Page 17 of My Bad Boy Valentine

She gave me a tentative grin. Then I slipped into my own dress—a deep purple number that hugged my waist but flared modestly below the knee. I layered on a simple necklace, and then Linzie and I admired each other’s final looks in the mirror. My heart thrummed at how far we’d come in such a short time.Knox is going to be speechless.

Right on cue, a knock sounded at my front door around six, prompting us to share an excited glance. I grabbed a robe and threw it on to not spoil the “big reveal,” then hurried to the foyer and grabbed the doorknob, while Linzie stayed in the hallway. I opened it crack, where Knox was waiting with a large pizza box in his hands. “We want to surprise you,” I said with a smile before darting back around the corner.

“Caroline and I are, like, finishing up,” Linzie called, barely stifling a giggle. “Wait in the living, no peeking!”

I stepped into the bathroom along with Linzie, where we both did a final check. Then, with a wink, I led Linzie to the living room’s entrance.

She counted down, “Three…two…one…” and we emerged, side by side. Knox stood by my couch in a dark suit that fit him beautifully—though I could tell he was self-conscious, by the way he was tugging at the collar. His eyes widened at the sight of us.

“Wow,” he breathed, gaze flicking between Linzie and me. “You both look incredible.”

Linzie blushed. “Thank you.”

Knox chuckled softly, stepping forward. He kissed Linzie’s forehead, pride glowing in his expression. “Like a princess,” heteased. Then he turned to me, lowering his voice. “And you…you look breathtaking.”

Heat pooled in my cheeks, a delighted warmth curling in my stomach. “You’re not so bad yourself,” I teased, eyeing his broad shoulders in that jacket. “Very handsome.”

He tugged at his tie, flushing. “I’m trying.” Then he cleared his throat. “I brought pizza—figured we could get a bite before we head out.”

We shared a quick, informal dinner over pepperoni slices, careful not to dribble sauce on our formal clothes. By the time six-thirty rolled around, we were finishing up the last slices, all of us keyed up with eagerness for the ensuing event.

At seven-fifteen, we climbed into Knox’s truck—Linzie in the middle, me in the passenger seat. The drive to the middle school felt electric with anticipation. Linzie’s thumbs tapped nonstop over her phone. Knox shot me a wry smile. “Kids these days, huh?” I laughed softly, remembering the carefully folded paper notes my friends and I used to surreptitiously pass each other in the school hallways. Times definitely had changed.

We arrived to find the parking lot filling with other students, teachers, and volunteer parents. Colored lights lit up the main entrance, giving the school a festive aura. Inside, the auditorium was transformed: red and pink streamers draped across the ceiling, heart-shaped balloons bunched in corners, and a DJ station in one corner pounding out pop music. A buffet table offered snacks and drinks, and rows of chairs lined the walls for those needing a break from dancing. Some parents manned a ticket station at the entrance, collecting the nominal admission fee the school used for events like this.

Linzie’s friends squealed upon seeing her, immediately pulling her toward a group by the far end of the dance floor. She shot us a quick grin, cheeks glowing. My chest swelled with pride—she looked thrilled, not a trace of her usual surliness in sight. This is all she needed—support, acceptance, a place to belong.

Knox took my arm lightly, guiding me toward the other chaperones. A few teachers nodded politely, scanning the scene for any trouble. “I’ll help keep an eye on the kids,” Knox murmured in my ear. “Make sure no one’s sneaking out behind the gym or anything.”

I snickered. “You’d be the expert on that, huh?”

He gave me a mock hurt look. “Hey, I did my fair share of sneaking out. Gotta watch these young rebels.”

The music shifted from an upbeat pop track to a slower ballad. Some of the braver students ventured onto the dance floor, swaying in pairs, while others giggled from the sidelines. I spotted Linzie and James hovering near each other, faces flushed. The sight was beyond adorable.

Knox, noticing, chuckled. “Think he’ll ask her to dance?”

I shrugged with a grin. “I hope so. Everyone deserves a little romance.”

He turned to me, eyes warm. “Hear, hear.” Then, without waiting, he took my hand, leading me toward the dance floor. My pulse fluttered at the boldness.

We slipped among the students, ignoring the stares of a few onlooking teens who found it hilarious to see a teacher dancing with a tattooed “ex-con.” The slow melody washed over us, and Knox slid an arm around my waist, pulling me gently closer. My pulse quickened in response—the thrill of being in his arms, our bodies swaying in sync.

“Thank you,” I murmured, resting my cheek against his shoulder.

“For what?” he asked softly, voice rumbling against my hair.

“For stepping out of your comfort zone—wearing a suit, coming here tonight. It means a lot.”

He pressed his cheek to my temple. “Anything for you, Caroline. And for Linzie. I just…I want tonight to be perfect for her. And for us.”

Emotion welled in my chest. I slid my arms around his neck, relishing the gentle swish of the music. We rocked slowly, oblivious to the chatter around us. I caught a glimpse of Linzie guiding James onto the floor. She shot me a small grin, giving me a thumbs-up from behind James’s shoulder. I nearly laughed out loud, returning the gesture.This night is magical, I thought, a pleasant hum in my veins.Nothing can ruin it now.

Eventually, the song ended, and we broke apart, the auditorium buzzing with applause from the kids. Knox excused himself to talk with a cluster of volunteer parents near the refreshment table—likely coordinating chaperone duties—while I weaved through the crowd to freshen up. The hallway outside the auditorium was lit dimly, and I walked to the bathroom, my heels clicking over the tile.

Inside the restroom, I found Linzie standing at the mirror, carefully reapplying her lip gloss. “Hey,” I greeted, stepping next to her. “Everything going okay?”

She caught my gaze in the mirror, face alight with excitement. “Better than okay. It’s a little weird though, dancing with a boy. I had no idea what I was doing.” She fidgeted, unclasping her barrette and putting it back again. “Ugh, is it normal to feel this nervous about everything all of a sudden?”

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