Page 90 of Kiss Collector
“You came,” he says. Guilt makes my skin flush. Before I can give him an excuse, he says, “I guess Mrs. Hartt made you.” He raises his chin to the tiara.
“Yeah...” I clear my throat. “Who’s your date?”
“Just here with my friends.”
“Me, too.” I smile at both his friends and they smile back.
“Want to dance?” Taro asks.
“Sure!” We all head to the floor, lifting our long gowns, and squeeze our way onto the dance floor.
Taro doesn’t have the moves of Elliott, who has apparently abandoned his date somewhere on the dance floor as he dances his way around the entire place, making everyone laugh. But then again, nobody’s as good as Elliott. Taro and I laugh, and there’s a comfort between us that I appreciate right now.
“Hey, Taro?” We’re dancing close.
“Yes?” He tilts his head.
“Are you a poet?”
He looks at me funny. “No. Just a skater. And an artist, sort of. Why?”
Disappointment flares and wanes. “No reason.”
He puts his hands on my waist as the song changes to something slower.
Monica leans her head toward me from where she and Dean are dancing and whispers, “Aren’t you glad you came?”
Love rushes through me as I have my sights on her, Lin, and Kenzie. I could have missed this.
I answer honestly. “Yes.”
Chapter Thirty
An unexpected, unwelcome surprise is waiting outside my apartment complex when I get home. Wylie. He’s sitting on the hood of his parents’ BMW, and he jumps down, his face coming to life when he sees me pull up in the minivan. I now regret not taking Taro up on his offer to hang out after prom, but I was tired, mentally and emotionally.
“Zae!” Wy runs over. “Damn, girl, look at you.” He puts both hands on his head and stares unabashedly. I’m not wearing the tiara anymore, but being looked at like that makes me feel like a princess, especially from the only boy who’s ever seen me naked. The boy who broke my heart so thoroughly I still feel the residual hurt.
All I can think to say is, “How do you know where I live now?”
“I asked around and found out the apartment complex name. Then I drove around until I found your mom’s car with the cupcake sticker on the back. Remember when you put that there?”
I cross my arms, refusing to reminisce. He moves closer, opening his hands and pulling them back to his sides. He wants to touch me. I can tell he still thinks he has the right, and he has to put himself in check.
“Why are you here?”
Wylie could never hide his emotions. His face is more expressive than anyone I’ve ever known, which I always loved. What I’m seeing is sadness and regret. Genuine pain.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “What I did, it was the worst mistake of my life. I’m going to be fifty and still saying it was the worst mistake of my life.” My heart squeezes. “I’ll never forgive myself for losing you. I think about you every day, Zae.Every day.”
When was the last time I really thought of Wylie? It’s been a while.
“I’ve been punished,” he says. “You have no idea. That girl, Vonia?” It takes me a second to remember that’s the name of the freshman girl. “She told me she was pregnant. For a month I was completely freaking out. I told my parents and they... God, it killed them! And then one of Vonia’s girls told me she was lying.” I watch in surprise as Wylie actually chokes up. “She was trying to get me to be with her and then she was gonna act like she had a miscarriage or something. See, you wouldneverdo something like that to someone.”
“Most girls wouldn’t,” I say, and all I can feel is pity. Pityfor Wylie. Pity for Vonia, who thinks so little of herself she has to take desperate measures to try to get the guy she wants. I rub my face.
“Wylie, I’m sorry that happened—”
“I miss you!” He grabs my hand with both of his. He’s standing close, and he smells so familiar, like happy memories. “Give me a second chance. Please.”
