“Thank you,” Maggie whispered, not quite sure how she felt about her grandmother’s support in this case. Her father was right. She didn’t need her family to sanction her relationship. But the truth was she didn’t want to be at odds with her grandmother. Despite Vivian’s tendency toward judgment and manipulation, Maggie loved her dearly.
“I brought over the album because I wanted you to see this photo of your mother.” She touched her finger to the edge of one of the old photos. It showed Nancy Spencer holding Maggie as a baby, so she must have been in her early twenties at the time.
“It was her birthday,” Jim murmured, his tone wistful.
“I gave her the necklace she was wearing as a gift,” Vivian explained. “My mother had given it to me when I turned eighteen. It was the year I met your grandfather. Her mother had worn it on the boat over from Ireland. It’s a family heirloom.”
Maggie bent forward and peered at the amber stone set in gold. “It’s beautiful. She looks so happy.”
Her father nodded. “Being a mother made her happy. You, Morgan and Ben were her life.”
Maggie glanced up sharply at him. “You were part of it, too. Mom loved being your wife as much as she did our mother.”
His gaze took on a troubled cast but he smiled at her.
“I found this as I was clearing out my dresser,” Grammy continued, pulling a small black box from her purse. “I’m not sure how I ended up with it again.”
Maggie’s dad blew out a long breath. “It was when I got rid of all of her belongings as part of my grieving process.” He rubbed a hand over his eyes. “The anger stage, which lasted way too long in my case. You saved some things for the girls.”
Sorrow pinched Maggie’s chest at the thought of all the physical mementos she’d never have, and her grandmother’s mouth thinned. “I remember now. Anyway, I have the necklace and I thought you might want to wear it to the reunion dance.” She opened the box, revealing the delicate piece of jewelry on a cushion of black velvet. “I wore it to my senior prom.”
Maggie drew in a shaky breath.
“If it’s not to your taste, then you can simply keep it with your other jewelry,” Grammy said in a clipped tone, obviously misinterpreting Maggie’s silence.
“I’d be honored to wear it to the dance,” Maggie told her. She plucked up the gold chain to examine it more closely. “I feel like I remember Mom wearing the necklace, although I suppose it could be just from seeing the photos.”
“Your mom loved it,” her dad said gently. “She wore it for every special occasion.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t find it before the wedding,” Grammy said. “Although now I realize that was a fortuitous bit of luck. Being able to give it to you now was meant to be.”
Meant to be. Maggie’s gaze darted to her grandmother and Vivian gave a small nod. Did that mean Grammy thought Maggie and Griffin were meant to be?
It seemed that way to Maggie. Despite the crazy way they’d reconnected and all the complications—dreaded word that it was—that had plagued them, Maggie’s heart was certain.
“Would you like to come upstairs while I try on the dress with the necklace?” Maggie offered. “I’d love to see what you think.”
Her father snorted, then covered it with a cough.
Grammy shot him a disapproving glare, then smiled at Maggie. “That would be just lovely, Mary Margaret. Thank you.”
Maggie went to retrieve the dress from the front closet, her heart so filled with happiness it felt like it might overflow.
Chapter Fourteen
“Maybe I’ll just have an appetizer,” Morgan said quietly, closing the menu at Stonecreek Grille, the most expensive restaurant in town.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Cole asked, his thick brows furrowing. “I think the steak Oscar looks good.”
“It is. We eat here for Grammy’s birthday every year. The food is to die for.”
“Then why won’t you order?”
She fingered the delicate corsage of carnations that encircled her wrist. “It’s really expensive.”
When Cole didn’t respond for several long seconds, Morgan risked a glance up at him.
“I have the cash,” he told her simply. “I made the reservation after looking at the menu.”
“But you shouldn’t spend your money on an extravagant dinner,” she insisted. “I’d be fine at the taco truck in the grocery parking lot if we’re together.”
