Page 90 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5
What the hell?She couldn’t lie her way into preventing me from going to homecoming. Could she?
Elite - Chapter 28
Saturday
Mr. Pruitt’s eyes traveled up the stairs to me. For a second, I thought he looked horrified. I was wearing a dress from the 80s. It wasn’t vintage. It was just old. I could practically feel his embarrassment. I just wasn’t sure if he was embarrassed of me or for me. But then he smiled. A real one. Way more genuine than I’d ever seen. “You’re breathtaking, Brooklyn.”
My dad thought I was beautiful. I wasn’t an ogre. I didn’t deserve to be locked in my room. He’d let me go to the dance.
Mr. Pruitt walked up the stairs, stopping one step below me. “She kept it all these years?” He reached out and touched the fabric. It barely seemed like he was looking at me. It was more like he was looking through me.
“You knew my mom used to wear this?”
He smiled. “I bought it for her.” His hand fell from my shoulder strap.
She kept it all these years.
“You look just as gorgeous as she did.”
“Thank you.” I almost tacked on adadat the end of my sentence. I wasn’t even sure why. Maybe because he was looking at me like he loved me. Like he loved my mom too. Like I wasn’t a mistake.
“Are you really not feeling well?” He gently put the back of his hand against my forehead. “You don’t feel warm. But I should probably call Dr. Wilson just in case.” He was already pulling out his cellphone.
“I’m fine,” I whispered. “Isabella just didn’t want me to go.”
His eyebrows drew together. “But you’re sure you’re alright?” he whispered back.
“Positive.”
“Then I can handle this.” His smile was back. “I’m so glad you’re feeling better,” he said loudly enough for everyone to hear. “Come on, I want that picture with you.” He put his arm out for me. “You too, Miss Alcaraz,” he said and offered her his other arm.
Kennedy laughed and took it.
I couldn’t help but glance at Isabella as her father escorted Kennedy and me down the stairs. Pure venom. And so priceless.
“Do you mind if I get a shot?” Kennedy asked and pulled her camera out of her back.
“That would be delightful, thank you,” Mr. Pruitt said. “The tiara suits you,” he added right before Kennedy snapped a photo.
He didn’t actually call me princess like he called Isabella. But it was pretty much the same thing. I smiled harder when Kennedy took another shot.
“Would you be able to send me copies?” Mr. Pruitt asked.
“As long as I can sleep over tonight,” Kennedy said.
He laughed. “You strike a hard bargain. Very well.” He turned to Mason. “Mason, why don’t you come over and get a picture with Brooklyn too?”
Oh my God.I thought about my conversation with Mr. Pruitt earlier. About how he thought Mason was the better choice. Was he seriously trying to push us together? I just wanted to laugh. Because it was such a protective father thing to do. I was even a little embarrassed.My dad’s so embarrassing.
Mason shrugged and walked over to me. “You okay?” he asked. He didn’t even have to do the head nod toward Isabella for me to know what he was talking about.
“I’m used to it.”
“You shouldn’t have to be used to it.” He smiled for the camera.
I looked up at him. “It’s kind of the new normal, right?”
“You could always crash at our place. James and Rob are there half the time anyway.”
