Page 31 of Knot Your Pucking Mate
I write romance books for a living, but I’ve never experienced feelings like these before.
My story is finally being written.
Chapter Eighteen
Mandy
Aknock sounds at my apartment door, and I groan as I lift my velvety purple blanket off my lap and pause my movie.
When the guys said they had a prior engagement tonight, I decided I’d have a movie night and watch some old romance movies on my own. I’ve got a huge bowl of buttery popcorn and a multitude of sweet snacks laid out to keep me going. I’m only about twenty minutes into the film, and I’m not expecting anyone.
Pushing to my feet, I bring the blanket around my shoulders, using it like a dressing gown. It still smells of Axel’s smoky campfire scent, comforting and warm. It’ll cover the pajamas I’ve already put on for the night.
When I look through the peephole, I can’t see anyone there. Maybe I imagined the knock? I don’t think I did, though. It definitely sounded like someone had rapped on the wood.
Swinging the door open, I look up and down the hall. There isn’t a person in sight. As I turn to go back inside, I see the box on the ground. It’s long and white, tied up with a rainbow ribbon and a small Proud O symbol in the bottom left corner. There’s an envelope tucked underneath the ribbon with my name scrawled across it in familiar handwriting.
Glancing up and down the hall again, I pick up the box and bring it inside, placing it on my kitchen counter as I frown to myself.
What is going on?
Pulling the envelope from the ribbon, I tear it open, pulling out a card-like invitation.
Prom? Really? Am I reading this right?
I go over the invite again and glance up at the clock on my microwave.
Shit.
It’s already six thirty. I have forty-five minutes before the car arrives to take me to prom.
Prom?
I shake my head in disbelief. The last prom Chase invited me to turned into utter shit. It was the worst night of my life and one I try hard to forget.
Maybe he’s trying to make up for it?
Anxiety churns in my stomach, a wave of nausea washing over me. I brace myself on the bench, taking slow, deep breaths to calm my racing mind. I’m not usually this anxious, but I can’t help worrying that something will go wrong tonight and ruin the new foundations we’re building.
I’m not sure I’d survive if Chase were to break my heart again.
Pulling on my big-girl panties, I place my hands on either side of the box, wiggling it to free the cardboard and lift the lid.
I know in my heart of hearts that Chase would not have gone to this much trouble just to let me down again. He didn’t mean to let me down in the first place. He got into a car accident, for God’s sake. And then his parents sent him away.
My hands hover over the tissue paper covering the contents of the box as I tell myself tonight will be fine. Better than fine. If I know Chase, it will be better than the prom I never got to experience.
It’s with nervous excitement that I pull the tissue paper open, one side at a time.
A gasp escapes me as the dress beneath is revealed. It’s the dress from Proud O’s that I hadn’t wanted to leave behind.
The pink and purple fabric lilacs are soft to the touch. Carefully, I hold it out in front of me. It’s definitely the same dress. And it’s in my size. How could Chase have known?
It hits me then that I had looked at that dress the same day I had gone to Lust & Lore. The same day Chase admitted to following me. He must have seen me eyeing it off, and if he was already planning this redo prom, then I played right into his hands.
I can’t bring myself to be angry about him following me. His reasons were honestly fairly valid, and though it might be a little messed up, I like that he cared enough to worry about my safety. Plus, it’s not like he hid it from me for long.
Heading to my bedroom with the dress in tow, I hang it up while I make quick work of my hair and makeup.
