Page 176 of Steps

Kenya scoffs. “Geez, girl, chill. Catch youlater.” She waves to Varen then makes her way through the crowd to Stephen.They leave together.

Varen draws me back into his arms. “You know, Iwas thinking.”

“Yeah?” I interlace my fingers at his neck andpeer up into his captivating blue eyes.

“Our first anniversary of dating isn’t too far.Maybe we should do something special.”

Butterflies assemble in my stomach. “Definitely.But let’s focus on your birthday first. I already know one thing I want to dofor that. It’s an overdue gift that I promised you.”

“Right.” He snorts. “A raven tattoo.”

I bob my head.

Varen holds me tighter and arches an eyebrow. “Atattoo is permanent.” He half-grins. “Sure you want an eternal reminder of meon your body?”

“Of course.” Squinting at him, I twist my mouth toone side playfully. “Maybe I should just go with your name instead.”

He chortles. “What about when you’re mad at me?You’ll have to see my name on your skin. What will you do then?”

“Smile, because it’ll remind me how much I loveyou.”

Moved by my words, his eyes glisten, and thatsignature grin widens. “You’re something else, Toya.”

I tip for a sultry kiss on his lips.

The coordinator stops the DJ and gets on the micto announce the Prom King and Queen.

“Let’s get out of here,” I tell Varen.

Puzzled, he narrows his eyes. “But it’s your prom,don’t you want to enjoy it longer?” He nods at the stage and lifts his brows.“You could be prom queen.”

“Uh, no. I already know who it is. She’s the mostpopular and well-liked girl in our school, and her boyfriend is captain of thebasketball team.”

The girl’s name is announced. She makes her way tothe stage, giggling in her delight as they place the tiara on her beautifullystyled dark hair.

“Oh.” Varen steers back to me. “Well, you’re myprom queen.”

“Hm. Come on.”

Towing him along, we make our way from theballroom as they announce the girl’s boyfriend next.

Stepping out into the chilly night, he takes offhis jacket and places it around me.

“What do you feel like doing?” he asks, taking outhis phone to request a Lyft car.

“Bowling, pizza, and a movie,” I tell him,snuggling into his side.

Varen laughs softly. “Whatever you want, baby.”

We head to the alley when the car arrives, and Ibowl in my flowy prom dress and rented shoes.

People gape at us as if we’re weird, but we don’t care.Whenever Varen and I are together, it’s like being in our own thrilling world.

After the round ends, we share a medium pizza andreturn to the apartment to watch movies in bed.

Varen kisses my forehead while caressing my arm.“Did you have fun tonight?” he asks, voice raspy.

“I did. Thanks for being my prom date.”

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