Page 63 of Operation Prom Date
“You guys ready?” Jaden asked, wrapping his arm around Amber.
“Ready.” Kate grabbed my hand and laced her fingers with mine.
We stepped through the star-shaped archway, into the decorated ballroom. Since Kate talked me into helping decorate, I knew way too much about what decorations had been used, and how they’d been hung. “After all,” she’d prodded, “you know more about stars than anyone on the committee.”
The things the girl talked me into.
I dodged a few low hanging stars and guided us to the open area near the edge of the dance floor. Dozens of couples filled the space, dancing under the twinkling lights. Others lined up to have their picture taken in front of the glittery shooting star. Over the top, a banner read “Wish Upon a Star.”
For the past few months I’d wanted the ability to freeze time so I could enjoy every moment possible on the water. I’d never expected to want to slow down time at a school dance, but the pure joy filling Kate’s features made me want just that.
I lifted our entwined hands and kissed the top of hers.
She snuggled in close, and I wanted to hold her and inhale her perfume and just savor every minute with this girl.
Luckily we weren’t running on limited time. We had an entire summer of afternoons on the lake, nights under the stars, and endless kisses stretched in front of us. Then, in the fall, I’d go to Harvard, and she’d attend college in Manchester. The hour drive that would separate us was longer than I preferred, but when it came to being with Kate, it was nothing. We’d already talked about meeting halfway. I loved how she spoke about our future as if the only option was for us to be together, and for me, it was.
She was mine now, and I was never going to let go.
“Kate, hey!” Mick nodded at her and approached, leaving Paris to trail behind him. I wasn’t a fan of how he addressed her but not me, as if I didn’t exist.
When he hugged her and told her she looked beautiful, I became even less of a fan. I wrapped my arm around her waist and brought her flush to my side, barely resisting adding a growl. Kate flashed me a quick smile with a hint ofbe niceadded. I supposed I should—after all, he’d agreed to let her out of their date so she could be here with me instead.
Still, I wouldn’t be sending him a fruit basket soon or anything.
“Callihan.” The acknowledgement was hesitant, as was my return nod.
“Hey, Paris,” Amber said, and I think Paris tried to smile, but she didn’t genuinely make the move enough for it to really work on her. Apparently she didn’t mind being Pecker’s backup option, but she didn’t exactly look like she was doing cartwheels over it, either.
“You said we were going to dance.” Paris tugged on Mick’s sleeve and he sighed.
“Fine, let’s dance.” He rolled his eyes at me, like I’d get the hardship, and took Paris onto the floor.
Kate wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned in for a kiss. “Looks like I picked the right date.”
“Looks like?”
She giggled. “Well, I haven’t seen your dance moves yet.”
“Oh, it’s on.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the floor, anticipating spending all night with her pressed against me as we swayed to the beat. “Just remember you asked for it.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Kate
Of all the times I’d imagined this moment, it’d never included a friend who’d helped me get ready—Amber and I started talking more after the Spring Festival race, and while we might not ever be the same, she’d apologized for the past and we’d renewed our friendship; a sense of accomplishment—I was at prom, feeling like a princess and wearing a dress I loved, and I swore I could feel my dad smiling down on me for pulling off my mission; and a boyfriend who I loved—even though I was still working up the courage to tell him.
In other words, tonight exceeded my wildest dreams.
Amber grinned at me as she and Jaden danced past us, and I returned her smile and snuggled closer to Cooper.
“And just so you never question my dance moves again…” He grabbed my hand, twirled me away fast enough that my skirt flared, and then spun me back into his embrace.
I laughed and put my hand on the side of his cheek, running my thumb down that delicious dimple. “NowI have no doubt I picked the right date. But I’ll tell you a secret…” I tipped onto my toes. “There never actually was any question. You could be a horrible dancer and I’d still pick you.”
“What if I stepped on your toes?”
“Who needs use of their toes? Totally overrated.”
