Page 80 of My Heart to Keep
“We should go down the Cape for a couple of weeks,” I said. “We can camp on the beach.” Carter had done that last year with Brianna.
Celia and Noah bumped into us. “Maiken?” Celia’s eyes widened. “You’re here. Are you stealing my date?”
I giggled as Maiken tugged me closer.
The music stopped, and the head of the prom committee, Francine Dermott, tapped on the mike as her green gaze swept the room. “Hey, Kensington High, is everyone having a good time?”
The club erupted in shouts of “hell yeahs” and whistles.
“Let’s give a big round of applause to everyone who had a hand in planning, setting up, and organizing this shindig.”
More applause followed.
“Lastly, to the Smithtones.” She waved a hand at the local band that played at several weddings and parties around the New England area.
Once the applause died down, Francine nodded at a dude on stage, wearing headphones. He pressed a couple of keys on his computer.
“Thanks to the media department, we’ve put together pictures and videos taken by the school’s photographer and from those who sent in videos taken at venues like the science fair and other school events. Enjoy while the band takes a break. We’ll be announcing king and queen later.”
Sam Smith’s voice crooned from the overhead speakers as the band headed off stage along with Francine.
Maiken wrapped an arm around my waist. “Let’s go say hi to Kade.”
I wanted to watch the slide show, not that I would be in any of the pictures. I’d hardly attended any school activities. But Celia had been one of the photographers, and I wanted to support my best friend. She’d worked hard all year, blogging, interviewing, and writing for the school’s media and communications department.
“Just a second,” I said to Maiken when the video began to play.
Celia sucked in a sharp breath, and Maiken went ramrod straight.
I blinked several times to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.
My voice blared from the speakers, or more like my moans. “Let me.”
A collective intake of breath zipped around the room as the video of Maiken and me played like a bad porno movie.
Oh my God!
Icouldn’t breathe. I couldn’t get any air in my lungs. I dared not look at Momma. I could feel every pair of eyes glued to me as I watched the video play.
If Maiken was talking, I couldn’t hear him.
Images of me strangling Trevor sprang to mind. But I’d deleted the video from his phone. I’d deleted it from the trash as well.
One muscle at a time, I swiveled my neck in search of Trevor Thames. Sloane had warned me. I was so stupid to believe he was a good guy.
I swallowed the dryness coating my throat. My limbs trembled as my breathing became labored.
“What is happening?” Maiken asked. “Who took this? I seriously will kill the fucker.”
I’d never told Maiken about the video. I hadn’t seen a reason to since I’d deleted it. I knew if I had, he would’ve done something stupid that would have gotten him kicked out of school and ruined his chances to play college basketball.
He let go of me and rushed up on stage. When he did, I swayed. Luckily, Celia was at my side to catch me. “Let’s get out of here.”
I couldn’t get my tongue to work, let alone my legs. Why did I have bad luck at dances and large public gatherings?
Stupid me.
Whispers buzzed in the air. “That was kind of hot,” someone nearby said.
