Page 82 of The Prom

Fuck me. I hoped I’d escaped and she whispers, “As soon as we finish up here, meet me in my office and remember to lock the door behind you. It’s about time I welcomed you to the club personally.”

She moves away, smiling at the students who pass and I am sick to my stomach at the mere idea of what her welcome would involve.

I hand out drinks and even recognize a few of the students behind their masks, but I don’t detect any of Imogen’s friends at all. It’s as if they aren’t here—then again, the costumes are so carefully contrived to disguise, I may have missed them already.

I note two guys chatting on the edge of the group and am convinced that one of them is Frankie Majerio and the otherLuca Romano. Luca kind of gives it away by the leather tied around his wrist and the way he sets himself apart from the crowd with his usual arrogant boredom. I’ve studied all the members of The Elusive House the entire time I’ve been here and Luca is the one who freaks me out the most. The others appear almost normal compared to him and yet he never puts a foot wrong. He’s quiet, gets on with the work and causes no fuss—none that I’ve heard about, anyway.

A soft voice distracts me, “May I have some punch please, sir?” My heart leaps inside me as I stare into the bewitching eyes I know so well.

She smiles sweetly and tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear and I note the beautiful corsage tied on her wrist.

“Nice flowers.” I whisper, and she nods. “They were given to me by someone special.”

She accepts the punch and as her fingers brush against mine, I resist the urge to grasp them tightly and never let them go.

Imogen is achingly beautiful most of the time, but tonight she is a goddess. Literally. She told me she would be one, but for the life of me I can’t remember who, but it’s immaterial, anyway. Imogenisa goddess, and she is the only one who doesn’t know that.

She disappears into the crowd, and my eyes follow her, drawn to the delicate corsage adorning her wrist. Whoever gave her that is a genius because it allows me to identify her in a crowd, which I am extremely grateful for.

Something strikes me as I stare at it and her words haunt me.

“They were given to me by someone special.”

From the expression in her eyes she’s convinced that was me and a prickle of fear stabs me.

Something isn’t right.

The students are relentless and my attention is distracted meaning I soon lose sight of Imogen. She is swallowed up in thecrowd and I reassure myself that she won’t leave the room with anybody, even her friends. Eyes on Imogen is my number one priority because with Jesse Anderson as her date, it can only spell trouble.

As soon as the punch runs out, I make my excuses to fetch some more and carefully make my way through the room. Most of the students have already ventured into the hall and I curse the fact I stick out like a red flag in a sea of white ones. I am without a disguise—unless. I’m surprised I didn’t think of it sooner, and as I head determinedly towards the drama department, I aim to fix that as quickly as possible.

FORTY

IMOGEN

I am floating on air. I love everything about this. The staging, the costumes, the lighting and the general buzz of excitement that surrounds me. As instructed, we split up and I haven’t seen any of my friends, not that I can recognize, anyway.

I am stopped occasionally. A husky word in my ear that is quickly rebuffed. Guys coming onto me who chat shit and throughout it all, I still haven’t found my gladiator.

I notice Summer and Luca already making out in the corner of the room, and I smile to myself. Of course she found him. He may as well not have worn a costume because his aura gives him away every time.

I resume my search for Jesse and as I stumble across Siri, she whispers, “I haven’t found Jack yet. Have you seen him?”

“No, the only ones I’ve seen are Luca and Summer.”

“That figures.” She rolls her eyes. “Where do you think they are?”

I detect a familiar pair of sneakers and whisper behind my hand, “I’m guessing that’s your man.”

Siri grins. “Well spotted. I’d know those laces anywhere. Why didn’t I think of looking down rather than up?”

I follow her with my eyes and chuckle softly as she kisses him on the cheek and he immediately spins around and grasps her hand, kissing it gallantly before pulling her into his arms. It’s such a sweet act it makes my heart flutter and I’ve got to hand it to Frankie, his imagination is second to none.

A gladiator brushes past me and the familiar aftershave gives him away and as my eye lower, I note the red socks with gold circles on, telling me this could be Jesse. He’s so OCD and loves to match his socks with his outfit. His costume is red and gold and the guy who purposefully brushed past me is of the same build.

My heart hammers as I reach out and stop him by placing my hand on his arm and as he turns, I plant a soft kiss on his cheek. Immediately, he raises my hand to his lips and half bows and, without another word, grasps my hand tightly and pulls me after him.

I love the mystery of the occasion, and as the music switches to a slower tune, he pulls me into his arms and holds me flush against his golden breastplate. It’s sexy as fuck and yet I must remind myself that it’s Jesse behind the mask and as we dance, I close my eyes against the music as we sway in time to the seductive song.

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