Operation Prom Date (Tactics in Flirting)

by Cindi Madsen

  “Okay, I’ve got it,” she said. “You better hold on.”

  “Just promise that if your crazy driving makes me fall off, you’ll come back for me.”

  “I would’ve before that crazy driving comment; now you’re on your own.” With that, she punched the gas. We jolted forward, and I realized I should’ve taken it out of sports mode. At her happy whoop, I decided to let it ride. She made a few wide circles, and then the wind picked up, making the waves choppy.

  We bounced our way back to shore, and I took over the controls once we were a few feet away. I climbed off the Jet Ski, then helped Kate down, my hands lingering on her waist longer than needed.

  But she didn’t pull away. “Thanks. That was fun.”

  Once everything was put back in the shed, I sat down on the grass near the shore. Kate lowered herself next to me and started pulling up clumps. I needed to remind myself that she and I weren’t a possibility again, because every time I was around her, I tended to forget. Or perhaps I simply wanted to forget.

  “So, how are things going with Mick?” I asked, doing my best not to cringe. “You guys hanging out a lot?”

  “No. Just the poker night and then yesterday we went for a hike with some of his friends. I’ve got more competition than I realized, but it’s going…okay. I think.”

  “Well, that’s good.”

  She nodded and formed her clumps of grass into a nest. “I’m still afraid to broach the prom topic, but since we’re pretty much at four weeks and counting, it’s only a matter of time before someone asks him, or he asks someone, and I’m not sure he’d choose me right now.”

  “He’d be an idiot not to.”

  She smiled. “Thanks. But we didn’t come here to discuss the Operation. Today it doesn’t exist.”

  I wanted to say good, and then pull her into my arms and kiss her. See if I couldn’t get it to not exist ever again. You’re trying not to ruin the friendship, remember?

  She’d made it clear that I was her only friend and that she needed me, and while she’d jokingly added “no pressure,” I felt it. Because I needed her, too, more than I realized. Kissing her would change everything, and the risk of messing up our friendship was too high. Especially when I factored in how her endgame of taking Mick to prom obviously hadn’t changed. I’d like to think I’d be big enough to smother the rejection and continue to be her friend regardless, but I knew it’d be too hard if we crossed that line.

  “I want to talk about you.” Kate grabbed my hand and my throat went dry as I tried to remind myself of all the reasons I’d vetoed crossing the line. “I can tell something’s weighing on you, and I think it has to do with your dad.”

  Damn. The girl saw right through me. “It’s nothing.”

  “No, it’s not.” She bumped her shoulder into mine. “This is what friends are for. To listen to you vent or rant, and to be on your side, no matter what.”

  There it was. Another mention of us being friends. Shoving away my conflicted feelings over that, I ran a hand through my hair and allowed the frustration I experienced whenever I thought about my dad and the future he insisted on to take center stage. “He wants me to be a lawyer.”

  Kate wrinkled her nose the way she’d done when I mentioned fishing. “A lawyer? I can’t imagine you being a lawyer. You’d probably charm everyone into letting you win, but still…You? In an office wearing a suit? It doesn’t compute.”

  “All the men in my family are lawyers. I feel ungrateful, because his success has given me a pretty cushy life.” I felt even more ungrateful knowing that Kate and her mom worked so hard for their life. That she worried about how to pay for a prom dress—I liked that she’d outplayed Pecker and his friends to help her with that, though. “But he gets more and more stressed the bigger the case, and if you think I get grouchy, I’ve got nothing on him. It’s like he’s the guy I remember from my childhood only once every few months, and I know my mom feels it, too.

  “He’s already set me up with an internship with his firm this summer, and then college will start, and… I don’t mind working, but I want to keep on rowing, and I’m interested in several fields. I’d like a chance to explore them and see what I really want to do.”

  “What fields? Astronomy?”

  “That’s one of them,” I said, and the fact that she knew me so well helped soothe my frustration. “You called me obsessed with the water, but I’m also pretty obsessed with what’s in it. I’d love to study marine biology and do something in that field. It’d keep me on the water a lot, which is my favorite place to be.”

