Page 89 of The Surprise Play

My cheeks flare pink and I shake my head, biting my lips together. I’d rather die than admit that I went to prom my junior year with my cousin Leo, and it was a disaster. He ditched me by the punchbowl and ended up dancing with a bunch of other girls, then got caught in the stairwell full-on making out with my stats teacher. He was already in college, and I’m pretty sure Miss Hemsworth got the lecture of a lifetime from our school principal, but she didn’t get fired.

I ended up hovering near the food table and nibbling on treats, tapping my foot to the beat and begging time to freaking hurry up.

Needless to say, I skipped senior prom.

It would have been a million times worse with thelikes of Jade, Katrina, and Carmen there. I just couldn’t put myself through it.

My parents and I spent the evening with the karaoke machine I got for my birthday that year. We had a blast.

“Well, that’s a sin right there. Pretty girls deserve pretty flowers.”

I tense, eyeing him with confusion.

“What?”

“Are you mocking me?” I murmur.

He frowns, obviously trying to figure out what I mean. “N-o. Why do you think I’m mocking you?”

My cheeks flush and I shake my head, softly mumbling, “I’m not a pretty girl.”

Oh shit? Did I just say that out loud?

I wince, hoping he didn’t hear me and keeping my eyes trained on the bouquet.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.” I shoot him a smile, then glance back down, not moving until he’s standing right beside me and tipping my chin up.

He looks me over like he’s studying a piece of artwork. I swallow, trying not to be unnerved by his perusal. Brushing his thumb across my cheek, he leans down and lightly sniffs my face.

“What are you doing?” I tremble.

“Just wondering if you’re wearing that perfume again. I seriously love that stuff.”

A soft giggle shakes out of me, and I lean away to look at his face. “You… want me to put it on?”

“Hell yeah.” He winks and takes the flowers out of my hands. “You got a glass or something I can put these in?”

“Oh, um… in the bathroom. You can use my toothbrush mug.”

“Sounds good. You get your smell on while I sort these out.”

Disappearing into my bathroom, I watch him go, still shaking my head at how bizarre this all is.

The hottest man I have ever met just gave me flowers, called me pretty, and is about to take me on a date.

Is this even real?

A small part of me is just waiting for that moment where reality kicks me in the face. Like it did for Josie Grossie inNever Been Kissed, when she thought her ultimate crush was picking her up for prom, and instead he egged her in the face.

That’s never happened to me, but I was always paranoid that it would.

And now I’m putting myself in the perfect position to be pranked and humiliated.

Not by Wily. He wouldn’t do that to you.

Squirting on my perfume, I replace the bottle and try to believe myself as I turn around and watch Wily walk back in with my flowers.