Page 30 of Our Final Encore

I head out the door into the muggy Texas air. I’ve gotten used to it over the years, but I still miss the fresh, mountain air of mychildhood. The only reason this is home to me now is because of Opal. She is my home.

EIGHTEEN

Opal

“You look so beautiful, O.” My mom leans against the door frame in my room, watching with a smile as I finish curling my hair.

She’s dressed in a white pantsuit and navy heels, her highlighted hair pulled back into a smart bun. She looks every bit as beautiful and professional as ever. Her outfit and mine are kind of a funny juxtaposition next to each other.

I smooth my hand over the long tulle skirt of my baby-blue prom dress. The top part is held up by thin straps that criss-cross in the back. I hardly ever feel pretty, but right now I do.

I turn around to face Mom and she rushes over to me with a smile on her face before wrapping me in a hug. “My baby is so grown.”

“I’m notthatgrown yet,” I chuckle.

“Have fun tonight. And please be careful. Do not drink and drive. If you need a ride, call Mamaw.”

She kisses me on the cheek one more time before telling me that she’s leaving for work. About a year ago she got hired as areporter for the 9 O’Clock news out of a big station in Dallas. It changed our lives, giving her the opportunity to rent a house of our own. I do miss living with Mamaw, but I know Mom is happier now being independent.

She may be a bit of a workaholic, okay, more like amassiveworkaholic, but I can see that she’s glowing. She’s finally doing something that makes her happy, and I’m happy for her. Even if it means we don’t get as much time together.

I briefly imagine what the other girls in my class are doing right now. Their moms are probably taking a hundred photos of them, while their dads proudly hug them and wipe a stray tear before sternly telling their date to have them back by 10:00.

Can’t relate.

I slip my strappy black stilettos onto my feet, wincing at the awkward angle of them. I know I’m not going to want to wear these for very long. There’s a knock at the door and I carefully teeter down the hall to open it, wondering how I’m supposed to dance in these.

I pull the door open and the fresh, citrusy scent of Alex’s cologne invades my senses. His long hair is pushed back out of his face and he’s wearing a classic black tux that hangs perfectly on his tall, lean frame. I can’t believe that he’s so gorgeous, and somehow he’s mine. It still feels like a dream that I’ll wake up from any second.

“Wow,” he mutters.

“What?” I ask.

His eyes slide down my dress and back up. “You look so fucking beautiful, bluebird,” he says with a slight shake of his head.

I know my blush is probably visible everywhere in this low cut dress. “Thanks. You look great, too.”

“You ready?” He holds out his arm for me to grab.

“Yeah, just one second.” I grab my phone and my clutch purse before looping my arm around his and following him out to his dad’s truck.

“Is Maisie gonna be there?” he asks as he backs out of my driveway.

“Of course. She and James are going.” Maisie and James finally started dating about a month ago, it took her a very long time to say yes to his advances, but now that they’re a couple they spend every waking moment together.

I can’t help but notice how fast things are changing. We’re already legally adults, even if it doesn’t feel that way. And I still have no idea what will happen after this summer, because despite how hard I’ve tried to persuade him, Alex still says he has no interest in attending college with me.

He says we’ll make it work, that we’ll visit each other as much as possible, but part of me feels like I’m making the wrong choice. Like he’ll forget about me if I’m not right down the road anymore.

“Hey. You alright?” Alex asks, snapping me out of my anxious thought-loop.

“Mhm,” I paste a smile on my lips and turn up the volume of the radio. Lana Del Rey’sSummertime Sadnessblares through the speakers, and I roll my window down just enough so that it won’t mess up my hair. Rays of afternoon sun touch my face, and the smell of fresh cut grass drifts through the air.

After we find a parking spot, we walk into the venue, our hands intertwined. It’s an old barn that’s been gutted and repurposed for weddings and such, but it’s beautiful inside. Fairy lights hang from the ceiling, and it’s open enough for fresh air to breeze through the building.

“Oh my gosh,” I hear Maisie’s unmistakable voice coming from behind us. She wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes. “My best friend looks hot.”

I let go of Alex’s hand and turn around to hug her properly. “So does mine,” I laugh. She’s wearing a red, floor-length mermaid gown, and her dark hair is pulled into a curly side ponytail. She looks radiantly gorgeous, almost like her skin is glowing.

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