Laughing, I scooped up a salty, buttery handful and shoved it in my mouth. “Yum.”
She shook her head and took her seat with a grumble. “What’s got you so giddy?” She waved her nachos at my face. “I saw that big old smile all the way from the concession stand.”
I shrugged, realizing I was kind of giddy, despite the flash of insecurity. In fact, I felt like a weight had been lifted. “Nothing much. Just sitting here thinking life’s pretty awesome. Great game, amazing friends, yummy snacks.” I shoved a few more pieces of buttery goodness in my mouth, thinking about my mom. She would’ve loved this. “It doesn’t get much better, does it?”
A bright smile bloomed on her face, and Angéla knocked her shoulder against mine. “Actually, it does.” She handed over half the food haul, then reached into the pocket of her shorts to withdraw a bag of peanut M&M’s. My heart did a squeeze.
“My hero,” I exclaimed, snatching the treat.
Our silly laughter got lost in the sounds of the game.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Stone
Get ready.
Two words was all it took for my sister to taunt me. I smiled at my phone. Angéla had been here all day, doing the hair, nails, and makeup routine with Lily and Sydney for the dance. The trio had grown tight the last couple weeks—so much so that I was tempted to resort to playground politics and point out I’d seen Lily first. Not that I minded their friendship. I loved that they had each other and got along so well.
What I didn’t love? Angéla hogging my girlfriend.
Returning the phone to my pocket, I blew out a breath. I needed to get my head on straight. I’d had a weird feeling since I woke up, like a premonition before a big matchup. It wasn’t about Lily. Even without my sister’s text, I knew she’d look incredible. No, this was about me.
Seeing Noah again last night messed with me. I’d shoved it aside for the game, but the second the clock had hit zero and the ref had blown the final whistle, the memories roared back. Every stupid smirk, every harsh whisper, every fucking screenshot. They were all there, in my head, reminding me I’d been replaceable. Interchangeable. Just another meathead holding a football and a springboard to popularity. Ma had given us the day off from the studio to get ready for the dance, but I’d shown up this morning anyway, helping with every class she’d had in the hopes they’d drown out the voices in my head. The whispers saying I’d fail my parents and that Ilusiòn would close. And the taunts promising that soon Lily would leave me, too.
As of today, our dare was over. So was the agreement with her dad. Lily had stuck with the lessons so, technically speaking, I’d fulfilled my part of the bargain. If I broke my word tonight and told Lily the truth, there wasn’t much her old man could do about it. But she could. At the end of the day, promise or not, good reason or not, I’d kept a secret from Lily for a month. Confessing now would only push her away, especially without a backup plan in place that let me return her dad’s money.
The showcase was just around the corner, and the day after it was over, rent was due. Unless a ton of new students enrolled between now and then, that would wipe out the rest of our savings and I’d have to give Ma the cash from Mr. Bailey I had hidden away. I swear to God, that damn shoebox haunted my dreams. It was all I saw when I walked in my room, and it’d gotten to the point where I avoided going in there at all other than to sleep. For two weeks I’d lain awake, staring at my closet and trying to think of a solution, any other solution, and a few nights ago, it finally came to me. An idea that could save Ilusiòn, long-term, and help cover the bills. The only problem was it required time and a level of patience I wasn’t sure I had.
Opening my eyes to the solid oak door, I released a sigh and knocked. It did no good rehashing it on her doorstep. Just for tonight, I wanted to forget that time was my enemy. I wanted to stop worrying about the studio or what tomorrow could bring and just hold Lily in my arms.
I need my girl.
Footsteps on the other side had me smiling for the first time today. I patted my left pocket, making sure the gift was there, and smoldered at the door as the lock turned. I didn’t know if it was “unicorn” worthy, but hopefully it’d make her smile regardless.
A laugh built in my chest as the door opened. It died just as fast.
“Mr. Torres.” Salt-and-pepper brows rose as Lily’s dad stared like I’d presented a complicated math problem. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, sir.” My jaw flexed, and I firmed up my voice. “I’m here to pick up Lily.”
