look amazing, Ginger.”
“Freaking stunning,” Jordan said.
“And your eyes?” Rory added. “Wow.”
I patted Zara’s shoulder. “She’s a miracle worker.”
“No way,” Zara said. “This was here all along.” She turned me so I was facing myself fully in the mirror. “You, Ginger Nash, are beautiful.”
I smiled back at my reflection. For once, I believed it.
Sixty-Eight
As I took in my friends in their dresses, I couldn’t believe how beautiful each of them was. Zara looked like a smoldering Indian princess in her formfitting black dress, while Callie appeared every bit as pure as her heart in a baby-blue gown. Beckett wasn’t going to be able to keep his hands to himself when he saw Rory in her short A-line dress, and we all knew Kai would love Jordan in her floor-length ensemble that revealed all the honey-colored skin of her back.
“You guys are so hot,” I said. “Not trying to be creepy or anything.”
Zara popped her hip out and snapped her fingers. “Own it, girl.”
I laughed at her over-the-top gesture. “Still getting used to seeing myself like this.”
She grinned. “Should we go get the boys?”
“Do you think their movie’s over?” Callie asked.
Jordan shrugged. “Who cares? We’re the main event.”
Smiling, I shook my head at them. They each had such unique personalities, and I loved the way they all came together in our group. Friends were better than boyfriends—always there for you, lifting you up and grounding you all at the same time.
“Let’s get them,” I said. “Everyone at the dance deserves to see you!”
They grinned back, and we started our brigade down the hall toward the media room. As soon as Rory entered the room, the movie stopped, and I could hear Beckett exclaim, “You look amazing, Cupcake!”
The devotion in his voice brought a smile to my face.
Zara entered next, and a low, “Damn,” came from Ryde. I rolled my eyes.
Jordan went in after, and I watched as Kai went to her, taking her in his arms, whispering something into her ear. As I came in, Beckett turned to me and said, “Looking good, Garlic!”
“Thanks,” I said with a roll of my eyes.
Carson turned toward me, but at the sight of Callie walking in behind me, he did a doubletake, and his smile grew wide. I wished they could just see they were in love with each other already, but then again, maybe their friendship meant too much to them to risk on romance.
Kai intertwined his fingers with Jordan’s and said, “The limo’s waiting in the drive.”
Ryde rubbed his hands together. “Let’s get on with it. Time to relive the golden years.”
Of course he would think high school was “the golden years” while all of us couldn’t wait to start our next adventure.
Catching my reaction, he said, “Trust me, Garlic, someday you’ll look back on high school and miss it.”
“Doubtful,” I said, but left it at that. Of course there were things I liked—like having class with Mr. Davis and the friends I’d made this year, but film school and distance from Ray was calling my name. “Let’s get going?”
Everyone seemed to agree, and we went down to the limo. I slid in between Callie and Zara. As the limo took off, Kai opened a mini fridge and began pouring champagne.
“No, no no,” Ryde said, crossing his fingers at the bottle.
“What?” Zara said. “Are you straight edge or something?”
“Yeah, when I’m around a bunch of minors and could get ticketed by the police for supplying when I’m already under public scrutiny. Put it away.”
Beckett and Carson gave each other a look as Kai placed the campaign back in the mini fridge.
“Anyone want some...water?” Kai asked grumpily.
Ryde enthusiastically raised his hand while Zara crossed her arms and gave me an exasperated look.
The rest of the ride was still fun, and when we made it to the school, we were greeted by paparazzi.
“They must be here for me,” Ryde said with an apologetic grin I knew was fake, because he got out of the limo first and flashed a full-wattage smile at the cameras.
Zara rolled her eyes and followed him, putting on a demure smile of her own. As we walked behind them, I was nearly blinded by the rapid camera flashes. Rory took my hand with her free one, and we walked inside together, no interest to the paparazzi’s eyes—and viewfinders.
“Ugh, that was awful,” I said. I would never follow people around like that for a quick buck. Or live in the spotlight.
Ryde shrugged it off. “You get used to it after a while.”
I