by L A Cotton
Everyone was silent, watching me. Even Sorcha and Joe were quiet, their expressions giving nothing away. But at least they weren’t smirking or mocking me. Although I was sure that would come later.
But something had changed just now. I had changed. I’d never really found my place in high school but that was okay. Because life didn’t end here, it was just beginning. And as I locked eyes with the guy who had stolen my heart, I was excited to see what the future held.
“That was… very moving, Carrie-Anne.” Principal Kiln smiled, offering me the velvet cord. “If you’d like to do the honors.”
Taking it from him, I pulled sharply, a collective gasp of appreciation filling the hall as the curtain fell back and the tree came into view.
But what I didn’t expect was the applause that followed. Some kids—mostly Bryan and his friends—even cheered, hooting and hollering, their enthusiasm catching on like a wave.
“Congratulations, Carrie-Anne,” Mr. Keefer said. “You deserve this.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“That was amazing.” Bryan came over and picked me up, twirling me around. Mr. Keefer chuckled deeply, excusing himself.
“Put me down.” I patted his chest, but Bryan only tightened his hold on me.
“No chance, Kitty Cat. I’m in total awe of you.” He didn’t give me a chance to answer, pressing his lips to mine in front of most of the senior class and kissing me.
“Bryan—” I murmured against his mouth as a new round of cheers and wolf whistles started. “Everyone is watching.”
He pulled back slightly, grinning down at me. “Let them watch, babe.”
And I did.
I, Carrie-Anne Trombley, kissed Bryan Hughes in front of our class and teachers and I didn’t regret a single second of it.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked Bryan for the third time. After riding the high of the unveiling this morning and that very public, very indecent kiss, Bryan had asked me to go to dinner with his parents. They wanted to spend some time with him, and he wanted me to meet them. I also got the impression he wanted some moral support.
So here I was, in Bryan’s car on the way to meet his parents.
“I need you there,” he said, gripping my hand tighter.
“I don’t want it to seem like we’re ambushing them.”
“Stop. Worrying.” He glanced over at me. “They just want to ease their guilt by spending time with me while they’re in town. If they gave a shit about me, they would have rearranged things to be at graduation.”
“I still can’t believe they won’t be there,” I said, my heart aching for him.
I knew Bryan’s relationship with his parents was strained, but to miss his graduation, that was just a shitty thing to do.
“Yeah, well, I’m used to coming second to Dad’s business.” He pulled into the parking lot at the restaurant and cut the engine. “We could always bail and go make out down by the lake.”
“For as tempting as that sounds, you told them you’d meet them.”
“I know… But things have been tense. Maybe bringing you—”
“Bryan, I’m here. Whatever happens, I’m not going anywhere, okay?”
They might have been neglectful toward Bryan, but he was still their son. Surely things couldn’t be that bad.
But Bryan was tense as we climbed out of his car and made our way inside. He clutched my hand in a vice-like grip, as if he needed my touch to ground him.
“Son.” A man stood from a nearby table, beckoning us over.
“Dad,” Bryan said coolly as we reached them. “Mom, Dad, this is Carrie-Anne, my girlfriend.”
My heart did a little flip at that word.
“Carrie-Anne,” Mrs. Hughes said. “So lovely to meet you. Although Bryan didn’t mention he had a girlfriend, so this is quite a surprise.”
“Things are new… between us, I mean.” I forced a smile. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
“Likewise.” Mr. Hughes studied me. I didn’t sense any animosity from him, but he didn’t exactly look pleased either.
“You wanted to see me?” Bryan said, sitting rigid like a statue. He was a completely different person around them. But I knew all about difficult parents. I hadn’t been able to stomach being around Mom and Dad together in the same room for years.
“Bryan, please,” Mrs. Hughes whispered. “We just wanted to spend some time with you.”
“Before you leave again?”
A ripple went through the air, and I was relieved when the server arrived to take our drink order. The second she walked off, the tension returned.
