Page 37 of Summer's Echo
“You know it don’t takeme long to get ready. I’m about to gopick up Aliya but wanted to catch you before youleave. I just wanted to tell you I know youlook beautiful, Sun, and have a good time tonight.”
Ipaused, staring at my shocked face in the mirror. Asmile sweetened my voice when I said, “Thank you, Echo.I’m sure you’re pretty handsome yourself right now.”
“Well, you know how I do.” He chuckled, and Icould only imagine that bright Colgate smile on his face. “Y’all at the Drake Hotel, right?” he randomly asked.
“Yep! Trinity’s cousin already checked into our room andtook our bags,” I said.
“Alright, Sunshine. Let me getout of here.” He paused with another sigh. “Oh, Sun,don’t be letting Devin kiss all over you. Idon’t know dude, but that nigga is not treasureworthy.”
My eyes bulged at him referring to my ladyparts as treasure like my mother. I shook my head,realizing I might have shared too much with him.
“Youare a mess.” I giggled. “Goodbye, Echo Abara!”
He laughed,too. “Bye, Sun.”
As much time as Echo and Ispent together, people often thought we were boyfriend and girlfriend,but that was far from the truth. I’d hadother boys who were friends with some kissing benefits, butEcho…he’d had at least three girlfriends that Iknew about. He’d quickly planted his feet in thenew city. But no matter what either of us hadgoing on, it never interrupted our friendship flow. We’deven made a pact to go to each other’sproms because our relationship didn’t come with the pressureof expectations.
“Sun, you know we’ll kick it atprom, and I promise not to touch your booty,” he’d teased one night on the phone.
Leave it toEcho to make a girl feel special. But unfortunately, ourproms were scheduled for the same night, just like ourgraduations.Echo was going to prom with a girl namedAliya from his school. He claimed she wasn’t hisgirlfriend, but I could tell he liked her the coupletimes I’d met her. We’d knownfor weeksthat we couldn’t fulfill our pact, but somehow thethought of him going to prom with someone else stunga little every time I thought about it. Devin, myfriend since middle school, had asked me to prom. Hewas cute and sweet, so it made sense to sayyes. So, it was settled. Two separate proms on onenight.We wouldn’t see each other. And I toldmyself it didn’t matter. But honestly, it did, morethan I wanted to admit. And as much as Itried to ignore it,the thought of not beingwith Echo that night made my heart pound in away I couldn’t quite explain.
Prom was amazing. Thenight felt like a dream, and I looked the part—thesoft yellow dresswith a beaded bodice sparkled underthe lights, itsempire waist cinching just right, and thetulle overskirt added a touch of whimsy. Every step Itook, I felt like I wasfloating. A crowd ofstudents were hanging out in the lobby, still riding thehigh of prom night—the flashing lights, the thumping bassof the last song, the thrill of dressing up, andthe memories. Some were still buzzing with excitement, retelling momentsfrom the dance floor, while others were already slipping intoexhaustion. My crew was hungry after the dry hotel chickenand scoop of potatoes. Picking at a slice of pizza, my phone buzzed inside my clutch. Flipping it open, Ibarely had time to say hello before a deep andslightly impatient voice rang out.
“Where you at?”
Echo.I blinked, sitting up straighter. “Um,eating in thelobby at the hotel,”I replied, confused by the question.
“What are you eating?”
I glanced at the table.“Imo’s.” There was a brief pause before Iheard it—his unmistakable scoff.
“That shit nasty. Where’sthe Chicago-style?” he teased. But this time, his voicewasn’t just in my ear. It was behind me. I spun around, my mouth dropping open asEcho andAliya pushed through the crowd of prom-goers, walking straighttoward me.
“What in the world are you doinghere?”
He grinned,eyes sweeping over me slowly, lingering ina way that wasn’t exactly…friendly. “Sun…youare stunning.”
I swallowed, suddenly hyperaware of thestray curlslipping from my intricate updo. My cheeks had already beendusted with blush, thanks to my sister, but now, mywholebody was heating, causing me to clench my thighs.And damn. Echo looked good. The weight training for basketballhaddone him justice, filling out the once-lanky frame.He had always carried himself with a maturity beyond hisyears, butthe white tuxedo jacket trimmed in black, thetailored pants, and fresh haircut were giving me…dare Isay, sexy.
My lips parted before I could stop myself.“E, oh my god, you are so handsome.” A bittoo much excitementcoated my words, and I knew itthe second they left my mouth. He knew it, too, but didn’t have to say a word. I couldsee it in the way his features shifted. Nervously, Iswitched my attention to Aliya, and her deep, unimpressedscowltold me everything I needed to know.
I cleared mythroat.“Aliya, hey. You look gorgeous. I love yourdress.”
Her smile was tight,her brows still pinchedtogether. “Thank you,” she said dryly.
I turned back toEcho, searching for an answer. “How was your prom? Whatare you doing here?” I asked again.
Echo’s lipscurled slightly,like he was amused by the question. “We were at the Clayton, not far from here.” Heshrugged. “Did you really think I wasn’t gonnalay eyes on you on prom night?”
I lost mybreath because…yes, that’s exactly what I thought. Ichose not to say that aloud. Instead, I glanced atDevin, who had beencompletely silent this whole time. Hisexpression matched Aliya’s now—confused, slightly irritated, but mostlytrying to figure out what the hell was happening here.Realizing I had been staring at Echo too long, Iquickly turned back to Devin.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”I cleared my throat, suddenly remembering my manners.“Um,Devin, this is my friend, Echo. E, this is Devin.”
They exchanged the driest head nods I had ever seen. “What’s up, man?”they muttered in unison.
Wantingto break the awkward tension, I gestured toward the pizza. “You guys want some?”
Echo’s lip curled indisgust. “Now you know I don’t eat that shit.”He shook his head.“It’s cardboard. Acracker.”
