Chapter 31
Thirty-One
Hudson
It’s Saturday—prom day, and I’m more excited than I thought I would be.
After Mom pointed out that Cullen and I could still go together and have a great time, even if not officially as dates, I realized I was being stupid.
I already knew he’d rented a tux, even though he thought I hadn’t noticed.
I saw Mrs. Eliza hang the garment bag in his closet earlier this week.
He was hoping I’d say yes. Maybe even counting on it.
Mom suggested that I should coordinate my suit with Cull’s as a nod to what we are. That helped me see that I don’t have to declare Cullen as my boyfriend to still go with him. We will still be there together, and that’s enough.
So, while he was in the shower Thursday morning, I snuck a peek at his suit so I could decide how to coordinate. I realized that his tie was an oddly perfect shade match to my eyes.
The sneaky bastard had the same idea.
Ella didn’t hesitate to help me pick a tux and was ecstatic when I asked her to be my date. She was planning to go alone, which made me feel awful. I’m glad I can be a part of making her night special.
Now I’m in the guestroom getting ready for tonight.
I haven’t had the balls to go back home yet, and thankfully, neither my mom nor Cull’s parents have pushed.
My dad’s been radio-silent, but Mom says he misses me.
Funny, since he hasn’t reached out. If he’s waiting for me to come home and admit he was right, or that I’ve dumped Cullen, he’s in for a very long wait. But still… his silence stings.
I’m glad Cull talked me off the ledge in my room the day I came out to my parents. I needed it more than I realized. I’m aware I need a lot of reassurance, but thankfully, Cull’s the kind of person who’s happy to give it.
I’m spritzing on a little cologne and giving myself one last look in the full-length mirror when there’s a knock at the door. I open it to find my mom holding two clear plastic containers filled with flowers.
“You look so handsome.” She’s beaming, eyes full of love.
“Hey, Mom,” I greet, pulling her into a tight hug. I haven’t seen her for more than a split second all week, just one morning when Cullen took me to pick up my Bronco. I’ve missed her.
She pulls back and hands me one of the containers. “What’s this?”
“I thought maybe you’d like to give Cullen a boutonniere tonight. The other’s a corsage for Ella, and she has one for you, too. I know this isn’t how you wanted prom to go, but I still wanted it to be special.”
My mom always thinks of everything. She reminds me of Cullen in that way, always anticipating what I might want or need.
“Thanks, Mom. This means a lot.”
She smiles, then cups my cheek. “He’s not going to be able to take his eyes off you. You picked a great suit.”
I glance down at the dark navy tux and paisley emerald-green tie. Ella helped with the fit, but the moment I saw Cullen’s tie, I knew I wanted mine to match his eyes, too.
“Let’s go.” She takes my hand, leading me from the room. “Everyone’s waiting downstairs.”
We head down the stairs and find Cullen and his parents waiting in the foyer. He’s got his back to us, but as soon as he hears us coming, he turns, eyes locking onto mine.
His gaze drags from my face to my black patent shoes, then back up, a sly smile curling his lips. He walks over and takes my hand, helping me down the last few steps like I’m Cinderella or some shit. I guess we are going to a ball. I snort quietly, and he lifts an eyebrow.
“Nothing,” I mumble, a little embarrassed. I clear my throat and smooth the front of my jacket before letting myself take him in.
His tux is a sleek dark gray with a matching waistcoat, and that cerulean tie I already peeked at. Now that I’m really paying attention, I can see it has lighter blue swirls, like waves.
“You look…” I’m at a loss for words.
“Yeah. You too,” he agrees, smiling before leaning in and kissing me.
I tense for half a second, remembering our parents are right there. Cull doesn’t seem to care as he kisses me like it’s just us in the room. And honestly? I want that. So, fuck it. I kiss him back with everything I have.
A throat clears behind us, and we break apart, smiling stupidly at each other.
“Hate to break this up,” his dad cuts in, “but y’all are on a time crunch. Let’s get some photos so you can head out and get Ella.”
Cullen winks at me and turns toward the door. I remember the boutonniere in my hand and stop him before he gets too far.
“Cull, babe, I’ve got something for you.” He turns, and I lift the clear box into view. He smiles and walks over, taking it from my hand and opening it.
“You got me flowers?”
“It’s a boutonniere, and, well, my mom thought of it.”
He pulls out the small bundle and inspects it. It’s a deep burgundy rose with a few tiny white flowers and some greenery, wrapped in blue and dark green ribbon. My mom really did think of everything. That dimple on the side of his face pops when he sees the ribbon.
