Chapter 19 #3
After Jack and Jenna checked her coat, Jack placed her coat check ticket in the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
They were early enough that the ballroom doors were not open yet.
The prom attendees who had arrived already were congregated around, impatiently waiting for their night of music and debauchery to start.
Jack led her over to a high-back chair in the corner of the lobby. “This place smells like dope and Aqua Net.”
Jenna chuckled. He was not wrong. The crowded lobby had a very distinct air to it. “No doubt there are numerous plans to spike the punch.”
“One glass each,” Jack advised. He was standing next to the chair with his elbow on the buttons decorating the tufted high-back seat. “I have too many plans for you this weekend for either of us to end up bent over a toilet.”
Jenna smiled wistfully up at him. It did not pass her notice that he had a clear view down the front of her dress from his current angle. “We’ve got time. What is it you wanted to talk to me about?”
Jack, though, shook his head. “I don’t want to ruin the mood before we go inside.”
Well that certainly didn’t sound good. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. “Jack,” she snapped. “You can’t say that and then expect me to not worry. What’s going on?”
He squatted down beside the chair so she wasn’t craning her neck up to look at him anymore.
“Baby, breathe. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have phrased it like that.
It’s nothing bad, but I had a thought about next year and we need to talk about it before I make my decision.
It’s more complicated than a simple conversation in a hotel lobby twenty minutes before your prom starts. That’s all.”
Jenna let out a long sigh. Her heart was still hammering in her chest from picturing the worst. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak. It just sounded so…ominous.”
“I should have phrased it better,” he repeated his apology. Taking her hands, Jack squeezed them on her lap. “I promise, it’s nothing bad.”
She nodded. Though significantly calmer, she was still wondering what it was he was thinking about for next year.
She thought their community college plan was already set.
Registration would be opening up in August and they both planned on applying for financial aid to not squander the savings they did have on the first semester.
“Since I’m down here…” Jack shifted his legs so he was on one knee rather than a crouch. “I have something for you. Last time I asked you to marry me, I was a bit black and blue with an eyepatch on and in a hospital bed.” He reached into his pants’ pocket and pulled out an older looking black box.
Jenna’s jaw dropped. “We said we weren’t doing an engagement ring. That our wedding bands would be enough.”
Jack nodded, looking at the box in his hand.
“I know, but it never sat right with me that you’ve been without an engagement ring all these years.
I knew you wouldn’t want something fancy or massive, so I’ve been looking at different pawn shops for something with history.
A story. Had my eye on one too, but then I missed a lot of work last year and then when I went back for it, it was already sold.
” He shrugged, “Figured I lost my chance.”
Taking a deep breath, Jack opened the ring box.
Jenna gasped. “Is that…?
Jack nodded, pulling the ring out for her. “Cherry flavored, yes.”
Jenna nearly fell over laughing as Jack took her left hand, placing the Ring Pop candy over her finger. “Ohmigod, Jack! You really had me going for a second.”
He smiled up at her. “I was being serious about the engagement ring, Jen. I don’t like that I never gave you one.”
Jenna picked her finger up to suck on the cherry lollipop. “We’ll figure it out. Jewelry is expensive and there are more important things. We don’t need rings to remind us that we’re married.” She took another lick. “Though I wouldn’t say ‘no’ to a daily Ring Pop reminder.”
Jack smiled, moving to stand again. Jenna scooted over in the chair so he could squeeze in beside her.
“That ring cost me thirty-five cents, Jen. I’m not sure I’ll be able to afford one-hundred and twenty-seven dollars and seventy-five cents per year.
It might be easier if we look into a bulk option. ”
She hummed around her pop. “Or we could buy our own candy store.”
“Between you and Lilly, I’d never be able to keep inventory in stock!”
Jenna put her left arm around Jack’s shoulders. He turned his head to lift her hand up to his face to suck on her lollipop. “I’d exchange labor for candy. Think about how much you’d save on payroll.”
Jack lifted his head to respond but a shadow came over them. Both of them looked up from their private moment to see a group of Jenna’s classmates had come to stand by them. Jenna fought to keep the scowl off her face for the interruption.
“What do you want, Tommy?” Jenna asked the ringleader. Because Tommy did just about anything for attention so there was no doubt this was his idea.
