Page 63 of Until Forever Falls

Beckett grins, holding out his arms like he’s showing off. His navy suit fits him perfectly, but there’s something off about the energy in the room. “Speaking of looking good, who’s the lucky date tonight?” I bait, trying to lighten the mood.

“Just some girl. Emma Reynolds. We’ve been hanging out a bit.”

Emma. I’ve noticed her before, a junior with long brown hair who always seems to be around. I’ve never seen Beckett act particularly close to her though. At least he’s never mentioned her in the way he talks about things that matter to him.

“Oh,” I say, keeping my tone neutral. “She seems nice.”

“She is,” he confirms, shifting his attention back to the mirror as he adjusts his cufflinks. “It’s not serious, Dilly. We’re just going as friends.”

My head moves slightly in confirmation, even though his attention is elsewhere. Beckett’s never been one to get attached, and this feels no different. Still, there’s a small part of me that wonders what it would be like if he ever did. If he let someone in the way I’ve let Brooks in.

Beckett shifts, grabbing his keys off the desk. “You good?”

“Yeah,” I say, adjusting my dress one last time.

When I step outside, Brooks is waiting in the driveway, leaning casually against his truck. The late sun casts a soft glow, but it’s not the light that makes me pause—it’s him. He’s dressed in a crisp white button-up, the sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal the sharp lines of his forearms. His green eyes catch mine as I approach, like I’m the only thing he’s focused on.

He straightens when I reach him, handing me a small, clear box. Inside, I find a dried flower corsage in soft, muted colors—gomphrena blooms, pampas grass, and baby’s breath tied together in a way that’s both simple and thoughtful.

I glance at it, then back at him. “You picked this?”

Brooks rubs the back of his neck, his confidence faltering just enough to make me giggle. “Well, my mom helped. But yeah. I thought it would match your dress.”

It does—perfectly. I reach for it, but before I can slip it onto my wrist, Brooks steps closer, gently taking it from my hand. His fingers brush against my skin as he moves to fasten it for me, his touch hovering just long enough to make my heart skip a beat.

“It’s beautiful. Thank you,” I whisper, watching him with a soft smile.

His expression relaxes, his usual confidence returning. “I’m glad you like it.”

He holds out his hand, and I take it, letting him help me into the truck. As we buckle in, the sound of another car draws our attention. Beckett and Colt cruise past us, the thrum of music and buzz of energy radiating from their car as they speed off to pick up their dates.

We step into the gym as a group, the noise and lights hitting us all at once. Gold and teal bows are tied neatly to every chair, round tables draped in white cloth, and strings of fairy lights crisscrossing the ceiling like stars caught in a net.

Emma spins slowly, taking in every detail. “Wow,” she exclaims, dragging the word out like it deserves to be savored. “This actually looks amazing.”

Beckett snorts. “Yeah, because teal bows are the height of sophistication.” He elbows me lightly, grinning like he’s in on some private joke. “What about you, Dylan? Is it living up to the hype?”

I shrug. “It’s nice,” I say, though the word feels too small. The room is buzzing, everyone dressed up, talking in clusters, breaking into laughter, or testing the edge of the dance floor like they’re daring each other to go first. For a moment, I let it pull me in. It’s mesmerizing.

Beckett pulls me toward the dance floor, not giving me a chance to protest. “Thisis happening,” he insists and I laugh as he twirls me under his arm like we’re at some ballroom gala, instead of the gym we’ve spent the last year in.

The music shifts to something fast, the bass pounding through the room, and Beckett keeps going. He spins me again, dipping me dramatically just to get a reaction.

“Beckett!” I exclaim, swatting at him, but I can’t stop laughing.

“Come on, you’re supposed to be having fun!” he taunts, pulling me upright with an easy grin. “Stop overthinking and just dance. I couldn’t convince you to go last year—at least let me enjoy this.”

I let him lead me in a few more spins, the hem of my dress flaring out with every turn.

Around us, Colt and his date are trying out moves that could’ve come straight from an ‘80s workout video, while Emma’s doubled over, laughing so hard she can barely breathe. Miles, surprisingly paired with Graham’s date, is attempting something that might be the Macarena, all while Graham hides by the punch table, sipping his drink like it’s the only thing keeping him centered.

Then, Brooks appears, like he’s been waiting for the exact moment. He reaches out, his fingers wrapping around mine, drawing me toward him eagerly. It feels like a rhythm we’ve always known.

Beckett backs off with a little salute, heading over to his date. “She’s all yours.”

Brooks rests his hand on my waist, the other holding mine loosely as the music slows. “You having fun?” he asks, leaning just close enough that I can hear him over the music.

I nod my head, the words catching in my throat for a second before finally coming out. “Yeah. I am actually.”

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