Blue eyes went cold. Mr. Bailey stepped back and appraised my suit, his mouth set in a disapproving line, and for a moment, I legit feared he’d slam the door in my face. Or worse, run upstairs and tell Lily about our deal. But he had as much to lose doing that as I did. Maybe more. He sniffed, then widened the door. “Come on in, then.”
I stepped into the foyer, immediately noticing the quiet.
There was no music playing, no sound from a television. No idle conversation or echoed laughter. I couldn’t remember the last time my house had been this quiet and it hadn’t been the middle of the night. Weren’t the girls here somewhere?
Wordlessly, I followed Mr. Bailey into the living room and found Nick and Sean already waiting. I lifted my chin in hello. As they nodded back, I took a short break from worrying about seeking approval to size up my sister’s date.
Sean was on the soccer team. We’d never had a problem, but the guy was spineless. It was no secret he’d had a thing for Angéla since we were freshmen, but he’d never made a move until now. He was a nice guy but way too shy. He’d let my sister lead him by the nose. She needed someone who’d support and challenge her.
As for Nick, he was cool, but we didn’t hang in the same circles. He was smart, like Lily, Cameron, and Aidan. My IQ probably jumped a few points just standing next to him.
Looking away, I adjusted my pristine tie and studied the room instead.
Framed photos hung on the walls. A young Lily posed in all of them—with her parents in front of Cinderella Castle in one, near the Eiffel Tower in another. A collage of her entire life, up until three or four years ago, was painstakingly displayed on every surface, from the fireplace mantel to the expensive-looking coffee table to the grand piano in the corner.
In every picture, she looked happy. She was the spitting image of her mom, other than the blue eyes she’d inherited from her dad, and there was no denying they’d been close. All of them. I didn’t understand how a guy who’d once been a family man could turn into an absentee parent, leaving his daughter alone for weeks at a time. Especially someone like Lily.
My jaw clenched, and I glanced at Mr. Bailey. He was already watching me.
A creak above our heads broke the stalemate. I lifted my eyes out of instinct…and suddenly forgot how to breathe.
A fallen angel stood at the top of the curved stairwell. In a black lace sleeveless dress that hit mid-thigh and three-inch red heels, Lily’s legs were endless. They were the definition of temptation. With a plunging neckline that showed off her creamy skin, and her cinnamon hair in soft, loose curls, it almost hurt to look at her. She was that beautiful. But what stole my breath was the smile. It radiated joy and a confidence I hadn’t yet seen in her. That was fucking sexy.
As Lily slowly descended the stairs, I tore my eyes away to look at her dad. I hoped to God the man never played poker. Every emotion was clear as day: Happiness. Pride. Grief. And overwhelming love. That was unmistakable. He might’ve forgotten how to show it, but damn, he felt it.
My mission was clear. For this to work, I had to win over Lily’s dad. I didn’t know if he thought I was playing games, taking advantage of the situation, or if he just didn’t like me, but somehow, someway, I’d earn his respect.
“Stone.” One word in that sweet-as-sugar voice had the stress of the last twenty-four hours melting away. Lily walked right up to me, her eyes never leaving mine, and I took her hand the second I could reach it.
�
��You’re beautiful,” I whispered.
I wanted to say more, but my throat felt tight. I also knew her dad was watching like a hawk, so I didn’t kiss her lips like I wanted to. But I did kiss her hand.
Her skin was soft and smelled faintly of flowers on top of her usual citrus scent. Her three-inch heels put us at almost the same height, which let me look straight into her eyes as she blushed. “Thanks. You look amazing, too.”
A cocky remark was on the tip of my tongue, but I held it back with a grin. This wasn’t a moment for deflection. I brushed my thumb over the back of her hand, and the way she looked at me chased away the last of the shadows.
“I didn’t realize you two knew each other that well.”
Lily squeezed my hand, then turned to face her father. “Stone was brave enough to become my permanent partner at Ilusiòn,” she told him, sliding me a smile. “Any guy who’d willingly withstand that abuse deserves my attention, don’t you think?”
