Chapter 63
Gaze
COACH WAS STANDING next to me, beaming like he’d won the Indy 500. “Well, kid, they’re both actually going to offer a full ride. Residency included. This is huge. They’re desperate for us not to talk to any other schools. This is literally the best-case scenario.”
I felt the vise grip on my chest loosen. We won each of our brackets until the very last game. It was close, but I played my heart out. This was a huge deal. If I could keep my nose clean—Coach’s words—I’d have the choice of either school. I’d be choosing between them instead of worrying that I wouldn’t get to go anywhere. Mike and Ronna were celebrating through the video call. Austin was thrilled and took about a million pictures. I could tell Pixie was happy for me, but something had gone down. If she and Austin hadn’t come back, I would’ve walked off the court in the middle of the game.
She was staying close to either Austin or me, and I was very anxious to get her home to see if she wanted to talk about it.
But first, I had to do some glad-handing, then I needed to hit the showers. Austin and Pixie told me they would wait. The team was already showered and in various states of undress when I went into the locker room. They erupted in cheers and backslaps. Even Mark acted like he’d won something as well. The other teams that were sharing the locker room with us all retreated to their sides.
“Hey! Thanks.” I struggled to stay upright under the weight of all the good tidings. I was on a high for a long time.
Chapter 64
Pixie
AFTER GETTING MY makeup done and Austin helping zip me into my gown, I was ready to face Gaze.
I checked my reflection. If I was even the least bit confused about Austin’s talent, what I was looking at now would change that.
I still looked like me. But damn, I didn’t know my eyes had that sparkle or that my lips were perfect. My hair was shiny and the waves cascaded over one shoulder.
The dress was ridiculous. It skimmed my curves and seemed more like I should be headed to a movie premier.
Austin fanned himself. “Baby, you’re a star.”
I flipped the skirt a little and gave him a spin. What he’d created from a thrift store made me feel like a million dollars. I was excited to see Gaze and see if he liked it, too. And maybe get some more of his gentle kisses.
“Blushing looks great on you. Keep doing that.”
Gaze was standing in the doorway. When I looked from my skirt to his face, he put his hand to his heart like he’d been shot. He mouthed, “Wow,” but he didn’t say it out loud. I knew from the heat in my face I was blushing more than before.
Gaze was in a version of a tuxedo that Austin put together. It had a pop of color with an ascot, and only Austin could make that look cool. He adjusted it on Gaze and then patted both of his cheeks at the same time. “So handsome. Can I video chat Mom and Dad? You know Mom’s dying to see this.”
I slept with Gaze every night, but he was so fancy he seemed a tiny bit like a stranger. I walked over to him and he held out his hand. “You look amazing. And gorgeous. And like my Pixie Rae.”
It mattered that he still saw me that way. Still acknowledged who I was.
He bent his head and whispered into my ear, “Is it okay to talk to Mike and Ronna? Too weird?”
“No. I feel like I know them anyway being in the background of Austin’s calls.”
“Teddi and Milt might be on the other end, too. Prom night is big to Teddi.”
I loved how thoughtful he was, but it was good. “Bring them on. Let’s celebrate, right?”
Gaze sat at the kitchen table and motioned an invitation to sit in his lap. I didn’t think now was the time to try that out. I wanted to be refined, like the princess outfit I had on seemed to require of me.
“Oh my gosh! Austin! What did you do to them?” Teddi’s face was too close to the camera. She had beautiful skin. It was an extremely close angle.
I had a moment of worry before she backed up, then we could see her giant grin. “That’s your best yet. Holy crap.”
Austin stood behind us and while his phone was propped on some textbooks. He gave a pretend curtsy and Teddi and Milt laughed.
“You better take some pictures of them for Insta. Do not waste all that fire. Look at them. I just totally want to be there to set up some lighting and—oh, an emo shoot? With Pixie looking over her shoulder and maybe she could put her foot on his knee in another shot and then…”
Ronna’s hands came down on Teddi’s shoulders. “Okay, little director. Let the old people in here for a few seconds.”
Ronna slid on a set of reading glasses. “Oh, Gaze. Look at you. So grown up. And Pixie? You’re stunning. I’m so excited for you both. What’s the theme again?”
Gaze looked at me, and I knew he wanted me to answer, interact. “Um, I think it’s Hollywood? I’ve seen conflicting signs, so I think there was a little back-and-forth on the whole thing.”
Ronna’s eyes were welcoming, and the way she admired Austin and Gaze just radiated love. Mike leaned into view. “Everyone looks very nice. Hey, not to go off topic, but Coach was really pleased with the scouts’ reports on you, Gaze. It’s all good things. I’m so proud of you. Thanks for trying your best.”
The praise rolled off Mike’s tongue like it was the easiest thing to be encouraging. Loving. I touched Gaze’s hand, thinking how much better it was that he’d been with these people instead of being killed by Bruce.
“Not to hammer home what your sister suggested, but I’d love for you guys to take some pictures, if it is not too much trouble?” Ronna asked. A cocker spaniel was playing fetch with Milt in the background.
Gaze smiled at me. “I’m sure that can be arranged.” Then he lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles.
