Page 29 of Keeper of Hearts
"Troian," he says, drawing to a stop next to the table. "Come here, butterfly."
I stare at his outstretched hand, not entirely sure what's going on. Is he mad I'm sitting with Corey instead of at our usual table? And why in the world is he dressed in a suit and tie?
In Calculus an hour ago, he was in jeans and a T-shirt.
"This is the part where you get up," Corey hisses, nudging me gently. Well, gently for him. He almost knocks me out of my seat.
I lurch to my feet, trying not to face-plant into Gage's chest.
He grabs my hand and pulls me closer to him.
"It's okay, butterfly," he whispers close to my ear. "Just breathe for me. This will be over soon, I promise."
I eye him warily when he pulls back, not sure what he's talking about. Part of me really wants to hide behind him because I'm pretty sure people are filming us right now. But Gage squeezes my hand in silent reassurance and then looks over his shoulder.
I follow his gaze, and my mouth goes dry. Half a dozen men stand just inside the doors of the cafeteria, each carrying a bouquet. One by one, they make their way across the silent cafeteria to us.
Roses of every color and variety are piled in my arms, their intoxicating scent swirling around me. It's strong enough to dull the unique smell I've always associated with school cafeterias. It's part industrial-strength cleaner, part body odor, part old food…none of which is particularly appetizing or appealing.
Only when the last bouquet, all Osiria roses this time, is in my arms does anyone speak. A ripple of sound goes through the cafeteria, a soft murmur like the sound of wind rustling through the treetops before it falls still again.
The sound of Corey's chair scraping back from the table is ridiculously loud. He grins at me and scoops the flowers from my arms. "I'll hold onto these."
I barely have time to look at him before Gage claims my attention again. He tugs me so close that I'm practically pressed up against him, violating pretty much every rule Principal Wickers has about appropriate displays of affection. My entire body heats up, a shiver working its way through me. It's the same one I feel every time Gage touches me.
"What are you doing?" I whisper-hiss at him.
"What I should have done a long time ago," he says, and then takes a deep breath. "Troian Alessi, will you do me the honor of going to Prom with me?"
He says it loud enough for everyone to hear him.
I gape at him, too stunned to speak.
"When I said I had a date, I was talking about you, butterfly," he says. "I wanted to go with you."
"But…" I probably look like a fish with my mouth hanging open, but I can't seem to get it to close again. If this is a dream and I wake up in my bed, I'm going to cry. I might cry anyway, because he's asking me to Prom, but I already asked Corey.
"I've been madly in love with you pretty much since the day I met you," Gage says, his voice loud enough to carry across the entire cafeteria. "You're the best part of my life. I should have told you that a long time ago, but I'm an idiot. I was afraid you didn't feel the same way. And I was worried that dating me would make you a target because most of our classmates are embarrassing assholes. But I forgot something important, Troian."
"What?" I whisper. My mouth is completely dry. My heart beats a thousand miles a minute. If he weren't hanging on to me, I'm pretty sure I'd be on the floor right now because I can't feel my legs. He just toldthe entire schoolthat he's in love with me. And then he called them embarrassing assholes.
"You've never needed me to protect you. Peoplealreadytarget you and say shitty things about you," he murmurs, tipping my head back so I'm looking at him. "And even though they treat you like crap, you never let it harden your incredible heart. You never let it change the extraordinary person you are. You're beautiful, and smart, and compassionate, and kind, and funny, and so damn sweet. They're mean to you because they know they will never hold a candle to you, butterfly."
"Gage," I whisper, pretty sure thisisa dream.
"You don't need me to protect you. All you've ever needed me to do was love you. I should have told everyone that I was crazy about you a long time ago," he says, regret washing through his expression. "Maybe then they would have left you alone. Maybethey would have seen you for the amazing girl you are. I'm an asshole who doesn't deserve you. IknowI don't deserve you. But I'm also the asshole willing to crawl through hell to become worthy of you. If you'll let me."
I want to tell him yes so bad. But…
"I can't go to Prom with you, Gage," I whisper.
"Do you want to go with me, butterfly?" He actually seems nervous, as if he genuinely doesn't know.
"Yes," I whisper, my heart beating so loud I'm pretty sure everyone hears it. "I love you. Of course I want to go with you. But I already made plans with Corey. It wouldn't be fair for me to back out now."
"I knew you'd say that," he says, giving me a tiny smile. "You care about the people in your life so much. I knew you wouldn't want to upset him, so we made an arrangement."
"You did?" Somehow, I'm not surprised he's come up with a solution. If something stands in his way, he will absolutely bulldoze over it. He's not a very patient person.
