Page 93 of Her Brother's Keeper

Overlaying everything was a gauzy, ethereal material, long bell sleeves of it off my shoulders and draping finely, millions of little crystal jewels glued to it so no matter where I stepped or how I moved it sparkled and flashed like I was something out of a fantasy movie.

I’d tried it on for laughs, the price tag way exceeding my modest budget, but when I had stepped out of the dressing room? No one had laughed and Ashton had declared she was buying it for me. No ‘buts’ and no arguments.

I’d tried anyways, but Hayden and Dani had good-naturedly bullied me into accepting the expensive dress as a gift. Dani had even pulled a sketchpad out of her back pocket, a little notepad kind, and had started drawing in it before we even reached the register.

She’d made jewelry to go with it. Beautiful white gold drop earrings and drop pendant that rested in the hollow of my throat. Shelly had expertly done my makeup and standing in front of the mirror, I looked much closer to twenty-eight than eighteen. I wondered what Nox would think, as Everett fussed with my hair a few more times, getting the light, loose curls to lay over my shoulderjust sobefore giving me the okay to go out and be seen.

“I think you’re gorgeous,” she declared.

“You’re really beautiful,” Melody said, sniffing.

“Oh, don’t cry!” I said and felt my own eyes tear up. “You do and I’ll ruin my makeup!”

We laughed and she moved slowly, still sore and not fully healed from her ordeal of only a couple of weeks before. It would take four to six more for her to be fully at one hundred percent, but she’d insisted on being here with everyone else for my special night. She came towards me and hugged me saying, “I’m so proud of you.”

I sniffed and said back, “Okay, really now, stop it or I’m gonna cry.”

There was laughter, several of us choking up, and then Mandy clapped her hands together, “Well, as much as I thank you for the early practice before Eden gets to be this age,” more laughter, “I think we should go see what your ol’ man looks like, yeah?”

I smiled bravely and nodded, nervous for the first time in a long time about seeing Nox. I followed the rest of the club women out towards the club’s common room and bar. Holding my breath slightly as they parted and let me through to see Nox.

He straightened from tying one of his black and white wing-tip shoes and I forgot to breathe for a moment. He wore black slacks and a deep, blood red shirt that had a vaguely metallic sheen to it. A narrow black satin tie looked smart against the red, and his dark hair was slicked back. He looked dashing and daring and was probably more attractive than I had ever found him. We stood several paces apart, justlookingat each other, speechless.

Rush ruined the spell by slapping his twin brother in the arm, holding out his leather jacket and cut to him. I smiled and didn’t have a single complaint. It was so much a part of him, a suit jacket would have seemed… weird. Nox shook his head and held his hands out to Trigger who handed him a plastic clamshell box; a white orchid corsage inside of it.

Nox opened it up carefully and came to me, holding the band for my wrist. I slid my hand through and he breathed, “You’re so beautiful, my Angel fell to earth, didn’t she?”

I blushed furiously, and smiled mischievously, asking “With the color scheme, does that make you the devil tonight?”

“Only when the music stops and I have you to myself,” he murmured.

My breath caught again and I pressed my thighs together unconsciously against the sudden tingle of want between them. He leaned down, cupping my cheek and carefully kissed me, a slight brush of lips so as not to ruin my lip gloss.

The camera went off, and some catcalls and whistles went up and I smiled.

“Come on you two,” Archer said. “Up against the mural and let Mel get some real good shots of you.”

We obliged, and smiled, standing in some traditional prom photo poses in front of the Sacred Heart’s mural behind the pool table, which had mysteriously moved to allow Mel the space she needed to get all of us in the photo without hassle.

“Like to think you planned this or something,” I said to some laughs and chuckles.

Archer held his new son, Chandler, and stared dotingly after Mel while Dragon had a hold of a sleeping Noah. The Little guy was completely racked out against the President’s shoulder.

“Okay, family, both club and not, let’s let these two get to dinner and their dance,” he said and some of the guys started cracking up at Nox’s expense.

“Yeah, yeah, y’all are just jealous you can’t recapture your youth,” he said and I smiled.

“Hey Nox, think fast,” Rev called and threw something at us. I flinched but Nox caught the flashing object, the ring of keys slapping his palm reaching my ears.

He looked down, “The Chevelle? Really?”

Rev shrugged, “You only go to prom once…” He frowned. “Except for you.”

“Hey, this is my first prom too. I skipped out on my first one.”

“You did? I didn’t know that.”

Nox smiled at me, “I did, and I’ll tell you over dinner.”

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