Page 29 of Choosing Forever
“Didn’t have to. We all know what orwhoyou’re talking about,” Johnny teases.
Daisy’s the one I look to now, knowing better than anyone that it’s her who’s grown closest to Delaney.
She meets my waiting eyes and smiles knowingly. “So, back to the rebuild.”
10
TWELVE YEARS AGO
DELANEY
“Darren’s goingto drop dead when he sees you,” Poppy squeals.
I flush, eyeing myself in the vanity mirror. “Do you think so? It isn’t too much? Should I put back on the dress from earlier?”
“Are you kidding? You’re going to be the most beautiful girl at prom. If I look half as good as you for mine next year, I won’t have any issues with finding a date.”
“You’re already gorgeous, Poppy.”
Darren’s sister flashes me a soft smile. “I know. I’ve really started to love my body again the last few weeks. It’s beautiful.”
“It is. You are.”
“Anyway, this isn’t about me and my good looks. It’s about you,” she says.
I laugh, popping the lid off my favourite nude lipstick. “And Darren.”
“Prom isn’t about my brother. If it weren’t for us, he wouldn’t have even known that corsages were a thing.”
“Isn’t that a very typical teen guy issue?” I ask, running thesmooth edge of the lipstick over my bottom lip. “Grayson didn’t know about them either.”
My younger brother couldn’t have cared less when I brought it up and asked him. He was too busy with his nose in his game controller.
“Probably. Teen boys suck. I’m pretty sure Bryce is going to avoid taking one to prom at all. You honestly got lucky with my brother.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that,” I joke. With a final look at my reflection, I pull in a long breath. “I hardly recognize myself, Pops. You killed the hair and makeup.”
She gives her deep red hair a flip over her shoulder. “Thank you, thank you. I’m a natural talent.”
“Do you really think Darren will like it?”
I’ve tried telling myself that it’s only one night out of the hundreds we’ve already spent together, but my heartbeat still refuses to stop racing. I enlisted Poppy’s help not only because I knew she could do a better job than I could, but because I wanted her friendship tonight. While she’s a year and a half younger than me, she’s still the best friend I have in town.
Not only is she honest and kind, but she’s gotten to know me like a sister over the years I’ve been with Darren. We’re our true selves around each other, and I’m almost as grateful for her as I am her brother.
“He’d tell you you’re the most beautiful girl in the world, even if you showed up wearing a cardboard box,” Poppy declares.
My hair is curled and pulled back into a half updo with a few pieces left out to frame my face. I pluck at one and say, “I know he would. That doesn’t mean he’d be telling the truth, though.”
“Nah, it absolutely does. He’s so stupidly in love with you. Now, get up and do a spin so I can see the full look.”
I roll my eyes and grin before doing as I’m told. My heels are a bit wobbly despite my attempts to break them in as I lift my arms and do a wonky twirl. My deep green, sequined dress isform-fitting enough for my boobs to stay tucked in tight as I move, a laugh erupting as Poppy starts cheering.
Our laughter mixes and carries out the open window as I lose my balance and grab her, using her arms to steady myself. Poppy takes the chance to pull me in for a hug. We clutch each other tight.
“Oh, I missed all the fun, didn’t I?”
I glance up over Poppy’s shoulder and find my grandma’s eyes watching us. My grin spreads wider somehow.