He reached across the table and took her hands in his. “This is our first real date, Morgan. I want it to be special.”
“Special doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank.”
“Let me do this,” he said and her heart skipped a beat at the intensity in his gaze. It was like it really mattered to him that they have a fancy meal before the dance.
She looked around the restaurant at the other patrons, at least half of whom were people she knew from the high school. Stonecreek Grille had always been a popular predance dinner spot. She’d just never imagined herself here with a boy she really liked.
Really liked.
“You’re blushing,” Cole said, amusement lacing his tone.
“I’m not.” She dipped her chin so that her hair would fall forward over her face, then remembered that Maggie and Brenna had styled it into an intricate braid around the side of her head.
Cole leaned forward. “What are you thinking about?”
She kept her gaze on the menu in front of her. “Steak.”
He laughed at that. “Should I ask whose steak is making you blush?”
“Yuck,” she said on a giggle. “That’s so gross.”
She looked up but her stomach lurched as she spotted Zach, Jonah, Jocelyn and Amanda at the front window of the restaurant. They laughed and pointed, then disappeared.
“What’s wrong?” Cole looked over his shoulder.
“Nothing,” she said but then the door to the restaurant swung open and the group filed in, ignoring the hostess in her all-black outfit as they headed straight for Cole and Maggie.
Cole cursed and turned toward her again. “Did you tell them we were coming here?” he demanded.
“No, I promise,” she whispered.
“Hey, friends.” Zach clapped Cole on the shoulder a little too hard to actually be considered friendly. “We saw Cole’s truck parked outside. What’s the deal?” He grabbed an empty chair from the table next to them and dropped into it. “I texted that we were meeting at The Kitchen at seven.”
“Yeah,” Jocelyn agreed. “Where have you been, Morgan? I thought we were getting ready together but you totally ghosted me.”
“I didn’t ghost you,” Morgan said tightly. “I told you that my sister wanted to help me get ready.”
“Bo-ring,” Amanda said, snapping her gum. Seriously, what was up with that girl and how she chewed gum like a cow? And why hadn’t Morgan noticed it before?
“Excuse me.” The waiter, a tall, thin man who was probably a few years older than Maggie, muscled his way between Jonah and Amanda. “Unfortunately, we don’t have room for a larger party.”
“No problem,” Zach said easily. “This place smells like rotting cat throw up anyway. Cole here—” he reached out and pinched Cole’s cheek “—was just telling me how he couldn’t find anything on the lousy menu that even looked edible.”
“He didn’t say that.” Morgan looked at the waiter, pleading for him to do something. “I swear he didn’t say that.”
“It’s fine.” Cole pushed back from the table, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “Let’s go. This place is overpriced anyway.”
“You ordered two sodas, sir,” the waiter said, condemnation dripping from his tone.
Jonah snickered.
His face flushing bright pink, Cole pulled out his wallet and threw a twenty on the table. “For your trouble,” he muttered.
> “Big spender,” Zach said, standing and nudging Cole.
“Shut up,” Cole told him.
When they were all out on the sidewalk, Zach slung an arm over Cole’s shoulders. “Don’t be mad, bro. I save you loads of money back there. Hell, you could buy us all dinner at The Kitchen and still get off cheaper than the Grille would have cost you.”
Cole kept his gaze straight ahead as he led them down the street toward the diner. “Whatever.”
“I’m so glad we’re all together.” Jocelyn took Morgan’s hand. “It’s exactly how I planned tonight to go.”
Unfortunately, Morgan’s plan for a romantic night with Cole had been ruined in the process. He wouldn’t even make eye contact with her and sat at the far end of the table during dinner. Did he really think she’d planned this? Or that she wanted to be with Jocelyn and her group?
Zach insisted that he and Jocelyn pile into Cole’s truck while Jonah and Amanda follow, preventing Morgan from getting any moment in private with Cole to explain that she was as unhappy about the turn of events as he was.