Teddi’s voice came through the speaker. “Oh my gosh, look at them. They’re straight out of a Disney cartoon. I’m choking on the cute.” She proceeded to make a gagging noise.
“Whelp, you guys better get going. What time does the dance start?” Austin waved at his parents and blew them kisses before ending the session.
“I think it started ten minutes ago. We better head over.”
“Oh crap. I didn’t know we were already late!” I stood and found my shoes, and then slid on the custom decorated pumps.
“Kittens, call me if you need anything. I’m just going to be here, waiting. I’ll take pictures when you get back.” He opened the door for us.
“Will my make up last that long?” Austin had used brands I didn’t even recognize.
“Baby, that’ll be your face for like the next three days. You’ll need an ice pick and a spatula to get it off. Not because there is a lot, but because it’s an all day long formula.” I put my phone into the little pocket he’d added to the dress for just that reason.
“Thank you so much for your help with all of this.” I patted his shoulder as we walked by him.
“Anytime, Kitten. Have fun. Don’t do everything I would do. But give some of it a whirl.” Austin presented us with a corsage and a boutonniere as we walked to the door. “These are from Mom and Dad. With love.”
Gaze and Austin did a handshake that I’d seen them commit to a few times after the flowers were secure. Mine was a lovely white rose wrist corsage.
And then we were headed down the stairs of Gaze’s apartment building. “Look at us. We’re ready for tonight. I’ll tell you what, I never imagined that we’d be this dressed up in a foyer that smells like piss.”
I busted out laughing as we passed the sometimes working elevator. It certainly did hang on to a formidable urine smell.
“There we go. The laugh. As long as I get that, I’m golden.” He flashed his huge grin at me.
Stepping out into the neighborhood felt weird. The place where I was used to being in a tank top and navigating the city seemed slightly magical. The sun was just starting to set, making the light have a slight orange haze about it.
Gaze put his arm around m
y shoulders, clearly marking himself as my date. Around the neighborhood, the prom-goers were coming from their places and apartments. It turned the night into a spectacle. People on the street commented, praising us on our elegant attire. I knew the dress I had on was something else. All the other girls’ dresses looked very store-bought. I saw three of the same blue Cinderella one on three different girls as we settled into the line of fancy kids waiting to get in.
The breeze picked up and the sounds of the city flitted into our senses. Cars were slowing down, watching the parade of well-dressed kids waiting to go into prom.
“Shit. I forgot the tickets.” Gaze patted his pockets over and over.
“Don’t we have them on email?” I turned around to see if anyone else had this same issue. It seemed like every couple had a set of tickets in their hands.
“You know ol’ battle-axe. She’ll never move to email. She is single-handedly responsible for at least half of the world’s trees getting chopped down for worksheet packets.” He bit his lip and sucked on it, eyes darting around.
“Maybe they can check who purchased them at the door? Maybe they kept records?” I motioned to the front of the line.
“That’s possible. Stay here. I’ll go check.”
He strode off, long legs and sleek outfit making my heart jump.
As soon as he was out of sight, I felt something poke me on the shoulder, hard. I spun quickly.
Ashlin and two of her friends were standing there with expectant looks on their faces. “Okay, so we know you stole that dress. There’s no way you could afford it.”
I was so thrown by their opening, all I could do was look down at my dress. For an instant I thought they were reading a tag or something that I had missed. “What?”
“This is designer. I know a Hartsini dress when I see it.” Ashlin gave a smug look to her friends.
“I don’t even know what that is.” I took a step away from them.
Ashlin reached forward and grabbed at the hem of my gown, pulling it. “They’re worth, like, thousands of dollars. No way you have that kind of money to spend, so you must have lifted it. Or maybe blew the store owner. We know you have a lot of practice.”
Ashlin, ironically, had on the same blue Cinderella dress as the other three girls I had witnessed in line.
“Why don’t you go find your date and leave me alone?” My stomach lurched. I knew Ashlin would be at this event. She was the background of everything in my high school career.
Gaze was so good-looking, that when I was watching Ashlin see his face, I knew it was him. She tilted her head up, and then her features went from mean to smooth and a bit nervous. She began blinking her eyes furiously and pouting her lips.
Gaze slid his arm along on my shoulders. “Ladies, I assume you’re here to tell Pixie how ravishing she looks and then going on your fucking way.”
I put my hand up and entangled my fingers in his.
“Actually, we were just asking where she got her dress. It caught our eye.” Ashlin pushed one of her shoulders forward like she was posing for a selfie and looking for the best angle.
I gave Gaze a look to tell him she was full of shit. Gaze tapped his index finger against his lips for a few beats, then he shrugged. When he turned back to me and lifted his eyebrows, I got ready. I knew that look. He was going to get into some well-calculated mischief. He faced me completely and then wrapped his arms around me. He hefted me up so our lips were close. He kissed me softly but slowly, making a show of it. I wrapped my arms around him, one hand in his hair, the other around his neck. Thanks to the short front hem, I was able to wrap my legs around his waist. We kissed until it was far too awkward for Ashlin and friends to stand there and watch. And then longer still until a teacher came behind Gaze and cleared her throat. I started laughing as he helped me slide down his body and made sure my skirt was laying correctly.
