Page 78 of Theodore

“To the ball, baby,” Theo whispered, as he opened the door to a black limousine. I gasped as Mara and Henry waved, clutching glasses of champagne.

“Theo! You aresosecretive!” I cried happily as he pulled a velvet box out of his pocket, his eyes meeting mine.

“Thelastsecret, I promise.”

I whipped my head around to see Mara giggling, clapping her hands in delight as Henry watched with amusement. My heart thudded in my chest as I opened the box, not sure what to expect when it revealed a beautiful love knot ring, its clear stones glittering as I turned the box to see it.

“Oh, my God. It’sbeautiful.”

“As are you, try it on.”

“De Luca, you betternotbe proposing to my sister right now,” warned Ryan from the doorway, as Mom pushed past him with excitement.

I giggled, sliding the ring on to my middle finger, which didn’t fit. I frowned as I looked at Theo, his trademark smirk making my heart flip in my chest.

“This one.”

He slid the ring from my finger, pushing it down onto my wedding ring finger.

I looked up at him in confusion as he shrugged.

“It’s a promise ring. I promise to always love you,” Theo murmured as his lips claimed mine.

“Guys,prom!” yelled Mara.

I exhaled, finally pulling away from Theo.

“You havenoidea how much I love you right now,” Theo murmured against my hair as he kissed my head, following me to the limo.

Mara handed me a glass of champagne as Theo greeted Henry warmly.

The ride to the prom was as amazing as I thought it would be, and I leaned into Theo, my heart filling with happiness as I gazed down at my ring.

“Thank you. For the dress, the ring...I love you so much.”

“Aww, you guys! You aresocute,” gushed Mara.

Henry cleared his throat, sliding his arm around her.

Mara made a face at me, turning to smile at him when I noticed her phone in her hand. Our eyes met as she chuckled softly, keeping a firm distance between her and Henry.

When we arrived, I stepped out of the car onto a red carpet as a photographer snapped photos of us arriving.

“I feel like a movie star,” I whispered, as Theo beamed at the cameras beside me, his perfect white teeth making himlooklike a movie star.

“You’reyou. That’s a million times hotter than any movie star I’ve ever seen. This dress, though, it belongs on the floor,” he drawled as we walked into the school hall, transformed into an elegant setting fit for prom.

The ceiling had a light blue voile, littered with silver stars. The thick white pillars draped in silver material reminded me of a waterfall. The floor had lanterns lining the walkway, and soft white lights glowed on the walls. Silver fake trees filled the room as I noticed tables lined with an enchanted theme.

“Wow,” I said with a gasp as Mara nodded beside me.

“It’s like a magical forest,” I added, as I heard the soft music playing.

“It’s still the school hall.” Shrugged Henry accepting a glass of punch from an attending server.

“It’sprom,” Theo said, guiding me to the dance floor.

We danced so much I ached, both from laughing and breaking out moves I didn’t know I had. I was also slightly tipsy from Theo’s hip flask, which probably gave me some courage.