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I looked around the interior and said, “This is nicer than the one you used to have. Remember that silver dollar you had glued over that crack in the dash?”

He chuckled. “We had to keep it from rattling somehow.” Shaking his head, he added, “I can’t believe you remember that.”

“I remember everything from our first and only date, right down to what was playing on the radio.”

“’Ten Thousand Hours’ by Dan and Shay, featuring Justin Bieber?” he finished, glancing my way. “You sang so loudly I could barely hear the radio.”

Half mortified, half impressed, my jaw fell open. “You remember that?”

“That night mattered to more than just you... In fact...” He tapped at the screen on his dash, and the opening lines of the song began playing.

I covered my mouth, taken back to our first date. The way he’d looked so handsome in his tux with the lilac tie. How good his cologne had smelled and when we spun around the dance floor, how much I wished the night would never end.

And this time, he sang along to the song as we drove into town, the notes like honey falling from his tongue.

I soaked in all of it, holding his hand in my lap, wondering how this fairy tale had somehow become mine.

We drove into town, and when he parked beside the school, I asked, “Here? They’re letting us in the school?”

He winked, reminding me of his playful side that I loved. “I may have had a little help... Let me get your door.”

As we walked toward the front door, it swung open, and Rhett stood in a suit, the same shit-eating grin on his face as always. “Welcome to the prom,sir and madam.”

I punched him in the arm, my cheeks bright red. “Oh stop.”

He pretended to be wounded, then said, “I’m under strict orders from the boss to behave tonight... Although, I do have something for him.” He reached into his pocket and handed Fletcher a tube of cream. “Here’s that jock itch cream you asked for.” He raised his hand and pointed in Fletcher’s direction. “Might want to stay away from him tonight.”

Fletcher rolled his eyes. “I hate you.”

Rhett only smirked before leading us the several feet to the gym door.

“Do you really have jock itch?” I whispered to Fletcher.

His neck got red as he said, “Absolutely not.”

When Rhett held the door open, my jaw dropped, the ointment long forgotten.

This... was incredible.

52

Fletcher

Liv spun in a slow circle, taking in the gym, from the vinyl covering the floor to the disco ball dangling from the ceiling. Della stood behind the speakers, playing a country song, and Henrietta and Tyler waited by the drink and snack table.

“No way,” she breathed.

I put my arm around her, holding her close. “It’s not a do-over if I don’t do it right.”

She shook her head, wiping moisture from her eyes, and Della began speaking over the microphone.

“Welcome to the prom!” Della said in a low DJ voice. “This year’s theme is Second Chances and Fresh Starts. Let’s kick it off right with a slow song. You crazy kids have a great time!”

Liv faced me. “Fletcher... This is all...” Her lips quivered, and she brushed at her eyes again. “It feels too good to be true.”

I took her close, linking my hands behind her waist and swaying to the music. “This is the truest thing I’ve ever felt, Liv.”

She looked up at me, blue eyes searching my own. “Fletcher... you can’t do this if you don’t mean it, because...”