  “Now that…?” Kate studied me, and she even added a chin stroke, as if she were super deep in thought. “That fits. You should talk to your dad about what you really want to do.”

  Just the thought sent trepidation through me. He’d yell, my mom would try to get involved, and then he’d declare his word the end all, be all, and we’d have to live with the even grumpier version of him. “He’d freak if I so much as mentioned the idea of changing degrees. I’ve tried to hint at it a few times, and even that’s enough to make him get all grouchy and shut down any further attempts at talking about it. He’s got my entire college and career planned out and I haven’t even started yet.”

  “So what? You’re going to go to college, get a law degree, and become a lawyer to make him happy? When are you going to live your life?”

  “I’m not sure I can afford to live my life—he won’t pay for school if I change degrees, I’m sure of it. And Harvard isn’t exactly known for being cheap. But they have the best rowing team—the best marine biology program, too.”

  “I know I’ll have to take out student loans to even attend a state school, but I hear it’s still doable.”

  The way she laid it out made it seem so simple.

  She spread the grass she’d formed into a nest, scattering it in a stripe in front of her, and then slapping her hands together. “Sorry. I’m not being supportive of your rant. What I mean to say is, that sucks! You should get to do what you want!”

  I shot her a grin. “I actually appreciate the more logical counterpoints.”

  “Oh no. Counterpoints? The brainwashing lawyers have gotten to you already.” She gripped my shirt dramatically. “Come back to me, Space Case. Don’t let them have you.”

  “If anyone’s been body-snatched, I think it might be you.”

  She laughed. Then her expression turned serious. “Have you ever thought that a completely honest conversation with your dad, even if it’s a hard one, might clear this all up?”

  “I tried at the beginning of the year. He shut it down. He told me about how he was hesitant at first, too, but that his father and his grandfather were lawyers, and now he’s glad his father made him see reason. Oh, and he made sure to throw in a mention about how I’m his only son, and how it’s my job to carry on the Callihan name at the Callihan, Anderson, and Smith law firm in Manchester.”

  “Well, counselor. If you don’t want to be forced into a career you don’t want, you might have to put up a better argument. As a lawyer, surely he’ll appreciate that.” She curled her fingers around mine. “And just know that I’ll be here for you afterward, no matter how it goes.”

  In the end, that might be the only thing that gave me enough courage to try.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Kate

  Okay, I so didn’t want to be that girl who stared at her phone all day waiting for a boy to call. Unfortunately, I was that girl last night. I could hardly even enjoy Arrow because I kept turning it down, thinking I’d heard my phone.

  How dare Mick make me miss the show with my OTP!

  But by Saturday morning, I’d decided I was as much to blame as he was. A phone worked two ways, after all, and I lived in a day and age where a girl could call up a guy. According to Mom, I should be thanking her generation for that.

  So after showering and getting ready for the day, I went to my bedroom, closed the door behind me, and scooped up Klaus. I set him on my l
ap and petted his head as I took in all my paired figurines. Only one way to get a prom picture that’d look awesome in the mix, and that was to go after what I wanted.

  I wonder if Cooper talked to his dad about what he wants.

  After I made this phone call, I’d check in with my on-again friend. Yesterday proved how much better my life was with him in it. Being able to talk about my dad with Cooper had soothed the ache of missing him, and I loved how we could easily go from that to joking around to Jet Skiing at ridiculously fast speeds to discussing his rocky relationship with his dad. Loved how he’d confided in me about what he truly wanted to study in college. Even in the best times with Amber, we’d never gotten deep like that.

  I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure our friendship stays that way.

  Panic squeezed my lungs at the thought of him suddenly dropping me the way Amber had, even as I assured myself he wouldn’t, especially after I told him how much it would hurt me. Our friendship was stronger; it would last.

  At least until he had to go to Harvard in the fall.

