Page 87 of Steel & Jenna
Jenna smiled. “I never said the hour starts when we get there.” She straightened his bow tie. “Your hour starts now, Mr. Duncan.”
They pulledinto a parking spot in the hotel parking lot rather than head to the valet line. Jack came around to help her down and they walked arm-in-arm into the lobby. The grand, high-ceilinged area was packed with her classmates. Jenna saw the girl who let her use her dorm phone the year before and gave a small wave.
She knew who her classmates were but was not close with any of them. No one at her school ever wanted to be ‘just friends’. There was always an agenda.
But that was the way of her world. Her father’s world. Money might open doors and put food on the table, but it also brought out the worst in people. Because there was never enough, even to the rich. If you had more than someone else, you were better, which meant you always wantedmore. Because there was always someone who had more than you. And on and on it went. Trust was not something easily come by in her world.
After Jack and Jenna checked her coat, Jack placed her coat check ticket in the inside pocket of his suit jacket. They were early enough that the ballroom doors were not open yet. The prom attendees who had arrived already were congregated around, impatiently waiting for their night of music and debauchery to start.
Jack led her over to a high-back chair in the corner of the lobby. “This place smells like dope andAqua Net.”
Jenna chuckled. He was not wrong. The crowded lobby had a very distinct air to it. “No doubt there are numerous plans to spike the punch.”
“One glass each,” Jack advised. He was standing next to the chair with his elbow on the buttons decorating the tufted high-back seat. “I have too many plans for you this weekend for either of us to end up bent over a toilet.”
Jenna smiled wistfully up at him. It did not pass her notice that he had a clear view down the front of her dress from his current angle. “We’ve got time. What is it you wanted to talk to me about?”
Jack, though, shook his head. “I don’t want to ruin the mood before we go inside.”
Wellthatcertainly didn’t sound good. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. “Jack,” she snapped. “You can’t say that and then expect me tonotworry. What’s going on?”
He squatted down beside the chair so she wasn’t craning her neck up to look at him anymore. “Baby, breathe. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have phrased it like that. It’s nothingbad, but I had a thought about next year and we need to talk about it before I make my decision. It’s more complicated than a simple conversation in a hotel lobby twenty minutes before your prom starts. That’s all.”
Jenna let out a long sigh. Her heart was still hammering in her chest from picturing the worst. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak. It just sounded so…ominous.”
“I should have phrased it better,” he repeated his apology. Taking her hands, Jack squeezed them on her lap. “I promise, it’s nothing bad.”
She nodded. Though significantly calmer, she was still wondering what it was he was thinking about for next year. She thought their community college plan was already set. Registration would be opening up in August and they both planned on applying for financial aid to not squander the savings they did have on the first semester.
“Since I’m down here…” Jack shifted his legs so he was on one knee rather than a crouch. “I have something for you. Last time I asked you to marry me, I was a bit black and blue with an eyepatch on and in a hospital bed.” He reached into his pants’ pocket and pulled out an older looking black box.
Jenna’s jaw dropped. “We said we weren’t doing an engagement ring. That our wedding bands would be enough.”
Jack nodded, looking at the box in his hand. “I know, but it never sat right with me that you’ve been without an engagement ring allthese years. I knew you wouldn’t want something fancy or massive, so I’ve been looking at different pawn shops for something with history. A story. Had my eye on one too, but then I missed a lot of work last year and then when I went back for it, it was already sold.” He shrugged, “Figured I lost my chance.”
Taking a deep breath, Jack opened the ring box.
Jenna gasped. “Is that…?
Jack nodded, pulling the ring out for her. “Cherry flavored, yes.”
Jenna nearly fell over laughing as Jack took her left hand, placing theRing Popcandy over her finger. “Ohmigod, Jack! You really had me going for a second.”
He smiled up at her. “I was being serious about the engagement ring, Jen. I don’t like that I never gave you one.”
Jenna picked her finger up to suck on the cherry lollipop. “We’ll figure it out. Jewelry is expensive and there are more important things. We don’t need rings to remind us that we’re married.” She took another lick. “Though I wouldn’t say ‘no’ to a dailyRing Popreminder.”
Jack smiled, moving to stand again. Jenna scooted over in the chair so he could squeeze in beside her. “That ring cost me thirty-five cents, Jen. I’m not sure I’ll be able to afford one-hundred and twenty-seven dollars and seventy-five cents per year. It might be easier if we look into a bulk option.”
She hummed around her pop. “Or we could buy our own candy store.”
“Between you and Lilly, I’d never be able to keep inventory in stock!”
Jenna put her left arm around Jack’s shoulders. He turned his head to lift her hand up to his face to suck on her lollipop. “I’d exchange labor for candy. Think about how much you’d save on payroll.”
Jack lifted his head to respond but a shadow came over them. Both of them looked up from their private moment to see a group of Jenna’s classmates had come to stand by them. Jenna fought to keep the scowl off her face for the interruption.
“What do you want, Tommy?” Jenna asked the ringleader. BecauseTommy did just about anything for attention so there was no doubt this was his idea.