“So, Carrie-Anne,” Mr. Hughes changed tack. “What is it you plan to do after graduation?”
“I… uh, I have a place at OSU, sir. But things are a little up in the air right now.”
“Up in the air how exactly?”
“Dad,” Bryan scolded.
“Relax, Son, it’s just a simple question.”
“My parents are getting a divorce.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”
Bryan barely contained his groan. I squeezed his hand under the table.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Mr. Hughes added. “But I don’t understand how that affects your place at college?”
“Jeez, Dad.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “Divorces are expensive and the money my father had set aside for my college tuition…”
“I see.” Mr. Hughes saved me the embarrassment of saying it out loud.
“I’m hoping it will all work out.” I was due to move to Ohio in less than three months. But the truth was, I still didn’t know if I wanted to take the financial aid. It was a big decision.
“At least you’ll be close to one another. OSU can’t be more than a three-hour ride from Mich—”
“Jenny, be reasonable. They just got together,” Mr. Hughes scoffed. “I doubt they’re thinking about doing the long-distance thing.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Bryan seethed.
“Son, come on now. It’s almost graduation. Your future is all mapped out. I’m sure you and Carrie-Anne are enjoying getting to know each other now, but you both must know it isn’t going anywhere.”
He might as well have punched me in the chest. Of course, I didn’t think that. I wanted Bryan in ways that terrified me. Permanent kind of ways. But was his dad right?
Were we being foolish to think this thing between us could continue past summer?
We certainly hadn’t talked about it; it was too soon to be having those kinds of conversations.
Wasn’t it?
I peeked over at Bryan.
“What the fuck is your problem?” he gritted out. “You don’t give a shit about my life. You’re never here when it counts, but you think you can give me advice about my relationship?”
“Bryan, sweetie, that’s not—”
“No, Mom. You don’t get to do that, not this time. Carrie-Anne is here because I want her here. Because unlike the two of you, I know I can trust her to be there for me. And yeah, maybe it’s foolish starting something before we both leave for college, but I don’t give a fuck. Because I’d follow her anywhere. Now if you’ll excuse us,” he said, standing. “I’m going to go get dinner with my girlfriend in a place I actually like.”
He motioned for me to follow him, but I was rooted in place, caught between the girl I’d always been and the girl I wanted to be.
Bryan took off, muttering something under his breath, refusing to acknowledge his mom’s pleas for him to come back.
“Really, Mitch, we’re supposed to be building bridges, not pushing him further away.” Mrs. Hughes realized I was still standing there and gave me an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Carrie—”
“He needs to grow up, Jenny, and realize that college is right around the corner. He doesn’t need any distractions, especially not—”
“I hope you don’t think I’m speaking out of turn,” I said, trembling. “But your son is an
amazing person. He’s kind and loyal and selfless. Perhaps, if you spent less time out of town, and more time here, with him, you’d know that. It was nice to meet you both.”
Surprised at my little outburst, I hurried out of the restaurant, colliding with Bryan as I exited the door.
“Easy there, Kitty Cat.” He steadied me.
“I am so sorry.”
“Relax. It’s nothing I haven’t lived through ten times already. I’m just sorry you had to see it.” He cupped my cheek. “Want to get out of here? We could stop by a drive thru to grab some food, and head down to the lake.”
Heat flared in his eyes.
“Are you sure you want to—”
He nodded. “I have never been more sure of anything.”
And somehow, I got the feeling he wasn’t only talking about getting something to eat.
Bryan
I was still seething when we got down to the lake. Thick sludgy disappointment coiled heavy in my chest.
Why couldn’t they just be normal parents? Parents who cared and supported me and wanted good things for me. Instead, I’d gotten two of the most self-absorbed people I’d ever met.
And I knew, I fucking knew that’s who they were, but I still went to dinner tonight hoping that maybe they would surprise me. I hadn’t expected them to change their mind about graduation, but it didn’t stop me from wanting it.