  The squeezing sensation returned, and I worried what I’d do when he left. I’d be alone again…

  Okay, no reason to freak out over something that’s still months away. I took a few deep yoga-type breaths, a trick I’d learned when my overthinking ways got the best of me, and redirected, another tool that came in handy.

  Cooper and I are good again, so I need to focus on getting that prom picture to add to my shelves.

  For one blip of a second, I saw Cooper standing next to me in a tux instead of Mick. My stomach dipped, my pulse quickened, and a thread of desire stitched its way through my core, the same way it had when he showed me how to work the Jet Ski, his lips a mere breath from mine.

  Then my carefully laid plans began shouting at me for trying to mess them up, a jumbled tangle of clashing, confusing thoughts tumbling around in my mind.

  Speaking of messing things up, I’d just vowed to do whatever it took to ensure Cooper and I stayed good friends, and now I was tempting fate by entertaining dangerous, more-than-friends thoughts about him?

  Immediately, the logical side of my brain came to my defense. It’s okay. Friends sometimes go to prom together…

  I’d spent a lot of time picturing it as a big romantic night with slow dancing and kissing, and part of me didn’t want to let that go, even though I knew Cooper and I would definitely have fun.

  Correction: I would have fun. Cooper made it clear he didn’t want to go to prom. He’d even said it was a lot of effort for a night he’d just forget in a few years, so basically he didn’t understand the point at all, and I didn’t want him to go with me out of pity.

  Deciding I was simply psyching myself out and maybe even doing some self-sabotage so I wouldn’t have to risk possibly getting rejected, I looked down at my notebook with my detailed Operation. It had gotten me this far. I just needed to take those last few steps.

  Then I’d have an awesome friend I could have low-key hangouts with and the perfect prom date, and I could declare the end of my senior year a raging success.

  Not allowing myself any more time to second-guess my decision, I hit the little telephone next to Mick’s name, and the phone rang.

  And rang.

  And rang.

  “You’ve got Mick. Leave me a message.”

  My blood pressure skyrocketed. Clearly I should’ve prepared for this option. The beep made me jump. “Hey, ’sup?” Oh my gosh, did I really just use “’sup?” “Anywho,” I said, because I couldn’t stop saying the wrong thing. “I was wondering what you were up to today. And tonight. Really, either one.”

  Abort, abort, abort…

  “Guess I’ll catch up with you later.” I hit end, then flopped onto my bed face-down and groaned into the pillow. Why had I gone all guns blazing and called him instead of sending an editable text? Boldness was totally overrated.

  My phone rang and I jerked up. He called me back!

  Only it wasn’t Mick. Cooper’s name flashed across my display instead.

  A flutter of excitement went through my tummy, and I took one quick second to make sure my emotions were in check before answering. “Hey, Space Case.”

  “I’ll give you that one, but I want a new nickname, stat.”

  “I’ll get right on it. Oh, and I know you can’t see me, but I’m saluting you right now.” I saluted nobody, because not doing it seemed like lying, and guilt came after me for stupid reasons. “How do you feel about Aquaman?”

  “Well, I’ve seen the preview for the upcoming movie with him in it, and our bodies are equally as ripped, so…”

  “You’re at a six on the Kanye scale, so I’d stop there. Honestly, I’d put it higher, but since I was the one foolish enough to compare you to the superhero, I knocked off a few points.”

  “Wow, you’re so generous today,” Cooper said. “Speaking of today, what are you up to?”

  “Nothing much.”

  “I was thinking of heading to downtown Manchester to see what trouble I could get into. You wanna go with?”

  As badly as I wanted to go, I almost said no, just in case Mick called—I really needed to amp things up if I was going to ask him to prom this next week. Not to mention the lapse in judgment I’d had over where exactly the friends line was a couple of minutes ago.

  But the thought of saying no, only to sit at home by myself, was downright depressing. Especially when it meant time with Cooper, and a casual hangout session would be just the thing to remind me why it was so important to keep our easygoing friendship as is. “I’d be happy to help you get into trouble.”

  His low laugh came over the line and wrapped me in warmth. “I’ll be there in a few.”

