Page 94 of The Second Kiss
“Thank you.” Instinctively, I touch the locket against my chest. I wonder why he’s here, in a suit, carrying a corsage box. I’m not naïve enough to believe he’d be going to a high school prom, even if he weren’t too old.
He awkwardly thrusts the box at Gage. “You forgot the corsages.”
Gage takes a flower from the box and walks towards Jasmine.
“Wait a second,” she holds up her hand. “We haven’t said we’re going with you yet, Gage. Jess and I already have the best-looking dates in the history of prom. What do you bring to the table?”
“Eye candy?” Gage tries. Jasmine shakes her head. "The use of this fine chariot?” He indicates Jacob’s car.
“Nope,” Jasmine crosses her arms.
“How about I pay for dinner?” Gage says.
“It's a start. But I should tell you, we have reservations at the nicest, most expensive restaurant in town,” Jasmine says.
“No problem,” Gage says. He turns to his brother and fake-whispers. “Hey Jake, can I borrow some money?”
“Anything else?” Jasmine asks. I know she’s dying for Gage to come with us, but she’s playing it cool.
“Abject and complete devotion to your every need? Worshiping the ground you both walk on? Groveling?” He grins his mischievous, crooked grin, the one that makes him look the most like Jacob.
Jasmine looks from Gage to me. “What do you think, Jess?”
“Well, it is a free dinner. He is kind of cute, and I’ve heard there’s plenty of Gage to go around.” I nod toward the box Jacob is carrying. “And he brought us flowers.”
“And prom with me will be unforgettable, guaranteed,” Gage says.
“Alright, we accept,” Jasmine wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him again.
“Awesome!” Gage pumps his fist. He turns to me, his arms open. “Equal treatment for both dates?”
I hold up my hand. “No thanks. The last time I kissed you, we both got in trouble.”
Jacob gives me a questioning look. I get the idea he hasn’t heard about the New Year’s party and the ill-fated game of Kissing Rugby.
It won't be the night I’d planned, but prom with Gage and Jasmine will be an adventure, even though I know I’ll end up as the third wheel.
Jacob awkwardly hands the corsage box to me. “This one is yours.” Inside the box is a delicate spray of white baby roses with a red one in the center. I’m positive he ordered the corsages. It’s not something Gage would have thought of, but Jacob,thoughtful and brotherly, would have gone as far as calling my mom to find out what color my dress was.
I juggle the box as I try to hold it and to open it at the same time. “Here, let me.” Jacob takes the corsage out of the box and slips it on my wrist. His hand lingers on mine, and he looks up at me. “You really look amazing.”
“Thank you,” I say again.
“And that dress is–”
“Jacob!” We turn at the same time. Laini is standing by her car door. She’s in white again; this time it’s a flowy sundress with spaghetti straps. “If you're done playing prom, we need to get going. If we don’t leave now, we’re going to be late, and I want you to make a good impression on my parents.”
Parents.
The word carries the weight of commitment and leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
“Right,” Jacob turns back around and hands me the corsage box. “If Gage is a jerk for any reason or something goes wrong and you need a ride or...” He pauses, like he’s rethinking what he’s saying. “Just have fun tonight, okay?”
“I will,” I promise.
“Good.” Jacob raps his knuckles on his car. “Gage, don’t do anything stupid!” He yells to his brother before climbing back into Laini’s car.
She yells at him as soon as the door closes.
