Page 98 of The Fadeaway
I hold Christian up high as Katrina takes the stage for her bow. He waves the roses we got for her and she grins down at us. When the applause dies off, she walks down the side stage stairs and Christian and I meet her halfway. She picks Christian up, hugging him tightly and accepting the kiss I drop on her lips.
“Congradu…” Christian looks to me. We practiced the word a dozen times before the show because he wanted to get it just right.
“Congratulations,” I say quietly near his ear.
He grins. “Congratulations, Mommy.”
“Thank you, buddy. What did you guys think?”
“It was amazing,” I say without hesitation. She killed it. I motion to where Blair and Gabby hang back. “The girls are waiting to shower you with praise. I’m gonna take little man outside to meet Karla.”
Karla has no idea what she’s in for. I predict Dylan and Christian will be thick as thieves in no time. And Karla may never agree to babysit again.
She kisses Christian and hugs him again. “Have fun tonight and be good.”
He nods. “Dylan is gonna teach me magic!”
I snicker as Katrina and I raise our brows in unison. She hands him over and says, “Meet you in the lobby when I’m done.”
“Take your time.”
Once I get Christian in the car with Karla, I call Wes. "It's time to buzz the tower."
Silence.
"Dude.Top Gun? Never mind. Just pull around."
When the limo pulls up to the curb, I open the back door and laugh. Wes and Z are dressed up - a rare sight. They step out, Wes looking grumpy and Z out of place.
"You look pretty, Z."
He makes a strangled, gruff noise.
“That look in your eyes is a pain in my ass, you know that, right?”
He stares at me blankly and I shake my head. “Mission Impossible. What is wrong with you two tonight?”
"Nothing, just, why am I here again?" Z asks, pulling at his shirt cuffs, a poster board tucked under one massive arm.
"Because it was you or Nathan and I needed him to get the party going. All you gotta do is stand there and maybe smile. Well, and hold the sign."
Wes hands me a clear box, that matches one he and Z carry, and I smile. "Let's do this."
We head for the lobby. The theater has cleared out, only a few people still linger talking to the cast and crew. The girls are huddled in one corner talking and laughing animatedly in that way chicks do with their hands and facial expressions.
Gabby sees us first and I nudge Z. “The sign.”
He groans, but unfolds the glitter bomb cardboard sign that reads, “Go to prom with us?” and holds it in front of his chest. I hear Wes snicker, but I focus on Gabby’s face as she takes in the scene. Her mouth forms a little O and she turns red. We reach them as the other girls realize we’re here and turn to face us.
“What’s going on?” Blair asks.
“Prom do-over, babydoll,” I answer and then look to Katrina. “What do you say?”
“Really?”
I hand her the corsage in the box. “Really.”
The girls squeal as we lead them to the limo parked outside.