  …

  Cooper and I grabbed lunch and then wandered around downtown. I asked him if he had a talk with his dad, and all he said was “Not yet.”

  A gold-gilded storefront with a huge window display caught my eye and I put my hand on Cooper’s elbow to stop him from continuing down the sidewalk. “I know that you’re a prom Scrooge, and the last thing in the world guys ever want to do is go into a store with fancy dresses, but can we go peek at the window over there?”

  His hesitance was clear, but he let me pull him across the street. Four mannequins donned beautiful formals, the one in the middle shimmering in the sunshine.

  Cooper heaved a sigh. “We can go in. But you’re so coming with me to the sporting goods store afterward.”

  I let loose a squeal and gave him an attack hug before clamping on to his hand and dragging him inside.

  The beautiful dresses deserved to be revered, so I hardly breathed as I approached the rows and rows of them. I walked along, occasionally lifting one up for a better view. Silk and jewel tones and slinky black and red and strappy gowns with bling, and it was totally dress heaven.

  Then I saw it.

  The dress.

  The one I instinctually knew was destined to be mine. Gauzy beaded top, bronze sash at the waist that perfectly tied together the almost nude with a hint of gray fabric and the smoky colored tulle skirt.

  I lifted the top few layers of the full, floor-length skirt. “It’s so pretty. Usually I go for bright colors, so I wouldn’t expect to like the combination, but this screams a night of magic under the stars. Which seems extra perfect for the Wish Upon a Star theme.” I spun to Cooper. “Don’t you think?”

  He shrugged, proving that, unlike me, he had the casual gesture down pat, and making it clear his enthusiasm level for the prom hadn’t grown any since we first discussed it. Not that it mattered or anything, since I was still planning on asking Mick, so I wasn’t sure why that non-newsflash thought even popped into my head. “If you like it, I like it,” he said.

  “Do I have time to try it on?”

  “Like I’m going to say no to that puppy-dog face.”

  Come to think of it, my lips were stuck out in a pout and I might’ve been batting my eyes extra, but I hadn’t done it on purpo
se. Not that I didn’t appreciate my features going to bat on my behalf, especially since it’d worked. Please have my size, please have my size.

  My hand shook as I sorted through the hangers.

  Miracle of miracles, I found my size. But I also saw the price tag. Three hundred dollars? “Hmm.”

  “What?” Cooper scooted closer.

  “It’s just more than I planned on spending. I haven’t even asked Mick yet, either.” I pinched my lip between my fingers. “Maybe I’m jumping the gun.”

  “It’s free to try on, and the asking part’s only a matter of time.” Cooper put his hands on my shoulders. “Do you think I’m going to let us fail Operation Prom Date?”

  “No?”

  “One more time, with a little more faith.”

  “No.” The warm fuzzies came back full force. At first I couldn’t even get him to call it by name, and now he was the one giving a pep talk.

  “That’s right.” His voice morphed into drill sergeant mode. “Now, you take that dress and you try it on.”

  “Yes, sir.” I hugged Cooper—I couldn’t seem to stop hugging him. He was super huggable, after all. The way he automatically wrapped his arms around me sent a sense of security through me that I’d never felt with a friendship before, not even when I thought Amber and I would be friends forever.

  The saleswoman came over as I pulled the dress off the rack, and then she ushered me into a dressing room.

  I shimmied into the dress, and I couldn’t decide whether I wanted it to look amazing so I could conclude my search for the perfect dress, or if I wanted it to not fit quite right so I wouldn’t justify spending that kind of money on a dress I’d only wear once.

  But as the fabric fell into place and I turned to face the mirror, I decided that it’d be worth it just to feel this beautiful for one night.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Cooper

  I skimmed through my phone, checking different sites as I tried not to inhale any more of the overly floral scent floating in the air of the shop. I’d shake my head at myself for getting talked into dress shopping on a Saturday, but I’d finally accepted my fate. Kate made me lose my common sense, and I was a total sucker for whatever she wanted.