I glanced sideways at Mr. Bailey. His pinched face implied he didn’t share his daughter’s enthusiasm, and his narrowed eyes said he knew more about me being her partner than she did. Luckily, Lily noticed neither.
A throat cleared from above, and she winced. “Oops. We decided to take turns walking down so we could each have our moment.” She shot me an amused look. “Your sister’s idea.”
“Obviously,” I replied.
Sydney appeared next, my dramatic sister clearly in charge of playing things up. Lily’s best friend had on an ocean-blue gown that cinched at the waist, then fell to her knees, and her blond hair was piled on her head. Nick met her at the landing, and whatever he whispered had her blushing something fierce.
Lily nudged me, and I glanced back to the top. Angéla smiled down at us in a beautiful gold dress that stood out against her dark hair…and clung to her body like Saran wrap. I groaned as I cut my eyes to Sean. Dude looked like he’d won the damn lottery. Great.
When she reached the bottom, Sean was still frozen where he stood. I shook my head.
“You stay up nights thinking of new ways to torture me, don’t you?” I asked, and my sister responded with a radiant smile.
“You like?” she asked, twirling around. “Reminded me of Nova’s dress in Prom. Only sexier.” I groaned again, which made her laugh, and she thrust her phone in my hand. “Here. Ma’s probably in the middle of a lesson, but she wouldn’t let me leave this morning without promising to text her pictures of how everyone looks.”
That statement set off a flurry of excitement. The other girls handed over their phones, too, then they gathered in front of the marble fireplace while their dates snapped picture after picture. Angéla arranged them in various poses, and Lily smiled indulgently the whole time, but after the fifth photo, she sweetly asked, “Can we get some with our dates, too?”
“Oh, right.” Angéla glanced at Sean and smiled. “Of course.”
With slightly less enthusiasm than before, my sister waved him over, and I snapped a picture for Ma. When it was our turn, I held Lily close, trying to ignore the imposing man with his eyes targeted on my arm slung around her tiny waist. I held my breath and smiled for the camera.
Lily thumbed through the pictures on her phone and shook her head with a laugh.
“What?” I asked, peeking over her shoulder. I didn’t see anything funny. We looked good together.
She grinned, then zoomed in on my face. “Hey there, QB,” she whisper-teased, and I leaned in to study the picture. My eyes looked guarded, and my smile was stiff. It was an exact replica of most of my pictures.
“We have to take group shots,” Angéla ordered, and each of the girls handed their phone over to Mr. Bailey. As he lined them on the coffee table, we paired up in couples.
Lily pressed up tight against me, and I slid my hand on her hip.
“This time, I want the real smile,” she whispered, shooting me a look over her shoulder. Our lips almost brushed against each other, and as I held my breath, her gaze dropped to my mouth.
I rasped my thumb over the coarse lace of her dress. “Every smile with you is real,” I whispered back, and when her liquid gaze lifted, it took everything I had not to kiss her.
“Everyone say, Homecoming,” Mr. Bailey called out gruffly, and focusing on the girl in my arms, I smiled.
After another series of flashes, he held up his hand. “I’d like to take a couple with my own camera, if that’s okay.” Lily’s soft lips parted, but she quickly nodded. Her dad shoved his hands in his pockets. “I used to be somewhat of a novice photographer. Haven’t done it in years, though.” He cleared his throat. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go grab my kit.”
Lily watched him go with a slightly stunned expression, and I reached into my pocket for the velvet pouch. My guess was we didn’t have a lot of time, but I wanted her to have this before we left. Squeezing her hip, I turned her toward me.
“I have something for you,” I murmured, and her blue eyes sparkled.
“You do?” I nodded with a nervous smile. I hadn’t given many gifts to girls before, other than Angéla, and truthfully, she’d picked out most of the others. This was one I’d had specially made. Lily bounced on her heels and asked excitedly, “Well, what is it?”
As she danced in place, I shook my head with a laugh, taking her hand and opening it. My stomach went into a bit of free fall tipping the velvet pouch, but when I slid the delicate silver chain into her palm, Lily gasped and stroked the small round pendant on the end.