“It’s Thomas,” he said with his eyes narrowed at her. Turning to Jack, he held his hand out. “Thomas Fitzgerald. And yes, I’m with those Fitzgeralds.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “Since I have no idea who ‘those Fitzgeralds’ are, you’ll have to be more specific.
” Jack laced his left hand with Jenna’s, careful of her ring lollipop.
Her arm was still around his shoulders. She was leaning into him on one hip to keep either one of them from falling out of the chair they were squeezed into.
Tommy—because he would always be Tommy the Terror to her—raised an eyebrow. “My father owns over half of the Ford dealerships in the state.”
Jack reached his right hand forward to take Tommy’s. “Jack Duncan. And yes, I’m with those Duncans.”
Though Tommy shook Jack’s hand, his eyebrows drew down. “Which Duncans?”
Jack shrugged, leaning back in the chair. “And now you know how it feels when you introduce yourself like that.”
Jenna shook her head and whispered, “Don’t start something with him. He’s been known to throw punches when he doesn’t get his way.”
From the way Jack’s eye twitched, Jenna guessed he was trying hard not to roll his eyes. The glance he gave her told her that Jack had already guessed that much and her warning had not been necessary.
Within Tommy’s posse was Jonah Wilde, Asher Cunningham—no relation to the Chief that Jenna knew—and Gregory Atwater-Rhodes.
Their dates, Courtney, Brittany, Jennifer, and Rebecca, could have been models for real-life Barbies.
Massive blonde hair, narrow waisted, tall legs, and probably had the same brain capacity as the famous plastic dolls.
Rumor had it that Brittany was sleeping with both Asher and Tommy, Courtney had flown to Mexico over Easter Break to have an abortion, and Rebecca was sleeping with one of the professors to get a passing grade.
Jennifer’s nose and boob jobs were not rumor because the evidence was right there on her body.
Superficial, all of them.
It didn’t matter to Jenna that she’d known all of them since preschool.
None of them were worth her time or energy.
In many ways, they reminded her of Carolyn and how their life’s goal was to skate by on their parents’ money.
Jenna loved her sister and missed her every day, but she didn’t want her life, nor did she share her views on life.
Someone announced that the ballroom doors would be opening in ten minutes. The line for pictures was already starting.
Jack turned to her. “Do you want to go get in line for pictures?”
Jenna debated. The line was only going to get longer. “We might as well. It’s either sitting here or standing there, regardless.”
Jack stood up, keeping hold of her left hand.
Though he was ignoring Tommy and his posse, Jenna had no doubt that he was very aware of where each of the guys were.
She prayed Tommy just left them alone. What was the point of coming over to talk to them anyway?
It was common knowledge that Jenna’s boyfriend lived in Port Townsend.
Other than maybe wanting to confirm that Jack actually was real, there was no reason to bother them.
But Jenna was sure Tommy had created one anyway.
Jack switched her left hand to his right hand and helped her to stand. She was straightening out her skirt when it seemed to occur to Tommy that they were leaving. “Wait, I’m not done talking to you.”
Jack tucked Jenna’s arm into his, which effectively placed his body between Tommy and Jenna. “Well, we’re getting in line for pictures. You can either follow and talk or we can part ways. The choice is yours.”
They were partway across the lobby before Tommy caught up with them. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” He stepped into their path.
Jack once more angled his body in front of Jenna’s. “Look, man, do you really want to ruin everyone’s night by whatever the fuck this is? We just want to have a nice night. Either get to the point of this conversation or leave us be.”
Jack’s logical suggestion went over Tommy’s head. “I hear you’re poor!” he sputtered out.
Jenna did roll her eyes this time. Tommy’s voice was loud, drawing more than just his posse’s attention.
“Compared to who?” Jack asked Tommy, keeping his voice conversationally low. Jack was not after the audience that Tommy clearly was. “Compared to your parents? Sure. Compared to you? I doubt it.”
Tommy’s eyes narrowed and he put his hands on his hips. “I am a Fitzgerald. I have more money than you could ever dream of.”
Jack shook his head. “Your parents have money, Tommy. I would wager that you’ve never earned a penny in your entire life. Everything you have is given to you. You want to know what true wealth is, Tommy, then figure out who you are outside your family’s name and reputation.”