sweaty socks in the air. A mirrored ball hung from the ceiling, sprinkling dots of light over crepe-paper swirls in the school colors of blue and white. A stage at the far end held a pair of disc jockeys and an empty set of thrones waiting for the crowning of the king and queen. Teenagers filled the center of the gym as well as the round tables set up alongside the stacked bleachers.
Gina’s age discrepancy from her classmates and her own shyness had kept her from ever attending a dance while at her private high school. She’d tried to go to the freshman mixer her first year at college but had only made it as far as the front steps before chickening out and heading back to her dorm room.
She could now see the magic she missed out on, but recapturing a stolen moment wasn’t going to happen tonight.
“I think your sister is headed this way.” Thanks to the loud music, Justin had to speak right into her ear. The warmth of his breath caused those proverbial tummy quivers to spread to her entire body.
“It’s about time you got here.” Giselle joined them, dragging along her date by the hand. “Where’s your— Ah, hi.”
“Ric’s home sick with the flu,” Gina explained, placing a hand on Justin’s arm. His muscles tensed beneath the smooth fabric of his suit and she tightened her grip. To reassure him or herself?
“Justin graciously agreed to stand in as my date tonight.” She was babbling, but as always, once she started it was impossible to stop. “He even managed to get Gage to lend us his beloved pickup.”
“Wow, that’s so cool! Both Garrett and I tried to wrangle the keys to that baby, but he refused.” Giselle smiled. “Hey, Justin.”
“Hey.”
His one word reply had Gina scrambling to put her earlier plan into action. “Giselle, do you know where I can find Mrs. Powers? I think I should check in with her.”
“Probably the closest bathroom because she’s ready to pop any moment.” The tall, muscular, blond teenager standing with Giselle spoke and tugged at his tie at the same time.
“Mrs. Powers is pregnant,” Giselle explained, “and her due date is just a week away. Come on, we’ll find her.”
Gina looked at Justin. “Will you be okay if I—”
“Sure, he will. Justin, this is Stefan Marcuso, my boyfriend.” Giselle made a quick introduction. “Stef, Justin Dillon.”
The kid stuck out his hand and a heartbeat passed before Justin shook it. Gina let her sister drag her away, hoping he didn’t mind being left with the boy.
“So, is it true you did time in prison for dealing?”
Gina cringed at the teenager’s question, but the sooner she checked in the sooner she’d be able to tell Justin his escorting duties were over. Moments later, they found Mrs. Powers outside the girls’ restroom. Giselle made introductions and headed back to the gym.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” Gina apologized again. “But I’m here and ready to go to work. What do you need me to do?”
“Actually, our chaperone ranks are pretty full.” Linda Powers, a math teacher who served as the senior class adviser, pressed one hand to her extended belly. “So many long-time staff members wanted to participate in the festivity.”
Gina studied the mother-to-be and found herself wondering if she, too, held the same contemptuous attitude toward Justin that so many other adults at the dance seemed to. “Oh, well, if you’re sure you don’t need me—”
“You’re welcome to stay—you and your date—and enjoy the dance if you’d like. Excuse me, I need to check on the voting for tonight’s royal court.”
“Yes, of course.”
Gina watched the woman slowly make her way down the hall. She wanted to believe the sincerity of the invitation, but after all they’d experienced from the other adults, she wasn’t sure. Needing a moment to collect her thoughts, she slipped inside the ladies’ room. In the last stall, she locked the door and leaned against the wall.
Free to go. Free to stay.
She took a few deep breaths, and pushed away the image that popped into her head of her and Justin sharing a slow dance to a classic doo-wop ballad.
Leaving was the best answer for everyone.
She exited the stall and looked at her reflection in the mirror. A quick swipe with the lip gloss and she was ready.
“…but to bring that man here? To a high school dance?” The door opened and the two women Gina had seen earlier with the football coach entered.
“One would think as the