“Bryan.” Carrie-Anne said, and I glanced over at her. “Are you okay?”
“I… yeah.” I let out a heavy sigh. “I shouldn’t even care, they’ve always been that way. They care enough to try to tell me how to live my life, but don’t care enough to stick around. That shit doesn’t fly with me anymore. I’m not a kid. I’m not…”
Fuck. The way Dad had dismissed our relationship and made things awkward. Who the hell did he think he was?
“I told them, you know?” she whispered.
“W-what?”
Carrie-Anne nodded. “After you stormed out. I… I told them.”
“What did you say?” I frowned. I couldn’t imagine her standing up to Mitchell Hughes. Few people did.
“I just told them that you’re an amazing person and perhaps they would know that if they spent more time here instead of leaving you.”
My eyes almost bugged out. “You… you said that?”
A slow smile crept over her face. “I did and it’s true. Your heart is in the right place, Bryan. And you deserve better. You deserve to have parents who want to celebrate all your successes and watch you grow.” Her expression fell a little. “I’m sorry if I spoke out of turn.”
I stared at her, my heart almost beating out of my chest. “Y-you said that to them?”
Carrie-Anne pressed her lips together, nodding.
“Come here.” I grabbed her, half dragging her across the center console onto my lap. She settled her legs on either side of mine, straddling me, her hands looping around my shoulders.
“Bryan, you’re crazy.” Her laughter was like music to my ears.
This girl…
This fucking girl.
I touched my head to hers, breathing her in. “I’m crazy about you. I know it’s fast. I know we both have plans beyond the summer but… I. Don’t. Care. I’m in, Kitty Cat. I’m all fucking in. We’ll make it work.” We had to make it work, because I’d only just found her.
I couldn’t lose her now.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered. “If I do go to OSU, it’s only a car ride away from Michigan, and if I don’t… we’ll figure it out.”
“And we can video call, all the time.” I grinned. “You can sext me.”
“Sext you?” Her eyes grew wide, but I saw a flash of desire there.
“Yeah, it’ll be great.”
“Oh my God,” she breathed, burying her face in the crook of my shoulder.
“I need you, Carrie-Anne. Just promise me we’ll make this work.” I gently gripped the back of her neck, forcing her to look at me. Her lips curved, the love and lust in her eyes like a bolt to the heart.
She cared.
She really fucking cared.
Maybe even more than cared.
Maybe she felt them too—the invisible threads binding my soul to hers. It was fast, really fucking fast. But I knew in that moment, what we had was special. Something worth holding onto, something worth fighting for.
“What?” she asked as I continued staring at her.
Sliding my hand along her jaw, I pushed the hairs from her face. “Ready to make out in my car?”
Heat flooded her cheeks, but I saw the want in her eyes. “Kiss me,” she murmured.
And I did, wondering if she felt the moment my heart became hers.
Our tongues tangled together, slow and teasing. My hands traced the curves of her body as she gently rocked over me.
“Bryan.” A soft moan spilled from her lips. “I feel…”
“Ssh, it’s okay. Take what you need.” Take it all.
Carrie-Anne shifted slightly, moving right over my dick, and fuck, it felt good. It would have been so easy to take control, to slip my fingers into her jeans and make her come. But I wanted her like this. I wanted her to take what she needed. To trust me enough to lose control.
We kissed and kissed, hard and fast, slow and steady while Carrie-Anne discovered ways to make herself cry out and fall apart. I was so fucking hard it was borderline painful, but it was worth it. Worth it to see her eyes screw up tight and lips fall open as she came, her body trembling above me.
“Oh my God,” she whispered as I curved my hand around the back of her neck and held her to me.
“Go to prom with me,” I said.
“W-what?” Her eyes flew open, glittering with surprise.
“You heard me, Kitty Cat. Go to prom with me.”