The parking lot at the high school was almost full by the time they arrived, with underclassmen being dropped off by parents.
As Cole turned off the car, Zach pulled a vape pen from the inside pocket of his jacket. “Quick hit before we head into la-la land?”
“You can’t do that in here,” Cole said through clenched teeth.
“Boy Scout,” Zach muttered under his breath as he climbed out. As soon as the door shut, Zach took a quick hit. The others joined him while Cole remained on the other side of the vehicle, arms crossed tightly over his chest.
“I’m sorry,” Morgan said as she approached him, wanting to be as far away from the illegal activity as possible.
“It’s fine.”
“They recognized your truck, then saw us in the window. I didn’t tell them anything.”
He shot her a doubtful glance. “I don’t care either way.”
“I do,” she said, anger swelling inside her. “I was having a great time with you, and they ruined it. I hate that you think I wanted this.”
His silence hurt her more than any words could have.
“Be that way. I’m here to go to the dance, not to stand out in the parking lot with them.” She started forward toward the high school’s main entrance.
Cole was at her side a moment later, lacing his fingers with hers. “I’m sorry, too,” he whispered.
She dashed a tear from the corner of one eye, then flashed a smile. “It’s not your fault.”
“Morgan, I want you to know—”
“Wait up, lovebirds.”
Suddenly they were surrounded again, Cole letting go of her hand when Zach tried to jump on his back.
“Knock it off,” he shouted.
“Maybe you’ll get crowned king of the homecoming party poopers,” Amanda said, giggling obnoxiously at her own joke.
Then they were in the dance, the thumping music and lights from the DJ’s table overwhelming.
Morgan pulled in a sharp breath. This had been such a mistake. She would have been better off skipping the whole thing.
“Do you want to dance?” Cole asked, eyeing the crowd jumping up and down in unison in front of them.
“Not yet,” she admitted. “That looks a little intense for me.”
“Jonah has a flask,” Jocelyn said, leaning in to whisper in Morgan’s ear.
“I’m not drinking tonight,” Morgan told her.
Jocelyn groaned and put her hand to her forehead, making an L shape with her thumb and forefinger.
“She’s here.” Amanda rushed up to them, grabbing onto Jocelyn’s arms. “On the other side of the gym by the bleachers.”
“Not now,” Jocelyn said on a hiss of breath.
Morgan looked to the far end of the gym and saw Camryn standing with a group of girls. She knew her friend was going to the dance with friends instead of a date, and a sliver of unease snaked its way along her spine at the thought of Jocelyn or Amanda singling out any of those girls.
Before she could ask about it, the music changed to a slow ballad. Cole tugged her hand.
“Now’s our chance.” He gently pulled her toward the dance floor and all Morgan could do was glance back over her shoulder at the two mean girls. They were intently watching something on Amanda’s phone, so Morgan figured she was safe to ignore them for at least a few minutes.
It felt super good to be dancing with Cole, even if she was distracted. “Way better,” he said, his warm hands resting on her back.
“Mmm-hmm.” She shuffled her feet to get a better view of Jocelyn and Amanda.
“I’m still glad we came tonight, even if the loser crew almost ruined it.”
Several couples had joined them on the dance floor, blocking Morgan’s view.
“Are you happy?”
“No,” she breathed, craning her neck.
“I knew it. This was a mistake. I told you I was no good for you. If you’d gone with a boy who—”
“No,” Morgan shouted, whirling out of Cole’s arms. She’d caught sight of Jocelyn and Amanda pulling bags of what looked like flour from their purses, like they were replaying a scene from Carrie or that Drew Barrymore movie where the mean boys tried to dump dog food on Leelee Sobieski at the dance.
She pushed her way through the crowd. “Camryn, move,” she yelled to her friend, who glanced over, confusion in her gentle eyes.
“Shut up, Spencer,” she heard Zach call from the edge of the dance floor.
“Go,” she called, and Camryn took several quick steps away from the bleachers just as white powder sprayed across the floor.