Her voice was almost reverent when she asked, “What does it say?”
“Chingona,” I told her uncertainly, and Angéla glanced at me. I cleared my throat. “It basically means badass in Spanish. A girl who marches to her own beat and makes her own path. Someone who’s fearless and sexy.” She lifted her eyes to mine, and I swallowed hard. “That’s you, Lily. You’re strong and you’re fierce. There’s nothing you can’t do, and I thought this could help you remember that.”
Her lips trembled. My chest tightened in fear, sure that meant she hated it, and I rushed to say, “It’s okay if you don’t like it. You don’t have to keep it. I know badass is a strange choice for a necklace. I can get you something else if you—”
Lily pressed her mouth against mine. The kiss was quick. One solid brush of lips before her dad returned. But even as I held myself back from deepening it, I couldn’t let her go. I rested my forehead on hers, breathing in citrus and flowers, and stared into her beautiful eyes. This girl.
Beside us, my sister awwed, and Sydney sighed. Lily laughed quietly.
“Put it on me?” she asked with a soft smile.
“Seriously, you don’t have to wear it tonight. If it doesn’t go with your dress—”
She put a finger over my mouth. “Please? I want to wear it. I love it.”
“Yeah?” She nodded, looking at my mouth again as she slowly lowered her finger, and my hands clenched around her hips. I replied huskily, “As you wish,” using one of Angéla’s favorite movie quotes to speak for me.
Lily laughed as she twirled, holding up her hair so I could slide the delicate chain around her neck. I clasped it, letting my fingertips linger over the silky skin of her nape.
She shivered, and a slow smile curved my lips. I pressed a kiss against her skin, eliciting another shudder.
When I raised my head, Mr. Bailey was back. A storm raged in his eyes.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lily
Brighton’s gym glowed an eerie blue. Strings of glittering lights were tacked up near the ceiling, while swaths of white fabric were artfully draped on the wall, dressing up the place. The effect, admittedly, was kind of romantic. Unfortunately, fancy decorations and a kick-ass DJ couldn’t disguise the lingering aroma of ratty socks and stale sweat.
Even so, it was the most spectacular dance I’d ever been to.
Technically, it was also the only dance I’d ever been to, but I doubted the memory of a hundred others could’ve topped this one. Stone looked i
ncredible in his dark suit and red tie. He hadn’t left my side since we arrived, holding my hand in the photo line, pressing kisses against my temple at our table, and twirling me around the crowded floor.
Yep, that’s right. Lily Bailey was dancing in public.
Perhaps more noteworthy, so was Stone Torres.
Dancing to slow songs was one thing. Anyone could sway in place and fake rhythm. But fast songs didn’t let you hide, especially once the gyrating crowd thinned out. Stone had once told me that people didn’t want a “Mambo King” for their football captain, so when “Feel It Still” by Portugal The Man came on, I’d expected him to lead me back to our friends.
He shrugged when I glanced at our table. “The cat will be out of the bag soon enough,” he said, swinging me back into his arms. I squealed, and his tense smile turned almost playful. “Besides, if I’m doing it right, no one will be looking at me anyway.”
The line, while hot, set off a flutter of nerves in my stomach. I wasn’t certain I wanted them staring at me, either. But then Stone put his hands on me, pulling me close as he swiveled his hips against mine, and I forgot all about our audience.
Thankfully, the room was dark. Other groups of dancers also kept people from gawking too much—and if they were, I was soon having too much fun to notice. Maybe it was the new charm around my neck, giving me an added boost of confidence. Tonight, I wanted to be fearless. I wanted to stop thinking so much and be the girl Stone saw when he looked at me. Even if just for a little while.
Song shifted into song, and I moved my body to the music. Before long, my dress was clinging to my back and sweat glistened on my arms. Stone slid his hand up my spine, threading his fingers through my damp hair, and when his teeth sank into his bottom lip, my stomach was a giant flutter. The lyrics to one of Mom’s favorite songs and a sleepy Audrey Hepburn floated through my mind—I, too, could’ve danced all night.
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