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We clean up the painting supplies and Nathan only gets one smear of paint on my cheek before I’m able to close up the other cans. I can’t really complain because right after that he dips me down into a kiss that leaves me breathless and everyone else groaning.

In the parking lot, I pop open the doors of my new-to-me four-door sedan. Nathan climbs in the passenger side as I check my mirrors and adjust my seat even though no one has moved my car since this morning. I feel him watching me and pause to find his lips pressed into a small smile, as if he’s trying to keep a neutral expression and failing horribly.

“What?”

“Nothing. You’re just cute.”

My cheeks heat. I only got my driver’s license last month and everything is still new enough that I like to double-check things before I drive.

“No making fun of me!” I warn. “Just be happy you’re saving gas today since I’m driving you.”

“I’m not teasing you.” He puts his hands up in surrender. “It’s nice being driven around for once. Gives me more time to mess with the playlist. Although, Iamstill driving us to prom, right?”

I nod.

“Because your dress is so long you can’t drive?”

I laugh and mime zipping my lips.

“Because it’s so tight you can’t move your legs?”

I shove his arm. “Stop snooping around for clues. You’ll see my dress when you pick me up Saturday, and you’ll have to live in suspense until that moment. I’m getting too much joy from torturing you to tell you a thing.”

“And you complain about me!” He sulks and adjusts his glasses. “This is totally unfair. There’s no way to keep you in suspense when you already know I’m wearing a tux.”

My body warms at the thought of Nathan standing in front of me in a slim-cut black tuxedo. I’m so eager for Saturday I can barely control my breathing. I won’t be leaving his armsallnight.

When we walk into the store, I give Dad a quick peck on the cheek and recap today’s rehearsal for him. He grumbles a bit about his dinner—he’s made some changes to his eating habits over the last few months, but he still complains daily—before waving us to the back room. After a round of hellos to the regulars, I take my usual seat at the table across from Lucas and Hoshiko.

She gives me a panicky expression and nods at John, who is surveying our D&D group from behind his screen with a very Machiavellian expression on his face.

“Please be the voice of reason with him tonight, Jordan, or he’s going to be out ofcontrol,” Hoshiko begs.

“I make no promises,” he replies, and winks at John.

“Time to get serious,” John intones, his voice low and ominous.

“Oh boy…,” Lucas whispers.

Nathan squeezes my hand under the table. “Can you not drive because your dress is so fluffy you won’t fit in the driver’s seat?” he whispers.

I laugh and slap my hand over my mouth before John sics a dragon on my character. I lean my head on Nathan’s shoulder, joy pulsing through me to be so close to him. I can’t imagine any place I’d rather be than next to Nathan, teasing him.

“Only time will tell,” I whisper back. I glance up and meet his gaze. “But I’ll give you one hint. It’s red.”