He hands it back to me. “Put it on me?”
I nod, then glance over at my mom for direction, not entirely sure what I’m doing.
“It goes on the left side of his coat,” she instructs, stepping closer. “It’s magnetic, so just put the back piece under the lapel.”
I find the magnet and carefully fasten it to Cullen’s jacket.
“Thank you,” he whispers, leaning in for a soft kiss.
A camera flash goes off.
We glance over to see all three parents with their phones up, snapping photos and not looking the least bit sorry about it.
Cull huffs a laugh and tugs me toward the front door. “Alright, let’s get this photoshoot over with.”
Outside, we pose in front of the Andersons’ house for the obligatory pre-prom pics.
Once the parents have their fill, we escape to my Bronco to pick up Ella.
My mom heads off to meet Hadley at Maggie’s house, then everyone’s regrouping later in front of the country club, where prom is being held for the full group photos.
Ella’s waiting on the front porch when we pull up. She looks up from her phone at the sound of my engine and smiles. She speaks over her shoulder to someone inside, then skips down the steps toward us.
“I’ll hang out here while y’all do the photo op,” Cullen says. His voice is even, but there’s a tightness around his eyes. It was his idea for me to bring Ella as my date, but I know it sucks for him just as much as it does for me that we aren’t going as a couple.
I climb out, the corsage box in hand and walk over to meet her.
She looks gorgeous. Her dark blue, fitted dress hugs her figure, cuffing at her neck and baring her shoulders and back.
A thigh-high slit toes the line of decency.
Her long black hair is half-pinned back, soft curls falling down her back, and her makeup glows, subtle but flawless.
“You look amazing,” I tell her honestly, handing over the box. She smiles as she opens it.
“It’s so pretty, thank you.” She wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me, then slides the corsage onto her wrist while admiring the flowers.
It’s fussier than Cullen’s boutonniere, with two pink roses surrounded by baby’s breath, tied with a soft off-white ribbon.
It complements her dress perfectly, and she says as much.
Mrs. Amy bursts out of the house, all energy and excitement. “Hudson, you look so handsome! You two make a beautiful couple,” she gushes.
“Thanks…” I guess Ella didn’t tell her parents that we “broke up”. Mrs. Amy is the one who pushed the hardest for us to go out, so maybe Ella felt like she couldn’t tell her just yet. That’s fine by me. The less people I have to explain that situation to, the better.
“Mom, did you grab Hudson’s boutonniere off the table like I asked?” Ella calls.
“Oh! Yes, here you go.”
Ella pulls the flower from the package and pins it to my lapel. It’s nearly identical to Cullen’s, same burgundy rose and white accent flowers, but the ribbon matches Ella’s instead.
“Okay, you two. Let’s get a few pictures, then you can head out.” She positions us in front of a big hydrangea bush and has me put my arm around Ella’s waist. Dozens of photos later, she calls it. “Alright, I think that’ll do. You kids have fun!”
Ella gives her mom a hug, then I lead her to the Bronco.
Through the dark tint of the back window, I spot Cullen in the rear seat, scrolling on his phone.
He gives me a wink, and I exhale a small breath of relief.
I help Ella into the passenger seat, make sure her dress is clear of the door, then jog around to slide behind the wheel.
“Hey, Ella. You look nice,” Cullen compliments from the back.
She turns, surprised like she forgot he would be here. “Oh, thanks. You look nice too… I guess.” Cull rolls his eyes, but smirks.
We make easy small talk on the half-hour drive to the venue. By the time we get there, the parking lot is already packed with limos and shiny, luxury vehicles that parents let their kids drive for this one night only.
I park in the first spot I see, not caring if we have to walk a little. We clamber out of the car as best we can in the restrictive formal wear we’re all wearing, giving each other final once-overs before Ella takes my arm and we head toward the entrance.
Hadley is the first person I spot. Kind of hard not to in her hot pink, sparkly cupcake monstrosity of a dress. Her hair’s twisted into some frou-frou updo with little tendrils curling by her face, and her makeup is thick enough to see the brushstrokes from here. She looks like a deranged Barbie.
“Holy shit,” Cull mutters, stepping up beside me. “What the hell is Hads wearing?”
“I love my sister, but let’s be honest—you dodged a bullet tonight.”
Cull tries and fails to stifle a laugh, which draws the attention of said cupcake in heels. Ella rushes over to Hadley and starts gushing, pointing out every glittering, beaded detail on her dress. Hadley eats it up like a starving hyena.