We scurried up the space our display had created between us and the couple in front of us in line, holding hands the whole time.
I eventually peeked over my shoulder to see where Ashlin had wound up. She was at the back of the line, but she had her eyes on me, an evil smile in place. She gave me a little wave, but turned to her friend when Gaze followed my movement.
“Man. She has to be here for all my damn life. I can’t wait to get the hell away from that chick.” I sighed out loud. “Why does tonight have to have her in the background?”
Gaze looked back at Ashlin and then down at me. “Hey. Interesting development. They do not have a list up there, and I don’t have the tickets. What about we dump these fuckers and have our own prom?”
I thought about it for a few seconds. I didn’t register any disappointment with missing out on standing in the cafeteria waiting for Ashlin to drop her social media prank moment on me in my beautiful dress.
“I think I’d be cool with that. Like a lot cool with it. You sure?” Maybe this was ruining a big high school moment that he was hoping for.
“Oh, hell yeah. Let’s bounce the hell out of here.” He stepped out of line and bowed to me. “M’lady…”
He pulled me next to him and called a cab. He held the door open for me to slide in and made sure my train was all the way in before closing the door.
After he was settled in on the other side, he gave the driver our address.
“We could’ve walked.” I gave him a puzzled look. Taxis were for tourists.
“Ah, but then we couldn’t do this.” He leaned forward and asked the cabbie, “Hey, toot the horn for me, please.” Then he pointed out the window behind my head. When I turned my head, he whispered into my ear, “Let’s let her know what we think of her.”
I gave Ashlin the double middle finger with Gaze’s long proud fingers matching on either side. And that was how we headed to our own private prom, laughing our asses off while Ashlin gave us the wide eyes of surprise.
I fell back into his chest and Gaze wrapped his arms around me. I moved my head so I could see him—well, his chin until he tilted his head down to mine.
“I love you so much, Gaze.” And I realized it was the first time I’d felt it so deeply. He was my everything.
It was like he’d won the lotto and got superpowers in the same moment—just perfect joy across his face.
Chapter 65
Gaze
AND THEN EVERYTHING changed. Pixie Rae made a man out of me by just having trust and love for me in her eyes. Not the kind that we had for each other as kids, as family, but romantically. She loved me as the man I was about to become. I gave her an upside down kiss.
“You know I love you, too. Forever.” I lifted her head off of me so I could cuddle her into me. I was thankful for how tall I was now so that I could cover her like protection.
“So we’re going home for prom?” She wasn’t judging, just curious as I paid the driver and got out of the cab behind her.
“I’m starving. So hungry right now. The hungriest I’ve ever been in my life.” I pretended to eat her arm.
“Okay, fine. Pete’s will get us fed the quickest.”
I was about to argue that we should be getting something fancier, when she took off running in heels and everything. “Beat ya there.”
The carefree way she glanced over her shoulder and the impish mischief in her eyes reminded me of the younger Pixie. Before anyone had taken so much away from her. I took off after her. Halfway to beat her, halfway to make sure if she fell I could catch her.
She hit the front door of the pizza place and I was close behind her. I opened the door for her, and she was panting from the jog and laughing at the same time.
Pete, the pizza place owner, made a fuss over us as we walked in. “Oh my gosh! Look at you two punks. Cleaned up nice and shiny. Look at that.”
He called all the employees to the front. I recognize most of them. Pixie and I loved the place when we were kids, but also still came here to eat often. You couldn’t go wrong with pizza. It was like Pete had a sense that we could use some fussing and
gushing by adults. I was sure he knew about Ms. Stone, and hell, my father was still in town so he knew about him as well.
“We make a heart pizza for you two!” He insisted on taking pictures of us and showing us a picture he had tacked to a bulletin board behind the counter. It was under a few flyers, but it was old Pixie and me sharing a Coke and eating two slices of pizza. It had been the lunch special, and we figured out if we split the soda, we could have two meals.
“You still want to split the soda?” Pete had his wife fill up a giant pitcher with soda and then she popped in two straws. “Big kids get big drinks.”
He made a sweet, huge heart-shaped pizza and refused to take any money for it. While we ate at the table by the window, you would’ve thought we were superstars, not neighborhood kids sitting at the local pizzeria.
Pixie tried not to laugh at me as I burned my mouth on the super hot cheese.
She leaned forward and held out a napkin. “I think this is so much better than prom.”
I gulped the soda, ignoring the straws in the pitcher entirely.
“Hell yeah. I didn’t need to hang out with those bastards. This is where it’s at. And I’m just getting started.” He reached out for my hand again, before we had to separate to wave to the new set of people who were coming into the restaurant.
Chapter 66
Pixie Rae
AFTER WE FINISHED the pizza, I hugged Pete and Gaze man-slapped, half-hugged, half- handshaked him to thank him again. I scrolled through the pictures on my phone. Gaze and I at the “official” prom. I zoomed in and saw Ashlin watching me from behind. Her focus on hate gave me the chills. Then there was the snap in the cab, a picture of the heart pizza, and the ones that Pete had taken for us, too.
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