“You ruined it,” Jocelyn screeched, moving out of the shadows and toward Morgan. “Our plan was perfect.”
“Not my plan,” Morgan clarified loudly. “And there’s nothing perfect about deliberate cruelty. Find another way to amuse yourself besides bullying people, Jocelyn. I’m done with your high and mighty attitude, and I bet I’m not the only one.”
A few girls standing near the edge of the dance floor clapped.
One side of Jocelyn’s brightly painted mouth curled into a sneer. “Shut up, you stupid bi—”
“Enough.” Cole stepped forward, placing a hand on Morgan’s back. “Most of us are here to have a good time.” He pointed toward Jocelyn, then turned his gaze to Zach. “If you people can’t deal with that, you should leave.”
“Great idea, Cole.” Dr. Cuthbert, the school’s stout principal, appeared behind Zach. “Zach and Jocelyn, your time at the homecoming dance is officially done.”
“It sucked anyway,” Zach muttered. “Come on, guys.”
Jocelyn continued to glare at Morgan. “You’re going to regret this.”
Morgan shook her head. “I doubt that.”
With another angry huff, Jocelyn turned and stalked after Zach. Amanda and Jonah followed close on their heels.
While Dr. Cuthbert called for someone to clean up the mess in front of the bleachers, Camryn approached Morgan.
“I’m sorry they were such jerks,” Morgan said softly, hating that she’d ever had any association with that group.
“You saved me,” Camryn told her.
“I just stopped them from doing something really mean and stupid.”
Camryn smiled. “Which happened to save me. Thanks.” She hugged Morgan, then was called away by another friend.
Morgan could feel people staring at her and refused to make eye contact with any of them.
“You okay?” Cole asked, shifting closer.
“Can we get out of here?”
Without hesitation he took her hand and led her from the overheated gymnasium. Once outside, she drew in a deep breath of the cool fall air. The night was clear and stars littered the night sky, but Morgan had trouble apprec
iating the beauty of it.
“That was the worst homecoming dance in the history of the world.” She wiped at her eyes, embarrassed when tears flowed down her cheeks. This night was supposed to be perfect and now it had been ruined from start to finish.
“Not for me,” Cole said softly.
He shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders when she shivered.
“You’re done with Jocelyn,” he clarified.
“Very done,” she confirmed.
“Then everything is great—better than great.” He drew his thumb along her cheek. “Although I’m sorry you’re upset.”
She sighed. “I’m mainly upset that I didn’t see them for the jerks they were from the start.”
“We all make mistakes.” He laced their fingers together. “Trust me, I’m the poster child for mistakes.”
“Are you going to take me home now?”
“No way. We’ve got a couple more hours until your dad expects you back, right?”
She pulled her phone from her purse and checked the time. “Yeah.” Suddenly nerves skittered across her skin. Cole’s gaze on her was dark and unreadable. Four months ago she’d done a really bad job of trying to seduce him but now...
How was she supposed to tell him she wasn’t ready for that? She liked him so much—in fact, she was pretty sure she was falling in love with him. But that didn’t mean...
“How about ice cream?”
Her gaze flicked to his. “Ice cream?”
“And a hamburger.” He rubbed his stomach. “I barely ate anything earlier and I noticed you didn’t, either.”
“Being with Zach and them made me lose my appetite.”
“Me, too.” His grin was kind of goofy and totally endearing. “But now I’m starving.”
“Food sounds great.”
They walked to his truck and he unlocked the door and opened it for her. Before she could climb in, he turned and cupped her face in his hands. “You were amazing tonight,” he whispered and then his lips grazed hers.
Heat spiraled through her as she wound her arms around his neck. It didn’t matter that she was only sixteen. Morgan knew this kiss and this boy would ruin her for whatever might follow. The kiss broke her apart, then put her back together, but different, because how could she be anything else when he turned her whole world upside down?
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