love between Romeo and Juliet may be legendary, but it’s got nothing on the love my Romeo has for his little girl.
Tommy looks down at me, his eyes shining with tears, and suddenly, I know all my reasons why not to hold a candle to the one reason why we should. If Tommy wants to go to Destin, if that’s where he wants to spend the last precious months we have together, then we have to go.
Chapter Eleven
CeCe
Dad is the first one I see as I come out from backstage, finally able to make out more than blurry shapes with my glasses back on. “There’s my girl.”
He wraps his arms around me so tight that for a second it feels like he’s going to squeeze the air out of my lungs.
“I am so proud of you.” He kisses the top of my head. “You were brilliant, just brilliant.”
“You really think so?” I ask so he’ll say it again.
“I know so.” He pulls his arm back to hand me the most perfect bouquet of purple flowers I’ve ever seen.
“They’re beautiful—thank you, Daddy!”
I lower my head to smell them, and when I look back up, Mom is standing next to him with a pretty, but generic, bouquet of red roses.
“You were great up there.” Her voice goes up an octave, and I can tell she wasn’t expecting me to be that good. Maybe now she’ll ease up on her stupid “no auditions outside school sanctioned activities” rule.
“You don’t have to sound so surprised.”
“I’m not,” she says, handing me the flowers. “Just really proud.”
“Thanks.” I decide not to mention that I was standing in the wings and still had my glasses on, so I saw her walk in late. “I can still go to the party, right?”
Mom and Dad exchange a look and I’m fully prepared to go into a soliloquy of all the reasons why I should be allowed to go—starting with the fact that Liam’s parents will be there this time—but before I say a single word, Mom says, “Absolutely.”
Dad nods. “Do you need a ride?”
“Liam said I could go with him,” I say, preparing to make a quick exit. As much as I would love to hang around and let them keep telling me how great I was, I don’t want to risk them changing their minds. “Would you mind taking these home?”
“It would be my pleasure.” Dad bows before taking the bouquets from me.
“Juliet,” Liam calls from the stage. “Your chariot awaits!”
“Don’t be home too late,” Mom says. “And you really were great tonight.”
I smile, even though she should know that saying things more than once doesn’t matter as much as acting like you meant it the first time. Still, when she takes an awkward step toward me, I let her give me a quick hug before I run up the steps to find Liam.
“See you guys later.” I wave as I duck behind the curtain, ready for what has the potential to be the best night of my whole, entire life.
THE PARTY IS already in full swing by the time we get back to Liam’s house. His sister’s friends, who are all home from college, have clearly gotten a head start. Liam said his parents weren’t going to be home for a while since they went out to dinner after the play, and that it wouldn’t be a big deal when they did get home.
As far as parents go, his were supposedly cool about everyone drinking as long as no one would be driving. Which I wouldn’t be, since I’m not even old enough yet.
“Where’s the beer?” I ask, ready to get things started.
“In the fridge.” Liam stops to high-five a really tall guy with a bushy beard. “Grab me one, too?”
I head to the kitchen as though it’s the most natural thing in the world. Like I’m just a girl getting a beer for her guy. Her guy. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face if I tried. Not only did we kill the performance, but the play is over. So tonight, there will be no question that Liam is interested in me because of me, and not just because he’s getting into character.
After that day in the theater, we only kissed offstage one other time. It was after dress rehearsal and Mom was late picking me up. Usually I’d be annoyed, but Liam offered to wait with me.
Once everyone else was gone, he grabbed my hand and led me around the corner, behind the theater.