I smiled and looked around at the ballroom. There were shimmering streamers and twinkling lights borrowed from the Christmas decorations hanging from the ceiling. It truly did look like something from a Disney movie. It was cheesy and imperfect which made it perfect.
“Thanks. I do feel like I’m ten years younger standing in here. I can’t wait until we get the music going. And the moon. They’re working on hanging the moon too.”
“A Night Under the Stars,” she said on a breath. “I remember that night so well. This is definitely looking very much like that night.”
“Did the cookies come?” I asked her.
She groaned. “Yes. Are you seriously going to serve those?”
“I am. With punch.”
“No,” she moaned.
“There will be champagne as well, but I need this to be just like that night.”
“I think the theme is enough. You don’t have to do the nasty punch and those gross cookies.”
“Nope, it all has to be like that night. Did you get the DJ that updated list?”
“Yes. Some of those songs should be illegal.”
“Guess what else I did?” I teased.
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“I’ve got kids coming.”
“Kids?” she questioned.
“Yes, kids. Well, not kids. Teens. I want it to be authentic.”
“Eww.” She wrinkled her nose. “How can we have kids at our party and have alcohol?”
“They’ll only be here for a short time,” I assured her. “I wanted it to look like it did that night. I can’t have a bunch of old people mucking up the dance floor.”
“You’re nuts. Absolutely crazy. I hope Harper shows up.”
I froze. “You don’t think she will?”
“She will.”
“You just said you hoped she showed.”
“She’ll show. Now, did you get the lights rigged?”
“I didn’t but George did.”
She nodded as we began walking around the ballroom. It felt like we were missing something. There were round tables set up just like they had been at our prom.
“Candles!” she shrieked. “Did you get candles?”
“Shit, no.”
“We have to have those ugly candles we had on our tables. Do you remember? They had like burlap or something wrapped around the jar.”
“Where are we going to get those on such short notice?”
She put her hand on my shoulder. “Relax. I’ll handle it.”
“I ordered those ugly napkins, but they couldn’t print the theme on them on such short notice,” I complained. “Do you think she’ll notice?”
“No. It’s going to be fine.”
I hoped so. I wished the idea would have come to me earlier. I could have made it perfect. Unfortunately, I only had a few very short days to plan and it showed. I was trying to remember that night, but ten years was a long time ago.
“Shit,” I muttered, snapping my fingers.
“What’s wrong?”
“Pictures. How could I forget the picture backdrop?”
“Did you get the little star flashlight things?” she asked.
I slapped my hand against my forehead. “Shit. No.”
“I still have mine,” she announced.
“No, you don’t.”
“I do. It’s with my prom picture.”
“I don’t even know where my prom pictures are,” I told her.
Just then, I spotted Jake and Parker coming in. They were carrying boxes and smiling at each other. They were exactly who I needed to see. I turned to Cori. “Can you make sure the DJ is set up?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to get them on the other stuff,” I told her.
Truthfully, I wanted to talk to them. Cori walked away. Jake took one look at me and groaned. “Now what?”
“Can you come with me?” I asked.
“I’ll get this,” Parker said.
“No, you too. Both of you. I need to talk to you both.”
They looked worried. I walked out of the ballroom and into a back hallway that was deserted. I needed to get something off my chest and I didn’t want the entire world to hear it. I was a little embarrassed.
I stopped walking and faced them.
“What’s going on?” Jake asked. “This is very cloak and dagger.”
“I wanted to apologize.”
“What?” they asked at the same time.
“I know I said I was sorry before, but I have had a new understanding about just what it is I did. I’m sorry for using my position to get information out of you that was not my business. I abused my position and, ultimately, abused the two of you. It wasn’t right, and I am really sorry.”
“Hey, it’s fine,” Jake said.
“No, it isn’t fine. What’s worse is I didn’t even realize I was doing it. That’s how arrogant I am—was. How I was. I promise I will not let it happen again. I never meant to cause problems between the two of you.”