Page 83 of The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
Liz breathed a sigh of relief. “Just hearing that makes me feel a little bit better.”
Matt nodded. “Then I’m doing something right.”
Liz held up her camera. “Can I take a few photographs of us? I have a tripod and a timer.”
“I gotta warn you, I might break your camera. I’m not very photogenic,” he said.
“Somehow I doubt that.” She punched a playful fist into his shoulder, the touch zinging through her. Stepping away, she placed her camera on its stand and set the timer. “You’ll see the red light flashing. Just be ready to smile.”
“Got it.”
Liz stepped up beside him, keeping a couple of inches of distance between them. As the red light began to flash, Matt pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Everything inside Liz came alive. Every single cell. Then the camera flashed for an extended moment and Liz’s mind leaped to another place and time.
It was her prom night and she, Bri, Melody, and Alyssa were posing for pictures excitedly, standing in Liz’s parents’ living room. Liz felt beautiful, maybe for the first time in her life. Her aunt had come over to do her hair and makeup. She’d just gotten her driver’s license that afternoon and she was doing the honors of chauffeuring their little group of friends to their high school gymnasium.
“Smile!” Liz’s mother had said, taking the hundredth photograph.
Alyssa swept her arm around Liz’s shoulders and the charm bracelet that she was wearing snagged on Liz’s dress. “Oh, no!” Alyssa tugged, but Liz reached out and grabbed her wrist.
“You’ll break it. Hold on.” Liz attempted to free them from each other as her mom’s camera continued to click and flash. Apparently, Liz’s mom thought the moment was worth remembering.
“I think this bracelet has a mind of its own,” Liz said.
“It’s magic, if you ask me.” Alyssa grinned. “It’s telling us we belong together. Friends for life.”
Liz finally freed her dress. “Got it! There. Phew!” She looked up at Alyssa. “We can still be friends for life, but I don’t think you want to go to the bathroom with me every time I need to pee tonight.”
Alyssa’s laughter was contagious. “To the bathroom together, yes, but I don’t want to be in the same stall.”
Liz’s mother’s camera clicked again.
“Mom. ” Liz turned to her mother. “You don’t need to capture all the moments.”
Her mother sniffled. “Prom night is one of the happiest of your life. You’ll never forget it.”
“Especially with all the pictures you’re taking,” Liz said, sarcastically. Sarcasm wasn’t really her thing, but sometimes she caught herself sounding a lot like Bri.
“Liz?”
Liz opened her eyes and looked at Matt as she struggled to take a breath.
He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, you’re okay. You’re safe. You’re at your house with me. I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”
She blinked. “I don’t want to fall apart tonight. I really,reallydon’t.”
“Listen, if you’re not up to this, I get it. I can call one of the other deputies that I know and ask them to chaperone in my place. I can stay with you if that’s what you need.”
Liz wished she could pull the plug on this night and take that option. She’d never forgive herself if she backed out now though. This night needed to happen. “No, I want to go. I need to. I can do this.”
Matt gave a slight nod. “Yeah, you can. I’m with you one hundred percent of the way.”
“Thanks.” She blew out a shaky breath. “I hope these photographs turn out great,” she said, trying to lighten the mood that she pretty much just ruined.
“Like I said, I’m not very photogenic. But if you’re in them, I’m sure those pictures are going to be amazing.”
“Such a charmer.” She smiled sincerely now. “Okay, let’s go.” She placed her camera back in its bag and looped it over her shoulder. She wasn’t the prom’s official photographer tonight, but Christopher had mentioned that she could submit candid pictures to the school’s yearbook. Liz stepped out the door and heard Matt pull it shut behind her. Then he walked her over to the passenger side of his truck and opened the door for her.
“Hold on. I forgot.” He dipped inside and pulled out a pale-yellow corsage. “For you,” he said, straightening back to a standing position in front of her.
