Page 2 of Kiss Me Kate

“I’m sorry I brought this up now. My sister is excited about tonight and… well, I’ll punch your lights out if you show her a bad time.” Calvin’s voice bears a hint of remorse, but I know he’s meant every word he’s said.

I let my head fall forward, tightening my grip on the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. As much as I want to ease his worries, I have no clue what to say. A small part of me wishes Kate could stay here with me and not leave for school. If only I didn't feel like I'd be holding her back. That's the last thing I want to do. Despite my hesitation, the only words that come out are ones I know will haunt me later. "Your sister means everything to me. I'll always do right by her."

Chapter 2

Kate

Ipush my face through the small opening of the slightly ajar bedroom door. My heart beats rapidly as I call out to my mom in the kitchen, asking if he is here yet. My eyes quickly scan the clock on my nightstand and the pile of clothes scattered on my floor, hoping that my mom won't take this opportunity to share any embarrassing stories about me in order to buy more time. It's a tactic she loves to use, much to my dismay. Normally, I wouldn't mind, since the only people who visit me are Leah and Suzette— my childhood friends who already know every detail of my life since kindergarten.

I take one last look in the mirror, smoothing down the front of my dress nervously. Silas Gentry has been the object of my undying affection for as long as I can remember and now, he’s escorting me to prom. This could be the start of everything.

In a rush, I snatch my clutch and scamper down the stairs. My heels threaten to trip me up, ruining the evening before it even starts. At the foot of the staircase, my dad beams at me with tears glistening in his eyes. My older brother Calvin stands next to him, trying to maintain composure despite his strongdisapproval of me dating his longtime friend. To my surprise, he remains silent while our parents snap countless obligatory photos.

A rush of emotions fills my stomach and chest as I make my way down the stairs. Excitement and nerves swirl together, creating a heady mix that almost takes my breath away.

My dad clears his throat, breaking the silence. "You look absolutely beautiful, darling," he says with a proud smile on his face. It's a simple statement, but it has the power to make me feel invincible.

With a quick hug and whispered, "I love you," I step towards the front of the house, peeking through the heavy curtain to check for Silas. He's not running late yet, but it's cutting it close. The anticipation builds as I wait for him to arrive, my heart pounding in my chest.

My mother's warm, reassuring arms wrap around me as she senses my worry. Her familiar scent of lavender and freshly baked cookies soothes my nerves. "Boys are always forgetful, honey," she says in a gentle voice. "He'll be here. Your brother saw him this morning, picking up his tuxedo for the dance. He was practically bouncing with excitement."

I try to force a smile as the swarm of butterflies in my stomach begins to flutter away.

"It's a small town and there's hardly any traffic," my mother continues. "Plus, he only lives a few miles away. Where could he possibly be?"

Her words bring some sense of reassurance, but deep down, I can't shake off the feeling of unease. The clock on the wall ticks loudly, each second feeling like an eternity as I wait for him to arrive.

As the sun begins to set, my father emerges onto the wooden porch, shielding his eyes with one hand as he scans the winding road ahead.

Calvin follows closely behind, his steps heavy and slow, a somber expression etched on his face. "Don't worry, Katie," he reassures me. "He's definitely on his way."

I nod and smile, still struggling to disguise my anxiety. I know he’ll show, but I’ll feel better when I see him. Calvin and Silas may be friends, but he doesn’t know him the way I do. Silas is a genuinely kind and sweet person, always a gentleman towards me. There's no way he would stand me up unless there was something completely out of his control. My mind races with countless scenarios, each one more distressing than the last. What if he was in a terrible, disfiguring accident?Oh no, not his beautiful face!The mere thought sends shivers down my spine.

I inhale deeply, trying to calm my nerves and convince myself that I'm overreacting to what is probably a straightforward situation. While I shoot off a quick text to Silas, I turn to my mother and whisper for her to contact the nearest hospital. “Don’t make a fuss. I'm sure he's just running late," I add with a forced smile while my heart pounds in my chest, making it difficult to breathe.