“Yes.” She grinned. “Yes, I’ll go to prom with you.”
“Thank fuck you said yes.” I kissed her, and she pulled back, frowning.
“Why?”
A knowing smile tugged at my lips. “Because I already got the tickets.”
Chapter Seven
Carrie-Anne
Prom.
The quintessential American high school experience.
And I was going with a boy who made me feel things I’d never dreamed of.
“Oh my gosh, sweetheart,” Mom said as I stood in front of the mirror, admiring the last-minute dress purchase. “You look… wow.”
“It’s really okay?” I studied the knee-length, black satin skater dress. It had a lace bodice with three-quarter length sleeves and a belt that completed it with an off-center bow. It wasn’t the over-the-top princess style dresses I knew a lot of girls would be wearing, but it was still the prettiest thing I owned.
“You look beautiful.” Mom squeezed my shoulder, and I was sure I caught a tear in her eye. “I got you something, wait here.” She disappeared out of my room, returning a second later with a diamanté hair clip. “Here.” Gently scooping my soft curls off my face, she pinned it in place, and it somehow only made the whole ensemble better.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I wanted to get you something.” She turned me into her, holding me at arm’s length. “I know things haven’t been easy, baby, and I know I messed up the other day. But I want you to know that I love you and although I might not always get it right, you’re my greatest achievement, Carrie-Anne. And I’m so proud of you.”
We hugged, her soft sobs encouraging my own tears. But I blinked them away, not wanting to ruin my modest makeup.
I’d never spent so long getting ready. But I wanted tonight to be perfect.
The last few days had been a whirlwind in the best possible way. Bryan’s parents were out of town again, so we spent a lot of time after school over at his house. But we still hadn’t done… it.
It was like Bryan was holding back. Giving me space. But I didn’t want space, I wanted him. So much so that I was growing impatient.
The loud knock at the door pulled me from m
y thoughts. “They’re here,” Mom shrieked, clapping with excitement. “Let’s go. I need some photos.”
“Oh God,” I groaned to myself as I grabbed my purse and followed her downstairs. She’d already gotten the door open when I reached her.
“Bryan, don’t you look handsome.” Mom stepped aside and my heart faltered in my chest.
“Hey, Kitty Cat.” His eyes drank me in, glittering with so much heat and promise, it knocked the air clean from my lungs.
“Yes, well.” Mom cleared her throat, smothering a small grin. “Let me grab my camera and we can take some photos in front of the limo.”
“L-limo?” My eyes bugged out as I craned my neck over Bryan’s shoulder.
“Surprise,” he said around a smug grin.
“But I thought…”
“Get out here, Kitty Cat, and come say hi to everyone.” He took my hand and tugged me toward the sleek black limo. Kaiden and Lily were already standing beside it, Gav and Ashleigh just climbing out. They had decided to be each other’s dates so we could all go as a group. No outsiders, Bryan had said, as if he wanted me to be one hundred percent comfortable.
“Wow, Carrie-Anne, you look amazing.” Lily came over and hugged me.
“Your dress is so pretty,” I replied. “I can’t believe you guys got a limo.”
“It was all Bry’s idea,” Kaiden said. “He wanted to surprise you.”
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Say, ‘thank you, my oh so thoughtful and gorgeous boyfriend.’” Bryan slipped his arm around me and pressed a kiss to my shoulder.
“Thank you.” I turned slightly, grazing his lips with mine.
“Okay, everyone, scoot in close so I can get a photo.” Mom ushered us together and started snapping photo after photo. “Now one of just Carrie-Anne and Bryan, please.”
“Mom,” I whispered, growing hot all over.
“It’s okay, we’ll wait inside,” Kaiden said, opening the door for Lily and Ashleigh. They all piled inside and closed the door.
“Oh wait,” Bryan said. “I got you something.” He dipped his head back into the limo and when he stood, offered me a corsage box. “Here.”
