grin was unsettling.

“I should tell you that.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help but smile. Typical Hudson. Leaning up, I gave him a chaste peck.

“I’ll see you tonight.”

I could feel his eyes on me as I turned to walk back to my car, anticipation burning in my veins.

?

I stood in my room, fixing my hair for the hundredth time in front of my mirror. I perfectly placed each curl and smoothed every strand into submission, wanting to look flawless. My mother’s voice echoed from downstairs, announcing Hudson. Taking a deep breath, I gave myself a final, approving glance before turning to leave.

As I descended the staircase, my eyes fell on Hudson. He stood at the bottom, looking incredibly handsome in his sleek black suit. It fit him like a glove, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean frame. It was rare to see him not in flannel and his Oasis shirt. His hair was slicked back, and his smile held a confident, boyish charm. My heart fluttered as his eyes lit up when I came closer. He extended his hand to help me down the last few steps. Even with heels, he towered over me. Leaning down, he kissed my cheek to whisper in my ear.

“You’re so gorgeous, Snow.”

A blush crept up on my cheeks. I reached over to straighten his tie, a gesture that felt intimate and natural. Of course, my mother had to take a picture.

“You look so handsome.”

My mom was capturing every moment on camera. We posed for pictures, our hands intertwined, before he gently guided me outside with his hand on my back. The night air was refreshing with the promise of a memorable evening.

Stepping off the porch, I saw an old-fashioned Bentley parked in the driveway. My breath hitched in my throat, and I turned to him.

“How did you manage this?”

He grinned, a look of pride and satisfaction on his face.

“An old friend of my dad’s offered it for the night if I could get it running.” He said. “So, I spent the last few weeks working on it.”

I felt a rush of emotions, my heart swelling with gratitude and love. His effort made this night truly special for me.

“You built me a car, just to take me to prom?”

With a shrug, he acted as if it were customary for guys on dates.

“I remember your prom planner from when we were kids. Driving a Bentley to prom was number ten on the list.”

Tears of happiness welled up in my eyes. I couldn’t believe he remembered something from so long ago. He reached into the backseat and pulled out a small box, opening it to reveal a delicate pale pink rose corsage. That was number two on my list. My hand shook as he placed the corsage on my wrist and fastened it.

Overwhelmed, I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him into a loving, heartfelt kiss. He responded with equal passion, his arms circling my waist, holding me close. When we pulled away, I looked into his love-filled eyes.

“I can’t believe you remembered all of this.”

He smiled, his eyes reflecting the love I felt for him.

“I remember everything you ever told me.” he said, gesturing to the car. “The night is just getting started.”

With one last look at the beautifully restored vehicle, I slipped my hands into his, feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness and contentment. We climbed into the car, ready to make the most of our night, knowing it would be one we’d remember forever.

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