that you’re together after everything that has happened. The thing with your parents is huge Charlie. You’ve been through a lot and deep down, it’s what you’ve been used to. I think you’re still scared, which you have every right to be. Maverick hurting you, which remember only happened because of the accident. Not giving him an excuse, but you know what I mean.”
I think about it and realize, she’s nailed it. That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. “How did you get to be so smart?” I ask her.
“Girl, you know I’ve always been smart like this. It just took you a while to see it.” She laughs.
Funny, but she’s right. The whole time I’ve known her, she’s always been full of wisdom, full of herself sometimes, but when it came to me, always right on the money.
I throw my arms around her, hugging her. “What’s that for?” she asks. But throws hers around me giggling. “You know what it’s for. I’m just so glad to have you in my life.”
“Okay, enough already, as she pulls back. “We need to finish getting you ready. And of course, I have to get my hot self ready too.”
“I won’t move again, swear.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep Charlie,” she says laughing.
This time I don’t move. I stay as still as a statue. When she pronounces me done, she turns me around to look at myself. Wow, is she good.
I look good, pretty even.
She throws me out of the bathroom so she can get ready, and I head into my room to put my beautiful dress on.
We simultaneously peek our heads out, not revealing our whole self yet.
“Okay, on three. Tori says. Together we count, “One. Two. Three.” We both open our doors all the way, revealing our put together selves. We look good. Tori’s dress is an emerald green but more fitted and strapless. It makes her green eyes pop something fierce and hugs her thin body like a second skin.
At that moment all I can think is, “Will is gonna freak.” I don’t say it out loud, because Lord knows, she would kill me for saying it. But it’s true.
“Charlie, you look hot girl. Maverick is gonna go nuts.” I smile inwardly, because that’s what I’m hoping to accomplish. I’ve never been called hot before and starting to feel a little different.
But the dress and all the gobs of makeup is what makes me look and feel good. What am I without it?
The door bell rings signaling that Maverick is there to pick me up. Tori gives me a slight shove towards the stairs and says, “You’ve got this. Now go get him, tiger.”
I turn around and smirk at her, but take her words to heart. As I make my way down the stairway, I see Shelby beaming up at me and Maverick standing right beside her.
Oh. My. Word.
There aren’t enough words to describe Maverick. He is so much more. The guy is made for a tux. He’s wearing a dark purple tie, that matches my dress to perfection. He’s grinning from ear to ear like the Cheshire cat, but his eyes say something else entirely. They’re full of heat and want. They say, “I could eat you for dinner.”
I try to stifle a giggle, recalling a conversation we’d had from the past. He grabs my hand when I reach the bottom step and just stares at me.
Shelby clears her throat and says, “Okay you two, picture time.”
My heart is so full for Shelby, because this is what a mom does. She isn’t mine by blood, but she’s taken to doing things for me, just like she would for Tori.
I know most teenagers would be hating this part, but I’m eating it up. I feel sadness begin to creep up to the forefront of my mind. Knowing that I would’ve never had this with my own mom, even if there hadn’t been a fight between us. My dad would’ve laughed at me and made some rude or snide comments about my dress. He would’ve told me what a fat ass I was or called me porky pig. As my mind is wandering, I feel Maverick lightly nudge me. As if sensing my thoughts, “You look gorgeous and it’s their loss. They don’t deserve your thoughts. This is your night. Let’s not think about them.” I nod my head in agreement and say, “You look handsome Maverick.”
“Not as good as you though. Trust me.” he winks.
All of a sudden Tori pipes up,