Page 180 of Wicked Dreams

We pose for pictures, and I’m too aware of him at my back.

“We should go,” Caleb finally says.

Lenora lowers her camera. “I’m sorry, I think I got carried away.”

Robert wraps his arms around her shoulders.

“It’s just, our daughter would’ve loved this.” Tears fill Lenora’s eyes.

My heart skips. I feel the urge to go over and hug her, but I don’t dare move.

She waves in front of her face.

“I’m so sorry.” She rushes away.

Robert rubs his hands together. “Sorry about that. She’s happy for you, Margo. It’s just a little overwhelming.”

I nod.

Caleb frowns. “We’re going to head to the dance.”

“Have a great time,” my foster dad tells us. “Text me when you get to the after-party. And then we’ll see you home in the morning.”

“Will do!”

On our way out, Riley loops her arm in mine. “Do you think he’s going to check the log? For who signed in?”

I pause. “Oh God.”

“Already taken care of,” Caleb says. “I’ve got someone who will add our names to the list.”

We pile into Eli’s truck. Riley starts to get in the backseat with me, but Caleb stops her. He slides in next to me, his hand on my thigh. We have a whole bench, but we’re pressed close together. Our legs touch, hip to knee, and I lean into him.

“I have something for you,” he says.

I raise my head. Our masks are on our laps. My phone and ID are in a clutch that I totally plan on leaving in the car, because it doesn’t match anything. But being maskless means he sees my eyes widen.

“Nothing bad,” he promises.

I grimace. “I hope not.”

“Just close your eyes.”

I watch him for a moment, but he doesn’t move. Slowly, I close my eyes. He shifts, then takes my hand and turns it so my palm is up. He puts something hard and flat on it, supporting my hand with his underneath it.

“Open.”

I do. My gaze falls to the kind of box you’d put a necklace in. About the size of my palm, square, shallow. At least it isn’t a ring.

“Buying me jewelry already?” I quip.

“Open it.”

Eli pulls into the hotel parking lot. The dance is in one of their ballrooms—and I’d bet our room is in the same building. He hasn’t said as much, though.

“Dude,” Eli says. “Quit staring at your girl. We’re here.”

Caleb doesn’t tear his gaze away from me. “Leave us. We’ll be there in a minute.”

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