My father playfully scolds my mother as he hangs up the phone and guides her away. "Don't be so quick to call the hospital, Helen," he jokes. "It's only been twenty minutes. Let the boy have a chance to make it here. He's on his way to pick up the most beautiful girl in town for her senior prom. I'm sure he's feeling a bit nervous." He strides towards me and pats my back, smiling as he continues. “Don’t worry and listen to your brother. Silas will be here with a simple explanation. Mark my words.”

I feel my cheeks flush under the warmth of my father's affectionate gaze, but I’m quickly pulled back to reality by the grandfather clock in the corner chiming. The sound serves as a reminder that Silas has yet to arrive or return my message. Andwith each passing second, it becomes increasingly difficult to hold back the tears welling in my eyes.

With a glimmer of hope in my heart, I step out onto the narrow garden path. My eyes scan the winding road, searching eagerly for any sign of Silas's car. The sun beats down on me relentlessly, intensifying the already humid air. A sudden gust of wind stirs up dust, blinding me for a moment. And then I see it— a vehicle hurtling towards me at breakneck speed, leaving behind a trail of swirling dust and debris. My heart leaps with joy, knowing it can only be Silas. He had mentioned borrowing his cousin’s truck, and now I can see it for myself. A small smile tugs at my lips as I wait for him to arrive, the anticipation almost unbearable.

As the car slowly pulls up to our house, my brother emerges from the front door and stands confidently on the porch, effectively blocking me from moving any closer. His arms are crossed over his chest, a smug smile playing at the corners of his lips. "You don't want to seem too eager, Katie," he taunts, his voice laced with amusement. "Boys like a bit of a challenge."

I roll my eyes at his teasing, but can't deny the small flutter of nerves in my stomach as I watch Silas park his truck and turn off the ignition.

I retreat towards the front door, my heart racing and palms sweating with embarrassment and anxiety. The humid air clings to my skin, causing my dress to stick uncomfortably. My perfectly styled curls begin to unravel in the heat, the once defined ringlets now frizzing into a mess around my face. I quickly swipe my hand across my forehead, trying to rid myself of the sheen of sweat threatening to ruin my makeup.

I can't contain my excitement for tonight. For years, I've been hopelessly flirting with my brother's best friend, hoping he would finally see me in a romantic light. And just recently, he did. Technically, I asked him out since he and Calvin graduatedfrom high school three years ago. But thankfully, Silas caught on quickly and saved me from finishing my sentence. He responded by saying he'd be honored to accompany me as my date and even asked for my father's permission first. The exchange was so romantic I thought I might swoon or faint in front of them, embarrassing myself.

"I'm going to my room to freshen up," I whisper as I pass by my family, hoping no one makes a fuss when Silas walks in, humiliating me with a play-by-play of my pre-prom jitters. I’m at a loss for words, fearful tears will appear before I find them.

“Are you sure? Silas is getting out of his car with a bouquet of flowers,” my mother says as the entire family stares at me, each one sporting a silly smile.

As I mutter under my breath, I rush up the stairs to fix my face. Silas is here.He’s here for me.We've been on casual dates in the past, just running errands and going on small adventures around his grandfather's ranch, but this feels different. Silas Gentry is dressed in a tuxedo and holding flowers.Is he planning to propose already?I can't help but giggle at the thought, but then I quickly slap my cheeks to get rid of the permanent smile causing my makeup to crack.

It takes five minutes for me to retouch my lipstick and fluff my hair. Despite wanting to make him wait for making me worry if he would even show up, I can't resist the urge to hurry back into the hallway. I quickly glance out onto the balcony and feel my knees weaken at the sight of him. His usually shaggy light-brown hair is now slicked back and styled to perfection. The tall, muscular body that I've spent countless hours admiring is now dressed in a sleek black three-piece suit with a dashing bowtie.

I want to yell out his name, letting him know I'm on my way down, but my voice fails to appear. I'm too anxious and my heart is racing so fast that if I don't take a moment to compose myself, I might just pass out and fall down the stairs.

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