Page 92 of Breaking Rules
“Is my dad showing up tonight?” I hadn’t had a chance to talk to my dad about the ball. He and I had football on the brain, especially since we were going to the playoffs.
“I don’t think an event like this is his thing,” she said. “He did mention he donated quite a bit to the cause, though.”
I chuckled. “Not quite my thing, either.”
Back when I was in the ninth grade and my mom had explained to me the basis of the debutante ball and how important it was to status at that time, I’d protested. I didn’t want any part of parading around in front of the rich to say,Hey, I’m a man now, and I can get laid.She argued that the ball wasn’t like that. But my dad and I agreed that the ball served no purpose. So my mom had decided to change things up, adding charities to the program while keeping the tradition of what a debutante ball had been for many years.
Montana’s mom and I strolled into the party behind Elvira and Montana. The room was buzzing with soft music from speakers overhead, kids talking in groups, chatting parents with drinks, and the band tuning their instruments in front of the wall of windows that overlooked the eighteenth hole of the golf course.
Ms. Smith and I settled near a bar adjacent to the door, while Montana and Elvira vanished into the crowd of about two hundred.
“I understand that you’re in love with my daughter,” Ms. Smith said in an even tone.
My stomach did a somersault. “Yes, ma’am.”
I’d said those three little but powerful words to Montana, yet she hadn’t said them to me. Granted, she’d been super mad at me the day I’d told her, and we hadn’t been together since except for school. I suspected she was struggling with how or when to say she loved me. I shouldn’t have been so presumptuous to think she would say “I love you,” but there was no doubt in my mind that she had feelings for me.
“So, Ms. Smith, can I steal your daughter for the evening?”
She gave me a sidelong glance. “You mean sleep with my daughter.”
I pulled on my bow tie. The damn thing was about to strangle me.
“I wasn’t born yesterday. And let’s not forget I write about hookups.”
“I’ll be honest, then. I’m asking your permission to spend the night with Montana. And it’s not just a hookup.”
She studied me, partly with curiosity and partly with motherly concern. “You have my permission, but break her heart, and I will do my best to cast you as a creep in one of my books. Oh, and I will make sure readers know who the creepy character is based on.”
I grinned like an ass, when I should’ve been shaking like a fucking leaf. “I have every intention of making sure her heart never gets broken.”
“Then show Montana how much you love her.” She gave me a cheeky smile, when my mom popped out of nowhere.
My mom adjusted her sling over her black knee-length dress. “Georgia, is my son talking your ear off?”
Nah. Ms. Smith is giving me ample warning not to hurt her daughter, or else she will have my balls splattered all over the pages of her novels.
“Train, please fix your tie,” my mom said as she set her brown gaze on me.
I adjusted the noose, or what felt like a noose, then kissed her on the cheek. “I’m going to find Montana.” I weaved through the guests as a soft beat of music began playing from the band.
I found Montana, Austin, and Reagan standing at a table near the dance floor. Montana cuddled up to my side, threading her fingers with mine. With my thumb, I traced circles on Montana’s hand. Then Derek and his girl, Jan, joined us. Like the rest of us, Derek donned a tux and had his brown locks combed behind his ears, while Jan wore a simple short black dress with her blond hair in an updo similar to Montana’s. The only ones in our gang not present were Elvira and Lou. I spied them dancing. I chuckled as I watched Lou, big and wide, trying to wiggle his hips to the upbeat song. Everyone in the circle followed my line of sight.
“That’s just wrong,” Derek said. “Lou is not meant to dance.”
All of us chuckled.
“I guess that girl Melanie said yes to Drew after all,” Montana said.
Next to Lou and Elvira, carrottopped Drew looked awkward as he held onto Melanie’s hips as though he was afraid to get too close. The petite girl appeared equally uncomfortable. I was happy for Drew, though, that Melanie had said yes to him. He might have been related to Nina, but he didn’t have any of her cunning ways.
I was about to kiss my girl, when Ferris’s spiked head of hair bobbed up to us. He hadn’t gotten suspended like Nina had, but my dad had pressed charges against both of them. He’d felt that Nina and Ferris needed to learn that every action has a consequence.
“I still can’t believe your dad pressed charges against them,” Montana said.
I wasn’t surprised at all. My dad had worked hard to build his contracting business, and he couldn’t allow anyone to get away with something they’d done to not only take money out of his pocket but to break the law in the process.
Ferris gave all of us a tentative smile. “Train, is your dad here? I need to talk to him.”
