Page 47 of The Prom

My ears prick up and his eyes gleam in the darkness as he whispers, “Because it was brought to my attention that I’m a shit boyfriend and you deserve better.”

“By who?”

“Jack.” He rolls his eyes. “He warned me that unless I was serious and devoted all of my attention to you, he would arrange our twist ceremony personally and it would be a premature ending.”

“Jack did?”

My heart sinks. I understand why he did it. He is trying to save Jesse from Jenna Sloane and that was always the plan, anyway. Be coupled up with me to distract him from her and because I liked Jesse and wanted to help, I agreed willingly. The trouble is, I never thought it through, and now I’m fending him off, wishing it was someone forbidden in his place instead.

I refuse to think of Drake in that way anymore. He made it clear our involvement must remain strictly professional from now on, and I must remember he is here to do a job. Now that job is on my list, so I smile. “I’d like that. I haven’t seen much of you since, well–”

“Movie night.” He reminds me of how we left it before the sprinklers rained on our parade.

“I’d like to revisit that night, Imogen. If you agree, that is.”

I say nothing because we reach the house, but my mind is frantically working out ways to deflect that activity from his mind. It’s inevitable he wants a more intimate relationship—all the other couples fell into it as naturally as breathing, but it’s a lot for me to agree to. Jesse would be my first and I never imagined my first time as a favor to my friends.

It doesn’t take long for the beer to flow and the music to thump and soon we are partying hard. Relieved another challenge was successful. There is always a risk we will bediscovered and shut down and it intrigues me why that hasn’t happened—yet, anyway.

Luckily, the guys all drift into a corner to chug beer, leaving the girls to congregate outside on the comfortable seats set around the fire pit. We’re not alone as the couples from The Claiming get to know one another better and tuck themselves away to make out and talk about what just happened in the dungeon.

“So, tonight’s the night.”

Siri fastens her curious gaze on me and the others lean in with interest.

“So it would seem.”

I don’t even pretend to be dumb about her meaning and Cassie says anxiously, “You don’t seem happy about that, Imogen. You can say no.”

“I know.” I sigh. “To be honest, I probably will. I’m just not ready for it.”

“I’d be the same.” Summer speaks up. “I mean, any guy who disappears off to meet another woman doesn’t deserve the benefits of being with a girl like Imogen.”

“Is he still sloping off?” Siri’s eyes widen. “I thought Jack warned him about that.”

“He did.” I sigh. “Jesse told me and said that from tonight I would get his complete attention.”

“What does that mean?” Siri gasps and Cassie’s eyes flash.

“It either means that Jenna Sloane is out of the picture or that Jesse is.”

She leans forward and lowers her voice. “He may have had a change of heart. They could have fallen out, she is done with him, or he woke up and discovered he wanted out. Whatever happened, it sounds as if she is out of the picture—for now, anyway.”

“So our plan worked?”

Siri smiles. “We saved him from her.”

I’m uneasy and don’t share their enthusiasm, and Summer obviously agrees with me.

“I don’t buy it.”

We turn to her.

“It’s a sudden change of heart which tells me it’s a forced one. Something has obviously happened between them, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that she is out of the picture. I’m with Imogen on this. Make him wait until you are ready and not because he is.”

Cassie nods. “Of course. It should only happen if it’s the most important thing in the world to you because sex with someone isn’t to be taken lightly and I agree with Summer. Jesse doesn’t deserve you—yet, anyway.”

“But what will I say to him?”

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