Page 43 of Part of Forever
“You look amazing,” he whispers in my ear as we smile for another picture.
“Thank you,” I whisper back. “You do, too. You also might be covered in glitter by the end of this.” I show him my hands. The glitter seems to be sticking to my arms and fingers more than anything else, but it’s also all over Grace’s bed where I sat down to put my shoes on.
“Oh boy,” he grimaces.
“It wouldn’t be a Grace Yang creation without something like this,” I say and we both smile.
Mom and Erin both take more pictures, telling us that the ones they take at the dance are always so forced and awkward, and at home they’re more relaxed. We even head out to the backyard and get some with the ocean behind us, just before the sun sinks too low, making us all shadows in the pictures.
Then, when we’re about ready to leave, Grace and Nathan start taking pictures together. Like a couple.
“What’s happening right now?” I ask. Maybe they just didn’t want to deal with finding another date, so they decided to go together?
Grace blushes as she looks up at Nathan, and he gives her a hand a squeeze. They stare at each other for a moment before Nathan looks at me. “We’re dating.”
“But,” I sputter…he’s gay, isn’t he?
He must see my wheels spinning. “Bi, actually.” Nathan clears his throat. “Not that I really love labels.”
“Right, no, sorry,” I stammer. “You’ve just only dated guys. Well, one guy, Emmett. I thought…” I swallow back the hurt as I trail off; my own twin didn’t even tell me he was dating my best friend. And she didn’t say anything, either.
Mom and Erin move out of the room, like this isn’t news to them. I face Tucker. “Did you know?” I whisper.
He gives me the tiniest of nods. “Not that they’re dating. I knew they were going to the dance together.”
Well, I guess I wasn’t the only one completely out of the loop.
I hug Grace. “You should have told me.”
She hugs me back, tightly. “Sometimes, it’s just easier to keep secrets.”
I catch Nathan’s eye over her shoulder and he shakes his head. I hope that means he hasn’t told her my secret. While dating my brother and having cancer are two completely different things, I still wish she would have told me.
“I get that,” I say instead. I should tell them the truth.
“Should we go?” Tucker asks, ending the moment.
I hold out my hand and give him my best grin, and he gives me one, too.
It’s time to go.
Tucker helps me into his truck, which feels surprisingly tall now that I’m in a long dress and heels I know I’ll regret later. Grace and Nathan follow behind in Nathan’s car.
We stop at a food truck and get some street tacos. It’s almost time for the dance, but this is how we planned it. A quick dinner so we could enjoy the dance as much as possible, since none of us really know how long I’ll last. I know it’s something we’re all thinking about, but I’m thankful that Tucker and my friends are pretending that everything is normal and that I didn’t just have surgery last week.
I’m eating street tacos at a little table in front of the food truck, napkins spread out over my dress. It all feels so normal. It feels good to be normal. I really want to corner Nathan and ask himwhen he and Grace started dating, when he realized he was bi. If that’s something new or if he’s always been attracted to girls, too.
“What are you so smiley about?” Grace bumps Tucker’s shoulder, bringing my thoughts back to the table. He’s got a soft grin on his face.
“I just get to spend the night with my girl.” He winks at me as he says it and I know my cheeks go a little pink. “Why wouldn’t I be smiling?” He asks and I smile back at him.
“You are pathetic,” Grace laughs and when we stand to leave, the right side of his shirt is completely covered in glitter.
“These dang dresses.” He tries to brush some of the glitter from his shirt, but he only seems to be spreading it.
“I swear I didn’t realize they were going to be like this. So much glitter came off while I was making them, it’s a wonder that there’s any left on them at all.” Grace gives an apologetic look.
“Well, there is, and it’s all over me,” he says, but he still reaches for my hand and pulls me in closer.
